Whether the stories began with French poets in 1650 or if we believe in the Elizabeth Foster Goose right here in Boston, Massachusetts, we all know and love Mother Goose. Who you do not know about, though, is a very unique seven-year-old named Julie. Julie will begin an exciting journey through four different Mother Goose stories after her mother gives her “The Real Mother Goose.” Let’s check in on Julie and see how her night is going…

"Ding... ding... ding..." I began to count in my head as the clock struck the hour. I knew it was already eight o'clock, but somewhere between the playing in my bedroom and the Disney television shows that I was watching I had hoped time had slowed down and it was really only seven o'clock.

"Ding... ding... ding... ding" The chimes began to slow as they went on, but that was only seven chimes! I was saved with another hour of playing before bedtime.

"DING!!!" That last chime finally rang, and my hope had run out!

"Julie," my mother called to me as she was washing the dishes downstairs. "You need to start getting ready for bedtime. I will be up there in thirty minutes for lights out!"

Getting ready for bed was the worst part of my day. I did not enjoy it at all! For me, it meant the fun of the day was over, but everyone else in my family was still awake. My older sister got to stay up as late as she wanted to, no matter if it was a school night or not! I was completely jealous because I knew they were having all the fun without me! Sometimes when I am in my bed I can hear them laughing and playing games down in the living room. Being a first grader really had its down sides sometimes.

So after about fifteen minutes of more playing, I finally got up to go to the bathroom to change into my pajamas and brush my teeth. Now I already know what you are thinking. It does not take a normal person fifteen minutes to get these two things done. I am not normal by any means. My mother would tell you I am the slowest seven-year-old in the country, and I might just have to agree with her! Every school night the clock begins to chime for 8:30, and I hear my mom yell at me while I am still trying to put on my pajamas.

"Julie," I heard my mom say, "you better be climbing into that bed when I get up there, or you are not going to see the new book I bought you!"

I loved getting new books for bedtime! Reading before falling asleep made my mind wander all over the place. I knew my mom had picked out something great, or she would not have said anything about it. I rushed to my bed as she placed her foot on the last step of the hall!

"Look what I have for you," my mother began to say, "A fabulous Mother Goose collection!  I just know you will love these stories and rhymes."

“Mom, do you know who Mother Goose is?” I asked.

“Actually, no one really knows who she is! Many say that the real writer of these rhymes has never been identified. But there is one tale that the real Mother Goose is a woman named Elizabeth Foster Goose from Boston. After Elizabeth’s husband died, she lived with her daughter and son-in-law. The son-in-law was a well-known publisher. Every day he listened to the songs and stories Elizabeth would tell to the children and he wrote them down in this book for you to read tonight!”

She handed me the book, and I began to flip through the pages. I saw pictures of pumpkins, fish, and candles, but the first one that caught my eye had a picture of two girls in the snow. I had to know what they were doing, so mom began to read me the story of Lucy Locket...

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Mother Goose: ECLIPSE Image of Mother Goose     Lucy Locket: Lucy Locket Nursery Rhyme Image