Nursery rhymes

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  • Intro

    By the middle of the 19th century, folk or nursery rhymes were a routine part of a child’s education, and provided entertainment for most children in the home. This collection of rhymes and tongue-twisters was edited and illustrated by Charles Henry Bennett, who later worked for the magazine Punch. It introduces an element of humour that would have been appreciated by all the family.

     

     

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    Young children often respond well to the rhyme and repetition of nursery rhymes such as ‘Polly Put the Kettle On’. The poem has changed since the original: 'and let’s drink tea' has become ‘we’ll all have tea’, 'It will boil away' is now ‘They’ve all gone away’, and the third verse has been forgotten.

     

    CH Bennett, Old Nurse’s Book of Rhymes, Jingles and Ditties, 1858.

    Shelfmark: 12807.f.70.

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