Nursery rhymes read aloud

Read to Your Baby Every Night: 30 classic lullabies and rhymes to read aloud (Stitched Storytime #3) (Hardcover)

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2. Read to Your Baby Every Night: 30 classic lullabies and rhymes to read aloud (Stitched Storytime #3) (Hardcover)

By Chloe Giordano (Illustrator), Lucy Brownridge (Editor)

$17.99

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Other Books in Series

This is book number 3 in the Stitched Storytime series.

• #1: Read to Your Baby Every Day: 30 classic nursery rhymes to read aloud (Stitched Storytime #1) (Hardcover): $17.99

Description

A single volume of tried-and-tested lullabies and rhymes designed to share with your baby, illustrated with beautiful and tactile embroidery art.

Science tells us that babies develop best and connect with people and the world around them when they are spoken to, sung to, and read to. Even when they’re tiny, the sound of their parents’ voices helps them make sense of the world and feel comfortable with new people and places.

This treasury gives parents the opportunity to rediscover just how useful (and calming) 30 of the best-loved lullabies and nursery rhymes are in one, beautiful volume. Stunningly embroidered illustrations for each rhyme offer little ones a tactile delight and will make this book a keepsake to treasure.

Sooth little ones with gentle lullabies and nursery rhymes, including “Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,” “Oranges and Lemons,” “The Grand Old Duke of York,” and many more beloved poems and songs.

Stitched Storytime presents beautiful embroidered collections of nursery rhymes and folktales that young children will love. Also available are Read to Your Baby Every Day and Read to Your Toddler Every Day.

About the Author

Chloe Giordano began to sew in the last year of her illustration degree at the University of the West of England, and since graduating in 2011 she has continued to experiment with freehand embroidery, using sewing thread and hand dyed fabrics to make her work. Read To Your Baby Every Day and Read to Your Toddler Every Day are illustrated with her hand-embroidered artwork. Her clients include Penguin, Vintage Books, Bloomsbury, Liberty, and the BFI. Originally from Buckinghamshire, she now lives and works in York.

Lucy Brownridge is an author and editor of children’s books based in London. She writes books for children about history of art, history, animals, and science. She has an MA in history of art from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a BA in history of art from the University of Bristol. 

The Best Nursery Rhyme Books for Little Readers!

Books by Age » 3-4 » The Best Nursery Rhyme Books for Little Readers!

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Dec 30, 2022 ·  Modified: Oct 10, 2022 ·  This post may contain affiliate links

Nursery rhyme books are staples for young children. These simple songs and poems beg to be read aloud! We have our list of favorites right here, so be sure to check them out.

Nursery rhyme books delight the youngest readers

With bouncy rhythms and sing-song tunes, nursery rhyme books are the perfect read-alouds for young kids!

Nursery rhymes have been around for centuries, and for good reason. They are engaging for little ones, with rhythms that captivate young readers. Because they are short, nursery rhymes are the perfect length to read with busy toddlers. Silly rhymes make children giggle, and when kids enjoy the books you share together, it fosters a love of reading.

And don’t forget that many nursery rhymes beg to be acted out. Nursery rhyme books get kids up on their feet, activating listening skills and creativity as they act out their favorite songs and poems. There’s nothing better!

The benefits of reading nursery rhymes books

In addition to being delightful to read aloud, nursery rhyme books offer a host of benefits to young readers. Did you know that nursery rhymes are important for building early literacy skills?

Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight. –
Mem Fox, Reading Magic.

Nursery rhymes introduce children to language patterns and the rhythms of communication. The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes enhances memory development and listening skills. These catchy poems help with speech development and language acquisition, and they even help with numeracy, giving children a familiarity with numbers and words.

As if this isn’t enough, nursery rhymes are also terrific for introducing complex literary devices like onomatopoeia, alliteration, and imagery.

