Cover of The Real Mother Goose: Favorite Rhymes

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep, And dreamt she heard them bleating; But when she awoke, she found it a joke, For still they all were fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determined for to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left all their tails behind 'em!

It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray Unto a meadow hard by— There she espied their tails, side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye, And over the hillocks she raced; And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, That each tail should be properly placed.

Little Boy Blue, come, blow your horn! The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep? Under the haystack, fast asleep!

Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day; Little Johnny wants to play.

Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating of curds and whey; There came a big spider, And sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam And feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the King's horses, and all the King's men Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down, and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

Then up Jack got and off did trot, As fast as he could caper, To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob With vinegar and brown paper.

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, marry, have I, Three bags full;

One for my master, One for my dame, But none for the little boy Who cries in the lane.

🧠 Check your understanding

  1. What does Little Bo-Peep lose, and what advice does the rhyme give?

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    Answer: Her sheep; leave them alone and they'll come home

    She has lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them, but the rhyme says to leave them alone and they'll come home.

  2. What is Little Boy Blue doing while the sheep and cow wander off?

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    Answer: Fast asleep under the haystack

    He is found fast asleep under the haystack instead of watching the sheep.

  3. Why does Little Miss Muffet run away?

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    Answer: A big spider sits down beside her

    A big spider comes and sits down beside her, and it frightens her away.

  4. What happens to Humpty Dumpty after his great fall?

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    Answer: All the King's horses and men cannot put him together again

    The rhyme says all the King's horses and all the King's men cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

  5. What happens to Jack and Jill after they go up the hill to fetch water?

    Show answer

    Answer: Jack falls down and breaks his crown, and Jill comes tumbling after

    Jack falls and breaks his crown, and Jill comes tumbling down after him.

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