Mother Goose Stories

The Queen is in her chamber. All she wants to eat is cheese supplied each day by Ellen’s dairy. Why won’t the Queen come out? / Little Bo Peep thinks she knows about sheep. She has only to take them to graze. But her sheep give her trouble — they’re off on the double — and it becomes one of those days. / Children must be in bed by eight o’clock and so must Wee Willie Winkie. But why is he late one night and can his mother find him in time?

Monsieur Le Pat-A-Cake is the finest baker in town. When he is asked to bake a cake for the King’s birthday, disaster strikes and he has to ask for help from his assistants. / The land is filled with dread for there’s a giant on the loose who grinds up bones to make his bread. / The King is always working and he never has time to play, until one night he goes to bed and bumps his head.

The Queen of hearts baked some tarts, all on a summer’s day because the King of Clubs is coming — but a knave steals them away! / Nicholas wants a real pony more than anything. Will he win the contest and the pony? / Hickety Pickety is a hen who lays nine eggs and sometimes ten. But when the truth is revealed, the other hens get a boost.

Tommy’s pastime is going fishing in a ditch. But the ditch is owned by Mr. Mean who tries to stop the fishermouse. / When Mother Hubbard goes to fetch her poor dog a bone, the cupboard is bare! Can Sherlock Hubbard track down the thief — or the bone? / The King lets Prince Lilimond rule for a day, but the Chamberlain fears the worst. For the Prince vows to share all the kingdom’s gold with the poor — and the town fills with beggars, some rich and some poor.

It’s the day of the King’s coronation and everyone’s going to town. Young Gilligren sets off with sixpence to make himself rich. But he spends the money and is left with only blackbirds which, by chance, are just what’s needed at the palace. / Jack and Jill go up the hill to fetch a pail of water. But when they tumble down there’s a very large fire-breathing surprise at the bottom. / When a shooting star comes down to Earth, Stella gets her wish — but it doesn’t turn out as she expected.

The school rule says “no pets!” But Woolworth the lamb has his own ideas! / Mary Mary Quite Contrary tries to grow some flowers, but it isn’t quite as simple as she thinks. For the flowers that she grows prefer to mix, not stand in rows. As they wither, Mary Mary’s heart sinks. / No moon in the sky? Why? Gilbert Filbert and Rufus the dog make an amazing discovery and take a night trip to Norwich.