The nursery rhyme books on our list are broken down into classic compilations and then more “unique” books that have fun with traditional nursery rhymes, making them witty, modern and creative

So what are you waiting for? Grab some of our favorite nursery rhyme books, and share them with the special children in your life!

RELATED: Did you know there are more than 100 children’s book lists on Happily Ever Elephants? Be sure to take a look at all of our fantastic lists!

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous nursery rhyme?

Depending on who you ask and where you research, the answers vary! However, some of the most famous nursery rhymes include Hickory Dickory Dock, Little Miss Muffet, Jack and Jill, Incy-Wincey Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Humpty Dumpty, and Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Why is it important to read nursery rhymes?

Nursery rhyme books have tremendous benefits for young children and are especially important for building early literacy skills. They introduce kids to language development, help enhance vocabulary, activate memory and listening skills, and even help with numeracy.

What is your favorite nursery rhyme book?

It’s hard to pick just one! I absolutely love Read to Your Baby Every Day, because it is unbelievably beautiful with each page looking like an embroidered blanket or pillow. I also love The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews for its diverse illustrations and the way it allows more children to see themselves in the pages. Both of these books are featured below.

Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

RELATED: Looking for great books for 2-year-olds and books for 3-year-olds? Check out these links!

We love these classic nursery rhyme books!

Read to Your Baby Every Day: 30 Classic Nursery Rhymes to Read Aloud

By Rachel Williams and illustrated by Chloe Giordano

Nursery Rhymes are pure magic when read aloud to children. They make for the perfect first stories, boost language development, and help your child fall in love with being read to each night. And if you have an older child at home – Read to Your Toddler Every Day is fabulous too, complete with 20 folk tales to read aloud. These two together are perfection!

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The Neighborhood Mother Goose

By Nina Crews

Children around the world have forever sung famous nursery rhymes, but never before has a nursery rhyme book reflected our beautiful, multicultural population. This lovely diverse picture book, set in a city neighborhood, includes 41 favorite rhymes and features kids just like your readers in this fresh take on beloved classics.

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I See the Moon: Rhymes for Bedtime

By Rosalind Beardshaw

I adore this gentle nursery rhyme book. It features famous poems by various authors, and it contains calming illustrations set both in nature and at home. Your children will love the diverse cast of characters and the darling, sleepy animals. This is one you will turn to again and again!

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My First Real Mother Goose Board Book

By Blanche Fisher Wright

This simple, classic board book is a perfect introduction to Mother Goose and her most famous nursery rhymes. With lots of white space, clean illustrations, and large text, your little ones will love meeting famous characters in this nursery rhyme book. Even better? This is one you probably recognize from your younger days, too!

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Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Ever

By Richard Scarry

With his trademark and unmistakable artwork, Richard Scarry introduces children to both famous and lesser-known Mother Goose rhymes in this darling collection. Kids fall in love with the animals in each illustration. It is well executed, large in size, and joyous on each page, making this a perfect nursery rhyme book for your child’s collection.

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RELATED: We’ve got a fabulous list of kindergarten read-alouds for you on Happily Ever Elephants, all of which make for great bedtime stories. Be sure to check them out!

Fun and unique spins on classic nursery rhyme books

The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense

By Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman

There’s nothing like nonsense to win the day and turn a classic nursery rhyme book right on its head! This compilation is nothing short of hilarious, as beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes are completely unraveled and put back together – kind of. Laugh-out-loud funny, this book features thirty-six old rhymes that somehow become zany and new. After all, when Humpty Dumpty sits on a chair and spends his time combing just one hair, do all the king’s horses and all the king’s men really have anything to do? Fantastic!

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La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for Los Ninos

By Susan Middleton Elya and Juana Martinez-Neal

If you are looking for a collection of bilingual nursery rhymes, this is your book! We love the Latino spin given to these classic rhymes, and the illustrations by the award-winning Martinez-Neal are cozy and delightful. This is a fabulous multicultural nursery rhyme book that is an important addition to every bookshelf!

