Nursery rhymes are perfect for babies and toddlers. They are short and simple to recite or sing. They include words that begin and end with the same sounds, helping children’s brains to recognize syllables and hear similarities in patterns. Familiarity with nursery rhymes can lead to phonological awareness. The repetition in nursery rhymes helps increase a child’s vocabulary. Research shows that children who enter kindergarten knowing nursery rhymes will have an easier time learning how to read.
Mother Goose on the Loose® is based on nursery rhymes that are presented in a variety of different ways. Below are links to different rhymes presented by many people in a wide range of styles. If they do not open simply by clicking on the link, try pressing the Control Key and clicking at the same time!
Rhyme of the Month
E
Elephant (Animals)from the Johnson County Library, Kansas
The Elephant (Puppet Rhyme) from the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland
Eye Winker, Tom Tinker (Body Rhymes: Face) from the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland
Eye Winker Tom Tinker in action with families
F
Farmer Plants a Seed (Standing Up) Arlington Public Library, Virginia
Fe Fi Fo Fum (Body Rhymes – Fingers) Edmonton Public Library, Canada
Five Fat Peas in a Pea Pod Pressed (Finger Play) Edmonton Public Library, Canada
Five Fat Sausages (Fingerplay) from the King County Library System, Washington State
Five Fat Sausages (Soft Sculpture) from the Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona
Five Green and Speckled Frogs (Animal Songs) from the Champaign Library, Illinois
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Puppets) Mooresville Public Library, Indiana
From Wibbleton to Wobbleton, (Knee bounce), Paw Paw, Michigan
G
Good Morning, Mrs. Perky Bird (Puppets)from the Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona
Goosey, Goosey Gander (Fingerplay) from Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore
Grand Old Duke of York (Knee Bounce) from the Brooklyn Public Library, New York
Grand Old Duke of York (Knee Bounce) from Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore, Maryland
H
Here is My Turtle (Animals)from the New Albany YSL.
Here is the Beehive (Tickle Rhyme) Musser Public Library, Iowa
Here’s a Cup, British Columbia Public Libraries
Hey Diddle Diddle (Knee Bounce) from the Brooklyn Public Library, New York
Hickory Dickory Dare (Animals) Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Hickory Dickory Dock (Flannel Board) from the Muskingum County Library
Horsey, Horsey, British Columbia Public Libraries
Hot Cross Buns (Tickle Rhyme with child and soft sculpture) from the Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona
Humpty Dumpty (Knee Bounce)Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore, Maryland
Humpty Dumpty (Sensory Activity) from the Scottsdale Public Library, Arizona
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the King County Library System
Click here for more fingerplays from the Hennepin County Library
Click here for more fingerplays from the Johnson County Library
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the Scottsdale Public Library
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the San Bernadino County Library