Reader Rabbit

                                             Lissa

MONDAY'S CHILD
http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/2011/03/mondays-child-36.html
Rhymes for Children

READER RABBIT

Rosie Rabbit loved to read.

Mother called? She'd pay no heed.

She was reading, as a rule,

When it was time to go to school!

She would not get out of bed;

Reading fairy-tales instead.

With ears pricked-up she would devour

Words and pictures by the hour.

She was given many warnings,

But wouldn't get up in the mornings.

In the end the family

Said 'Ignore her. Let her be.'

So Rosie read for days and days

Happy in her lazy ways.

Outside her window grew a tree

Which Rosie didn't even see!

After all, she didn't look;

 She was too deep in a book.

Her window had been opened wide

And branches soon grew right inside!

Shoots and leaves began to grow

In her room, above, below!

To the ceiling! To the floor!

Where shoots had never been before!

Still Rosie read and read and read

Propped up on cushions on her bed!

Finally the book was closed.

 Rosie closed her eyes and dozed.

When she woke how changed the scene!

She was quite encased in green!

The tree had covered up her bed

While she had read and read and read!

At first she thought it was a dream;

Then she gave a great big scream.

'Mummy! Mummy! Rescue me!

My bed is covered by a tree!'

They cut her out and Rosie said

'In future, I'll get out of bed.'

*

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PICTURE PUZZLE!

The shadow crisp, outlined, confident.
The reflection of the shadow wavering, uncertain, confused.
Whence it came, puzzling. And all seen from my kitchen!
*

Lost!

MONDAY'S CHILD
http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/2011/02/mondays-child-35.html
Poetry for Children

LOST!

They're lost in the jungle and getting in a flap!

Isn't it lucky that Daddy's got a map!

*

Little Billy Bunny says 'I hear a thunder clap!

Isn't it lucky that Daddy's got a map!'

*

Leonardo Lizard says 'I think this is a trap!

Isn't it lucky that Daddy's got a map!'

*

Katarina Kitty says 'A monster's teeth might snap!

Isn't it lucky that Daddy's got a map!'

*

But Daddy's got a problem...........................

 'What a terrible mishap!

I mustn't let the children know

 I can't read a map!'
*

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WHY?

Mummy, why is water wet?

Why isn't water dry?

Mummy, why do fishes swim?

Why don't fishes fly?

Mummy, why are clouds up there?

And not down in the sea?

Mummy! When I'm old as you

Will you be as old as me?

*

Oooops!

            Jessie Wilcox Smith

MONDAY'S CHILD

http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/
Verses for Children

OOOPS!

Children chatter. Sparrows chirp.

Sometimes little monkeys...... burp!

Henrietta says I'm rude,

Says I mustn't gulp my food.

I do my best to toe the line,

But 'people' manners just aren't mine.

She's decked me in a silly bow,

Although you'd think that she would know

That I'm a creature from the wild,

Not some prissy little child!

I'll make her laugh! Ah! Now you see

She has giggled in her tea!

See! My little Henrietta!

Your manners aren't a great deal better!

*

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MADE TO MEASURE!

A man approached a carpenter for a box he wanted made;
He wanted it by the next morning; it could not be delayed.
'I need it to be two inches high, also two inches wide,
But it has to be at least fifty feet on the longest side.'
Two by two plus fifty feet!' the carpenter gasped with horror.
'Yes' said the man 'And please make sure it's ready by tomorrow.'
The carpenter said 'I'll make the box; I'll start this very minute,
But, please, I beg you, tell me what you're going to put in it!'
'Well then' said the customer 'This is how it goes...
I'm returning something borrowed.
It's my neighbour's garden hose.'
*

The Competition

                     Jutta Ash

MONDAY'S CHILD

http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/

supplied the prompt for Verses for Children

THE COMPETITION

It was the day of the Birdland Fair;

All the birds from the woods were there.

There were swings and roundabouts by the lake

And a competition for

The Best Bird Cake.

*

Every bird had done its best,

Working away in its kitchen-nest,

Where birds all go to stir and bake

And try to make the

The Best Bird Cake.

*

Tilly Titmouse said 'Mine is best!

Mine is the one that will pass the test!

All the others are merely fake!

Mine for sure is the

The Best Bird Cake.'

*

And, certainly, it was very grand,

With bright pink icing on every hand,

Tilly wasn't prepared to give and take

When it came to judging the

The Best Bird Cake.

*

Tilly joined in the great parade

To show the judges what she'd made.

Oh yes, oh yes, there was no mistake;

Tilly's, for certain, was

The Best Bird Cake.

*

But pride must come before a fall.

