
Transcriber's Note:
TO CONSTANCE
NOTE
ILLUSTRATIONS
THE ADMIRABLE ASSERTIVENESS OF JILTED JACK
THE BLATANT BRUTALITY OF LITTLE BOW PEEP
THE COMMENDABLE CASTIGATION OF OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
THE DISCOURAGING DISCOVERY OF LITTLE JACK HORNER
THE EMBARRASSING EPISODE OF LITTLE MISS MUFFET
THE FEARFUL FINALE OF THE IRASCIBLE MOUSE
In this delightfully mischievous collection, familiar nursery figures such as Jack, Jill, Little Bo‑Peep, and Humpty Dumpty are seen through an adult’s wry lens. Each poem keeps the sing‑song rhythm of the original verses while slipping in clever wordplay, subtle satire, and occasional bawdy turn‑of‑phrase. The result is a nostalgic yet freshly funny ride that feels both comforting and surprisingly sharp.
The verses are presented in a series of short, self‑contained episodes, making them perfect for brief listening breaks. Accompanied by quirky illustrations from Peter Newell and Gustave Verbeek, the humor is amplified by visual jokes that echo the verses’ playful sarcasm. Listeners will enjoy the gently irreverent tone that turns childhood chants into clever commentary on love, vanity, and everyday absurdities.
Language
en
Duration
~41 minutes (40K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Melissa McDaniel, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2015-10-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1873–1904
Known for turning familiar stories on their heads, this American humorist and poet brought a quick wit to fables, fairy tales, and light verse. His work stays lively because it mixes playful nonsense with sharp timing and a real feel for parody.
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