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Honey for You, Honey for Me: A First Book of Nursery Rhymes

By Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell

Two former Children’s Laureates from the United Kingdom team up on this adorable nursery rhyme book that includes both popular and lesser-known rhymes. Perfect for reading aloud and complete with darling illustrations, your kids will fall in love with these sweet poems and learn some new rhymes at the same time.

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After the Fall

By Dan Santat

While different from the other nursery rhyme books on this list, this story is so wonderful (and one of my all-time favorites) that I had to include it! How do you get back up when you have been knocked down really, really hard? The fear can be crippling. But if you can muster up the courage to try again, the reward can be liberating. This wonderful story about what happens after Humpty Dumpty’s great fall is nothing short of exquisite. It is the story of how Humpty has become terrified of heights, unable to do the one thing he loves most. It is moving, poignant, and so emotionally resonant, and it is the perfect story to show how we can summon the courage to face our biggest fears. This is a book I actually keep in my own bedroom and reread often because it is incredibly powerful. See our full review of After the Fall here!

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Each Peach Pear Plum

By Janet and Alan Ahlberg

This classic book, both a seek-and-find story and an interactive dream, is a delight for young readers. Each page contains a unique poem and gives children clever clues as to the nursery rhyme or fairy tale that will come on the next page. Part riddle, part fill in the blank, and all fun, this is an interactive book that begs to be read again and again!

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By Maddie Frost

If you have babies or toddlers at home and you haven’t yet gotten your hands on the brilliant indestructible books that stand up to little hands and baby teeth, hurry up and change that now! This series is terrific, and there are tons of indestructible books based on nursery rhymes that we simply adore. We were always partial to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for its sweet illustrations. This is a perfect one to share with your baby before bedtime!

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Mary Had a Little Glam

By Tammi Sauer and Vanessa Brantley Newton

In this twist on the famous Mother Goose poem Mary Had a Little Lamb, young fashionista Mary is a style icon who helps other nursery rhyme characters get their glam on. But will they be too dressed up for recess? This book, with its pitch-perfect rhyme and hilarious illustrations, is a total hoot, especially for your young fashion lovers! For more great children’s books about clothing, click here.

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What are Little Girls Made Of?: Nursery Rhymes to Empower Young Feminists

By Jeanne Willis and Isabelle Follath

We love this creative and clever spin on classic nursery rhymes. Girls are damsels in distress no longer. Georgie Porgie will not make any girl cry, Little Bo Peep would never ever lose her sheep, and Humpty Dumpty is fixed by none other than a female doctor, thank you very much. We adore this remixed nursery rhyme book, perfect for all of you raising strong girls!

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Old Macdonald Had a Truck

By Steve Goetz and Eda Kaban

Excavators, front loaders, motor graders, oh my! Everyone’s favorite childhood song, Old MacDonald had a Farm, gets a fresh twist in this adorable, sing-sing book for all of you with kids that love construction books. Here, the animals are driving construction equipment and working on a farm at Old MacDonald’s direction. The illustrations are lively and the book will have you and your child singing some new lyrics – such as “E-I-E-I-HOE!” – for hours on end. This is also fabulous for any of your kiddos who can’t get enough books about transportation and vehicles!

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Row, Row, Row Your Boat

By Jane Cabrera

This is one of my favorite nursery rhyme books to share with my youngest students. It’s a fabulous spin on Row, Row, Row Your Boat, inviting young readers to act out the story and mimic all of the animals they see in the book as they row gently down the stream. We absolutely love this one!

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Jack B. Ninja

By Tim McCanna and Stephen Savage

Jack B. Ninja, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the bamboo stick! This is a clever and fun spin on a classic nursery rhyme that will be treasured by your young ninjas. They will love cheering on Jack B. Ninja as he scales walls, swims stealthily through secret tunnels, and uncovers a secret treasure. But when Jack makes a mistake mid-mission, will his ninja skills help him get home undetected?