Her cake was heavy and wide and tall.

It began to shudder and then to shake!

It fell on the ground,

That Best Bird Cake!

*

A little black bird, who had made a bun,

Showed the judges what she had done.

Though she was only a humble crake

She won the prize for

The Best Bird Cake.

*

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PADDLERS!


Let's go down to the lake, lads!
Let's dabble our little webbed feet!
For the morning air
Is fresh and fair
And life is very sweet!
*
We'll appear to swim so smoothly;
The effect will be somewhat lazy,
But out of sight,
With all our might
We'll be paddling just like crazy!
*

Magic Music

MONDAYS CHILD

Verses for Children

MAGIC MUSIC

Did ever you hear such music?

There's a story in the notes!

A story of butterflies of gold,

And sugar-candy boats

Sailing on seas of lemonade

Among fish that are living pearls.

And everything can come true for us,

All the little boys and girls.

*

Did ever you hear such music?

I can taste the notes as well!

There's my favourite supper in it.

What a delicious smell!

There are apple pies and pancakes

And jelly and custard too.

And if we follow the music

All our dream foods will come true!

*

Did ever you hear such music?

There are play-things in the song!

Teddy bears and rocking horses!

Everyone, come along!

We're going to have fun for ever

With all our favourite toys!

Follow the Magic Music

All you girls and boys!

*
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KOOKABURRA KAPERS!

Yindingie made the animals, the insects and the birds.

They roamed around Australia in great numbers, flocks and herds.

Most of them were happy with the way life had begun,

Except for little Kookaburra; he was the solemn one.

In fact, he was a misery, for envy ruled his mind;

He wanted to sing like the other birds, of every breed and kind.

'Why haven't I a voice?' he cried; 'It really isn't fair

That I should be so silent when I'm flying in the air!'

Now Snake was getting skittish and he fancied Frog for tea,

And Kookaburra watched them both with bold intensity.

The Snake was looking evil as he slid to little Frog,

And finally he reached him as he jumped up on a log.

Frog jumped and jumped, now up, now down, now on the grassy ground,

And Snake at last saw something move, and pounced without a sound.

At that very moment Frog escaped and didn't he rejoice!

While Kookaburra laughed and laughed!

He'd found his special voice.

For Snake had grabbed at his own tail, which was curled around the log.

He'd taken a mouthful of himself, instead of the lucky Frog!

The Kookaburra's laughter rang throughout the land around

And other Kookaburras came to learn the cheeky sound.

Since then the famous laugh throughout the bush is always heard

And the cheerful Kookaburra is Australia's favourite bird.

*

Not Yet!

MONDAY'S CHILD
http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/2011/01/mondays-child-31.html
Verses for Children

NOT YET!

Goodnight Horsie! Goodnight Bear!

Time to climb the wooden stair.

Bertha has the candle lit

But I don't like it, not one bit!

Look at Donkey! He's sad too.

What will all my treasures do

When they're left downstairs alone,

Without a playmate, on their own?

Bertha doesn't understand!

She keeps tugging at my hand.

I can take my book to bed;

That is what my Mummy said,

But books don't cry, books don't feel sad.

Leaving pets makes me feel bad.

Never mind. I know, tomorrow,

We'll forget about our sorrow.

Goodnight Horsie! Goodnight Bear!

So long as you know that I still care!

*

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THE MUSICIANS OF BREMEN.

A poor old mule was listening as he stood at the cottage door

And he heard the farmer grumbling 'Goodness knows what he's for!

That old mule is worse than useless!' And then the good wife said

'I agree! He's certainly much too old! I think he'd be better dead!'

The mule heard his owners planning to put an end to his life,

Though he'd given such faithful service to the farmer and his wife.

'I'll not stay in this place any longer' said the mule, and then he planned

To escape and run off to Bremen, where he hoped to play in a band.

'I'll be off on the road by morning; I certainly know the route.

And when I get to Bremen I shall learn to play the flute!'

Sure enough, the very next morning, before it got too late,

The mule ran away from his masters, kicking down the farmyard gate.

He hadn't gone a great distance when he saw a doleful sight;

An old dog lay shaking and panting, having slept in the grass all night.

'What ails you?' the mule then asked him and the poor old dog replied

'If I'd stayed with my faithless master by now I would have died!

He says I'm too old to work now. He wont even feed me crumbs!'

'Then join me and travel to Bremen! You can learn to play the drums!'

Thus the mule encouraged him and they made a curious pair

As they set off going to Bremen to be musicians there.

Before long the two friends met with a poor old mangy cat,

Scrawny and thin and sickly, which once had been sleek and fat.

