Twinkle Twinkle Little Star has become a favourite nursery rhyme sung to many excited and teary-eyed children since its inception. It began as a poem, published in 1803 by Jane Taylor, an English author.
The tune that now accompanies Jane Taylor’s poem is often attributed to Johannes Sebastian Bach, a German composer and child prodigy. However, while he composed a musical variation of the tune that was published in 1785, its origins are found in an anonymous French folk song.
The original composer of the folk song remains a mystery. No one really knows who created this memorable melody which now accompanies other favourite nursery songs.
Break out the rice bottle shakers, the drum buckets, saucepans and spoons for your favourite sing-along with this much-loved song or other popular children’s rhyming songs, such as:
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Baa Baa Black Sheep.
- The ABC Song (also referred to as the Alphabet Song).
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
- Three Blind Mice.
- Mary Had A Little Lamb.
- Jack and Jill.
- Brother John.
- London Bridge Is Falling Down.
- Incy Wincy Spider (also known as Itsy Bitsy Spider).
- Sing a Song of Sixpence.
- Ding Dong Bell.
- Humpty Dumpty.
- Little Miss Muffet.
- Hickory Dickory Dock.
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
- This Old Man.
- Yankee Doodle.
- Rock-a-Bye Baby.
- The Wheels on the Bus.
- Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
- Five Little Ducks.
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.
- The Farmer in the Dell.
- If You’re Happy and You Know It.
- The Hokey Pokey.
We’ve gathered the first eight songs from our list above to share their origin stories with you. You can find many of these nursery rhymes with lyrics and tunes at BBC’s School Radio.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
The full version of Jane Taylor’s poem, The Star, is available at The Poetry Foundation. Below, we provide the most popular stanza to this classic children’s lullaby.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Nursery songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star serve a greater purpose than solely entertaining children. They are important for a child’s development as they aid in language acquisition, coordination, and memory skills. Children’s nursery songs also provide a sense of comfort and security.
The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes helps children remember the words and melodies. Simple lyrics and catchy tunes make it easy for young children to join in and sing along. This not only helps with their literacy development but also improves their pronunciation and articulation skills.
Baa Baa Black Sheep
In addition to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Baa Baa Black Sheep is another well-known nursery rhyme that shares the popular French folk tune. Its simple melody and repetitive lyrics make it a hit with toddlers and preschoolers.
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes Sir, Yes, Sir,
Three bags full.
One for the Master.
One for the Dame.
One for the little boy
Who lives by the lane.
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, Sir, Yes, Sir,
Three bags full.
The original rhyme first appeared in the 1700s with similar words to the modern song. A few years later, it was republished with slightly altered lyrics. This version supports the rationale that the rhyming song was about medieval wool tax, imposed by King Edward I in the thirteenth century.
The ABC song (AKA the Alphabet Song)
The Alphabet Song is also a favourite as it helps children learn their ABCs in a fun and memorable way.
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P
Q, R, S, T, U, V
W, X, Y, Z.
Now I know my ABCs
Next time, won’t you sing with me?
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P
Q, R, S, T, U, V
W, X, Y, and Z
Now I know my ABCs
Next time, won’t you sing with me?
The ABC Song is well known for its use in teaching children to recall the English alphabet. Confusion can abound on whether the Z is pronounced zee or zed. A Boston composer, Charles Bradlee copyrighted it in 1832 and set it to music. In the USA, Z is pronounced zee, but in other English speaking countries it is pronounced zed.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a popular action nursery rhyme. The actions of rowing and gently rocking back and forth help develop a child’s coordination and balance. This rhyme is often sung in a round, allowing children to learn about rhythm and timing.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Three Blind Mice
Other well-known nursery rhymes such as Three Blind Mice, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and Jack and Jill tell simple stories that children can easily follow. These stories help develop their listening skills and comprehension and inspire their creativity by encouraging play.
Three blind mice
Three blind mice.
See how they run.
See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife.
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice.
Mary had a Little Lamb
American Author Sarah Hale originally published Mary had a little lamb in 1830s and it was put to music around the same time, although not to the current tune. Some decades later, in the 1870s, Mary Tyler, now aged 70, came forward to claim she was the original Mary in the poem which was a true story.
Mary claimed John Roulstone, a visitor to her school, had been inspired by the story and penned the original poem of three stanzas.
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went.
And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.
Jack and Jill
The earliest publication of Jack and Jill (sometimes written as Jack and Gill) was in London in the mid 1700s. It is thought that the first four lines may have originated even earlier in the 1600s, due to the pairing of water and after as rhyming words.
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.
Nursery rhymes also play a role in developing a child’s coordination and motor skills. Actions and gestures often accompany the songs, such as clapping hands, spinning around and falling down. Music is important in helping children to move and improve their coordination.
Brother John (or Frère Jacques in French)
Frère Jacques was first published under a pseudonym in the late 1700s in France. It was then translated into many other languages and is an ideal song for a children’s round and lullaby.
English version:
Brother John
Brother John
Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding-dang-dong
Ding-dang-dong
French version:
Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines
Sonnez les matines
Ding-dang-dong
Ding-dang-dong
Singing nursery songs also provides a bonding experience between children and adults. Parents, caregivers, and educators often sing these songs with children, creating a sense of togetherness and fostering emotional connection.
So, next time you find yourself singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or any other nursery rhyme, remember that you are not only entertaining the children but also helping them grow and develop in various ways. Nursery rhymes truly are magical!
Sing-a-long with Petit Early Learning Journey
At Petit Early Learning Journey we enjoy singing along to children’s favourite nursery rhymes and songs. We provide a child-led holistic approach to learning, where children have the choice to engage in opportunities and experiences that build on their ideas and interests.
Our centre studios invite all aspects of children’s learning and conversations between educators, families and our community. Our teams intentionally design environments to inspire children to explore their environments. Discover the possibilities of our learning spaces with your child by contacting your nearest centre.