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RELATED: Do you have big kids getting ready to read at your house? Don’t miss our fantastic list of the best early reader books!

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Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Reader Interactions

Read online “Poems for reading aloud.

photographer Elena Glushko

© Elena Glushko, 2021

© Elena Glushko, photography, 2021

ISBN 978-5-4474-9501-5

Created in the intellectual publisher

IF

In flowers, with a guitar, with a crane in his hands,
and calling the road to the mountains "home".
And speak in ancient languages,
and know where to look for the mandrake root.


And each time mourn the sunset,
wake up your house at dawn in transparent windows,
delight your garden with a random guest
and draw familiar wings.

9/15/1993

Phoenix

Open your faces, do not drink sherry -
to all the birds a bird - I am a Phoenix bird.
Turn off the chandeliers, light the candles.
Thief-dusk nimble will permeate the evening.


Throw all your pains, a burning torch,
at me. I am an oracle.
In fire, sorceress, will I burn? I will get stronger!
The fire dances magnificently.


I clutch my lyre like a heretic.
By a spark from the world - a bird sang.
I'll leave the lyre when I cool down,
To the beardless chick, the miracle son.

9/29/1993

Delicate you are mine

Don't crawl into the soul with your paws!
She is so thin,
she is so sonorous,
is like ice under the heel.


Trampling the road to the heart
with clubfoot
through the stomach.
Maybe
go the other way?

09/30/1993

Would go

Would walk, wander,
is still alive.
I would love you to tears,
so far.


Exchanged oak foreheads
for wood.
And the ocean would buy
big-big.

November 16, 1993

Persons

The lantern swings by the tavern.
Again late
wind bell ringer.
Again he jokes, wakes up the guests
in the shelter under my dilapidated roof.


I forget my name, I keep my face.
For each one hundred glances per day.
I'm insatiable for everyone, I can't look enough.
Let them be embarrassed, offended -
let them.


I remember hundreds of them, my passers-by,
rather unrecognized than non-native.
I don't make eyes - I look
point-blank.
Take without fear my greedy and generous
gaze.


Wait! I'll take a look, then you'll go
.
You look like a new song, a new life
.

02/18/1994

Little Witch

Funny, funny and enthusiastic,
I pull the string on myself.

is not disposed to crying and I will wink at failure.


I will playfully deceive trouble,
I will mockingly ask where the
navel of the Earth is (does
coincide with my pretty navel).


In a kibitka, confused by the wind,
I, inspired, rush.
And let the dusty roadsides
tremble in alarm.


I didn't cram black magic,
and I'm not new Cleopatra.
I am a witch. Small, blond,
cheerful and stupid.

04/18/1994

Around the world, around the world…

Around the world. Around the world. In life. Behind the mists.
Look at everyone you meet.
Companions of the faithful with empty pockets
always laugh out of place.


Satellites. Those who are called with a smile, donated
cherish.
Those for whom I will give without being greedy,
all my years in a row.

10/13/1993

Beetles on the beach

The world is a beach, and we are residents of flowing sand.
We build houses on the sand with a dream - for centuries.
Is it bad? If the wind of change blows,
I will build a new fashion house in place of the old walls.


The sea, the sun and the sky
are only for the careless.
And we, beetles, all our lives in the sand,
reasonable, kind, eternal ...
If this world is alien to you,
you are still in it, a big one, a particle.
In order (God forbid) not to dissolve,
forget to think about peace.


If this world is foreign to you,
is not a problem. We are all worlds a little.
You just came with a big spoon,
with your bottomless soul.


If this world is alien to you,
create a new one, more fun.
Then let the naked soul soar
next to the man-made moon.

04/18/1994

Ariadne thread

Ascending - a difficult path - I will not be able to.
Fine thread. The thread will burst on the run.
Became too wonderful, too high.
Too often worldly - "Shoot!"