'I've been cast-out into the wide world, from my life-long cosy house!

Since my teeth fell out I've been useless; I can't even catch a mouse!'

So spoke the cat, with a whimper, but the mule said 'That's alright!

You can be a musician in Bremen for you know how to sing at night!'

So now there were three fellow travellers, and soon they gave a shout,

For they chanced upon a rooster whose feathers were falling out!

The rooster was weeping and wailing and this is what he said

'If I hadn't left my farm tonight tomorrow I'd have been dead.

I heard my masters talking and I understood their plot;

Because I'm old they were planning to cook me in a pot!'

'Now you're a great morning singer' the welcoming mule declared

'Come with us to Bremen and our troubles can be shared.'

Now, on the road to Bremen, in the middle of the night,

They passed a little cottage; from the window shone a light.

So they crept up to the window and peeped inside to see

A band of wicked robbers, all feasting  merrily.

Before them on the table lay, oh wondrous to behold, 

Enormous piles of tasty food, and bulging sacks of gold.

The mule and his new-found friends declared they would wait until the night,

And then they would raid the robbers' house, giving them an awful fright.

With all the robbers sleeping and enjoying pleasant dreams,

The musicians broke into the house! And then imagine the shouts and screams!

The robbers dashed outside post-haste, trying to work things out!

'That was one awful Monster' said one 'Without a doubt!

It had terrible feet to kick with! It had great big yellow eyes!

It had teeth as sharp as needles! And it made the most awful cries!'

'We dare not return!' said another. 'Let the Monster keep the lot!'

And all agreed that the Monster was welcome to all they'd got.

The robbers slunk off in the shadows and never returned again,

While the four Musicians sat down to feast, eating with might and main.

So they never became Musicians, for the gold let them live in style,

And all they did for the rest of their lives was smile and smile and smile!

*

The Queen of the Bats

MONDAY'S CHILD

http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/

VERSES FOR CHILDREN

Sadly, the last of this series.

THE QUEEN OF THE BATS

The Queen of the Bats in her dark, dark tower,

Was watching the moon at the midnight hour.

She let out a shriek that pierced the night...

'That wretched moon is far too bright!'

The moon just smiled in its appointed place,

With a look of benevolence on its face.

'Switch off the moon!' she screamed again

'The night is the Queen of the Bat's domain!'

But still the moon sailed by on on high,

Bringing its light to the midnight sky.

'Though you may shine as white as milk,

I'll capture you in my gown of silk!'

So saying, she sprang from the parapet,

With her bat-like wings as black as jet.

She aimed for the moon with all her might,

Swooping up to a dangerous height.

Up, up she went, still shouting out

'I'm coming, old moon, to put you out!'

But, just as she reached the stratosphere,

A cloud, that had just been hovering near,

Covered the moon! It was very weird........

The great big moon quite disappeared!

'I've won! I've won!' cried the wicked Queen;

'The moon will nevermore be seen!

All nights from now on with be black as pitch!

It all went off without a hitch!'

She flew back home feeling mightily glad

Because of the great success she'd had.

*

But her satisfaction was ended soon!

On the following evening,

There was the moon!

*

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MY YELLOW FERRY!

You may live 'in a yellow submarine',

But I've a yellow ferry of my own!

And in my yellow T-shirt I'm the Captain of my craft,

And they all salute when I come on the scene!

We'll go back and forth and back and forth enjoying all the waves

Across the Hunter River in a trice.

You may live 'in a yellow submarine'

But I think my Yellow Ferry's twice as nice!

*

Hide and Seek

Vivienne

MONDAY'S CHILD
http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/2011/01/mondays-child-27.html

supplied the illustration for childrens' verse

HIDE AND SEEK!

Once upon a time on a summers day

Two little cats went out to play.

They decided to play at Hide and Seek

Among the bushes by the creek.

'I'll count!' said Minky, 'And then I'll call.

You can hide anywhere, anywhere at all!

When I call out 'Ready or not'

I'll easily find your chosen spot'.

'All right!' said Pinky, 'Close your eyes.

Bet you'll get a big surprise!'

Minky counted 'One, two, three!

I bet you're hiding behind a tree!'

Then she counted 'Four, five, six!

Don't play any naughty tricks!'

She counted more, right up to twenty,

Then she thought that that was plenty.

So she opened her eyes and looked around;

Pinky, she knew, would soon be found.

She looked behind trees, and by the pond;

She searched the meadow and beyond.

She looked in the garden shed as well;

 Where was Pinky? It was hard to tell.

'Surely I'll find Pinky soon!'

Said Minky in the afternoon.

'Where can she be? Where can she be?

I thought I'd find her easily!

