September 1. Story of the Day: The Fingers

This is a fun rhyme from The songs and music of Friedrich Froebel's Mother play (Mutter und kose lieder), edited by Susan Blow. The words of the English version are by Laura E. Richards.

This little rhyme is an example of series-of-body-parts.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

NAMING THE FINGERS

This is little Tommy Thumb,
Round and smooth as any plum.

This is busy Peter Pointer ;
Surely he's a double- jointer.

This is mighty Toby Tall ;
He's the biggest one of all.

This is dainty Reuben Ring;
He's too fine for anything.

And this little wee one, maybe,
Is the pretty Finger-baby.

All the five we've counted now.
Busy fingers in a row.
Every finger knows the way
How to work and how to play;
Yet together work they best.
Each one helping all the rest.

(illustration from the book)