My face is like a candle.
At night I babble poetry.
I am not sleeping. I am poetry. Cheeks - wax.
Where is my girlish festive gloss?


I have become too sincere - a child.
Too often the treacherous lump
approaches, rakes - I struggle:
both in myself and around with a wave I bend
I kill and confession-sadness
I hasten to tell.


Tell, expand, charm,
so that later they would return back
my girlish directness.
Not intentional, but directly the one,
that fell down for no clear reason.
But I can - save, not opening
the golden magic thread,
that drove and will drive
in the darkness of lost children.


Only I'm getting weirder and weirder.

05/11/1994

I will be without pose…

I will be without a pose, without screaming, without crying
I will not be a mimosa, but I will be otherwise.
I will stubbornly walk the earth,
I will not accept a single gram of peace in myself.


I will be killed more than once and not in jest
for dancing to my own tune.
Well, God be with them, I will burst out laughing and forget
insults - after all, in essence, good people.

05/17/1994

I want to hear confession

I would like to hear a confession. Confession.
And I want to expose hypocrisy.
It's duplicity, that's it. Here it is -
washed, painted, processed.


Our world is simple, folded. Rolled up
(doors slammed, curtains drawn).
The world is not real, but embroidered. Embroidered.
From childhood they say: “You won’t rise higher,
so sit down, the place is expensive. Expensive.
Rejoice, burst dumplings
with cottage cheese.


Cheer up. Tears are all shed. poured out.
Stretching up? Well, where are your wings?


What are you doing there? The unknown heavenly air is paved with stars, stars
.

03/05/1995

Monkey

A monkey walks on a tightrope.
Deftly balances with a pole.
Repeats the trick repeatedly.
The audience roars - sheer delight.


- Do a somersault! - She has shortness of breath.
- Can you rock and roll on the tightrope?
Don't break loose. The monkey is jumping.
Don't fall on the concrete floor.


- What and is that all? One more time!
- And what a tenacious one, look.
- In general, nondescript, not very.
All trembling. - Look, don't fall!


The audience held its breath.
Even the colorful clown doesn't count now.
The monkey jumped. Attention...
Broke. Not scary. Is there some more.

12/10/1995

After Stalker

And what about tomorrow? A skewed stalker
will lead us through rusty pipes,
will nervously sing to us through his teeth,
will remember the post-modern childhood.


On creaky and short stages
we will come to this room of subcortical fairy tales
all together - once or twice - all at once,
because there is no other way out.

05/04/1999

Marina

03/24/1994

M.C.

Swan: soul and neck. She sang - burned to the ground.
Too boldly burned. I'm sick of you.
I am rewarded from you - a load of immensity
and (well, why! No need) eternal sadness.


I would like to learn how to pretend so that loneliness does not break through
lips, eyes.

05/17/1994

You wore shoulders…

You wore your shoulders parallel to
with boundless smoothness shining.
And after: "Who is she?"
Your shoulders were an end in themselves.

01/31/2001

War

Boots of cold colleagues

Agnia Barto: the best poems to memorize with a 3-4 year old child

Agnia Barto is a poet from our childhood. We grew up with her poetry. Children's poems are saturated with kindness, friendship, fidelity. The poems of Soviet children's writers are special, incomparable with anything. But most importantly - they like children, kids 3-4 years old. The poems are easy to memorize, short and full of great meaning. Memorizing poems, the child develops not only memory, but also learns to be kind and responsive. In our collection you will find the most popular poems by A. Barto.

Short rhyme: Geese, geese

Geese, geese!
Ha, ha, ha!
Do you want to eat?
Yes, yes, yes!
So fly home!
Gray wolf under the mountain
Doesn't let us go home!

Easy rhyme: Ball

Our Tanya cries loudly:
She dropped the ball into the river.
- Hush, Tanechka, don't cry:
The ball will not sink in the river.