I'm getting tired! I want my Mummy!

I need some supper in my tummy!'

So Minky ran home, fast as can be!

And there was Pinky having tea!

Pinky laughed and Pinky said

'I was hiding in my bed!'

Said Minky 'But that wasn't fair!'

Said Pinky 'You said anywhere!'

Minky purred and said 'That's true!

I hope you've left enough milk for two!'

*

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HIS MARK.

(Two years ago.)

I was about to clean the window. ('About time!' did I hear you say?) *

But then I saw the finger-prints I was about to wash away!

They are little Max's and he is only two.

Washing-away his little prints seems an awful thing to do!

One day he will be three, then four and in no time twenty-five

And I wont even know him then for I wont be alive!

I'll save those little finger-prints for a day or two or three;

It's a good excuse for downing tools and having a cup of tea!

*I assure you the window wasn't THAT dirty! It's the magnification that does it!

*

Little Nicky Newyear

MONDAY'S CHILD
http://childrensverse.blogspot.com/2010/12/mondays-child-26.html
Poetry for Children


LITTLE NICKY NEWYEAR

Little Nicky Newyear, bubbly, bright and blithe,

Was discovered by his Mother, playing with Grandpa's scythe.

'Oh please be careful, Nicky!' cried Mother in alarm;

'It's not a toy for playing with and it may do you harm!'

'Grandpa says it's mine, now!' said Nicky, full of joy;

' He says it's mine for ever, for I'm his special boy!'

'For ever? I don't think so' said Mother, 'For I fear

That scythe will only belong to you until this time next year!'

Little Nicky Newyear felt as happy as a lark,

Saying 'Everything is bright and new and I'm going to make my mark!

I'm not going to hang around and look all sad and mope!

Here comes twenty-eleven!

And I am full of

HOPE!'

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A Folk Tale from
Russia

THE SNOW DAUGHTER

Once upon a time there was a husband and his wife;

They loved each other dearly and they had a happy life,

But, sometimes, they felt rather sad and doleful and alone

For they didn't have a little son or daughter of their own.

Their neighbours all had families to cosset, love and hold;

Friends said 'You'll be so lonely when the two of you are old!'

They kept their secret sorrow buried deep down way inside,

But many times, at eventide, they just broke down and cried.

And then, one day, the snow came down and settled all around

And, all at once, they had a thought as they saw it on the ground!

'Since life's unkind' the husband said 'Let's make a child from snow!

At least we can pretend, my dear, and only we will know'.

They scooped the snow and built it high as a young child might be tall;

And then they fashioned arms and legs, and a body neat and small.

They made a face, sweet as can be, and even fashioned hair.

And the wife was heard to murmur 'Never child has been more fair!'

When she was done they lifted her and carried her indoors.

Where she stood in all her glory on the cottage's stone floors.

And, suddenly, oh joy of joys, the girl began to stir,

They heard a sweet voice murmuring and knew that it was her!

She stretched, she yawned, she sighed, she coughed, and, finally, she smiled!

Their little daughter from the snow had become a living child!

The neighbours' children welcomed her when they all came around,

For she was a delightful girl as everybody found.

No weather was too cold for her; she revelled in the snow,

Although her cheeks remained so white when theirs' began to glow.

They skated, went toboganning, built snowmen round and fat,

And the girl ran round in flimsy clothes, without a scarf or hat!

Then came the day when soil showed through where icy wastes had been,

And on the leafless trees appeared the smallest tinge of green.

The skies grew blue, the breeze grew warm, the sun shone every day

And everyone rejoiced because the Spring was on its way.

All except one certain child who bowed her head and cried.

Her parents said 'Poor little one! Something inside her's died!'

Then, one Spring night, some soldiers marched along the village track

A troop of snow-white soldiers! 'We have come to take her back!

We are the Snowflake Army! She dare not disobey!

Come little Daughter of the Snow, we must carry you away!'

They swept her up and carried her far into the mountain tops,

Where the snow is deep and bountiful and winter never stops.

Summer came to the valley and the fields were bathed in light,

And every living soul rejoiced because the sun was bright.

But in one house such anguish reigned, such bitter grief and woe,

Because, forever, they had lost their Daughter from the Snow.

But summers end as summers do, the air grew harsh and chill

And one wild night the couple heard a scratch at their window-sill.

'I have returned!' their daughter cried ' I love you, never fear!

And I will winter here with you during this and every year!

But when the air grows warmer and the flowers begin to grow

Then you must say a fond farewell to your Daughter from the Snow.'

And so they lived throughout their lives, unhappy in the sun,

But their winters were a time of bliss until their lives were done.

*