✦ A Nursery Rhyme ✦

Mary Had a Little Lamb

A nursery rhyme by Sarah Josepha Hale, 1830

Mary’s little lamb follows her everywhere, even to school one day, which was against the rule. One of the most famous children’s poems ever written in America.

Watch the Read-Aloud Read the Rhyme

Read aloud by Storyland Classics ✦ 1 min 07 sec ✦ Watch on YouTube

✦ The Rhyme ✦

Mary Had a Little Lamb

by Sarah Josepha Hale, first published in 1830. Public domain.

Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day, Which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out, But still it lingered near, And waited patiently about Till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?” The eager children cry; “Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,” The teacher did reply.

✦ About the Rhyme ✦

A Rhyme with a True Story

Unlike most nursery rhymes, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” has a known author. Sarah Josepha Hale, an American writer and editor, published it in 1830. It is said to have been inspired by a real girl, Mary Sawyer, whose pet lamb followed her to school in Massachusetts.

In 1877 Thomas Edison recited the first lines into his new phonograph, making them some of the first words ever recorded.

✦ Talk About It ✦

Questions to Share

Where did the lamb follow Mary one day?
What did the lamb do when the teacher turned it out?
Why does the lamb love Mary so much?

✦ Keep Reading ✦

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