✦ A Nursery Rhyme ✦

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

A traditional Mother Goose nursery rhyme

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out, but out came the sun, and up she climbed again.

Watch the Read-Aloud Read the Rhyme

Read aloud by Storyland Classics  ✦  35 seconds  ✦  Watch on YouTube

✦ The Rhyme ✦

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Traditional English nursery rhyme. Public domain.

The itsy bitsy spider Climbed up the water spout; Down came the rain And washed the spider out; Out came the sun And dried up all the rain; And the itsy bitsy spider Climbed up the spout again.

✦ About the Rhyme ✦

Try, Try Again

“The Itsy Bitsy Spider” is a traditional rhyme that first appeared in print in America in the early 1900s. In Britain it is often called “Incy Wincy Spider.”

It is famous for its finger play, where small hands climb like a spider, wiggle down like rain, and make a big sun overhead. The spider never gives up, which makes it a little lesson in trying again.

✦ Talk About It ✦

Questions to Share

  • Where did the spider climb?
  • What washed the spider out? What dried up the rain?
  • Can you do the finger actions while you say the rhyme?

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