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The Tales of Mother Goose is a cornerstone of children’s literature featuring charming nursery rhymes and moral lessons. The original collection of eight stories was written by French author Charles Perrault in 1696. These timeless stories like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Cinderella”  have become intertwined with children’s literature. Not only do the magical aspects and engaging plots entertain children, but these stories also teach life lessons, emphasizing important virtues all children should learn. While connected to the original collection of fairy tales, the character of Mother Goose has become an iconic symbol of children’s stories, in part due to the nursery rhymes published with an image of a maternal goose on the front cover. Most likely a nod to the grandmother the verses came from as well as Perrault’s collection of stories, this had the affect of solidifying the figure of Mother Goose. These melodic verses are silly, yet captivating, introducing young children to language and rhyme . Both collections of fairytales and nursery rhymes have made the figure of Mother Goose a staple of children’s upbringing with its combination of entertainment, learning, and moral lessons.

While the first official publishing of these stories dates to the late 17th century, these stories have been passed down through generations for centuries. These stories have shaped the genre of fairytales and children’s literature, leading to countless adaptations through film, theater, or even more modern interpretations. The combination of enthralling nursery rhymes and educational fairytale classics have been beloved by children for centuries across all these different medias. Exploring the history of The Tales of Mother Goose, reveals why this is such a foundation to early childhood.

D.J. Munro, “She met with Gaffer Wolf,” from The Tales of Mother Goose, by Charles Perrault, 1696, 1901 edition by D.C. Heath & Co, Project Gutenberg. The Tales of Mother Goose has a collection of eight folktales that were passed down before being published by French author, Charles Perrault, in 1696. After its first publication, the collection's popularity grew and then was translated into English in 1729. This collection includes incredibly well-known stories that have become a staple in children’s literature for their entertaining teaching of important morals. One classic in this collection is “Little Red Riding-Hood,” which follows a naïve, young girl who is sent into the woods to visit her sick grandmother. On her walk, she runs into the Wolf, and, not knowing any better, she stops to have a discussion with him. He tricks her into telling him where her grandmother lives, and while Little Red Riding-Hood is easily distracted on her walk, the Wolf runs ahead to eat her grandmother. The Wolf dresses in the grandmother's clothes and eats Little Red Riding-Hood upon her arrival. This grim ending warns against the dangers of talking to strangers and the importance of obedience. Through this story children are meant to learn to obey their parent's advice and to be wary of trusting strangers. Other cautionary tales within this collection intend to teach children other important morals such as kindness, intelligence, resourcefulness, and many more important lessons. Overall, The Tales of Mother Goose provide children with an imaginative, fantastical way of learning, which is why it has remained a foundation to children’s literature for centuries.

Portrait of Charles Perrault (1628-1703) by Delpech, Francois-Seraphin. Château de Breteuil. Charles Perrault was born to a wealthy French bourgeois family in 1628. With access to many different opportunities, he attended university in Paris and explored different paths in Philosophy and law under the reign of King Louis XIV. He was an avid writer and very dedicated to his four children which led to his legacy, writing, Histoires ou contes du temps passé, which translates to Stories or Tales from Past Times. It then gained the unofficial title, Contes de ma Mère l’Oye, or the Tales of Mother Goose, and the published edition included an old woman on the cover weaving while telling stories to children. While incorporating Perrault’s own writing style, these stories were based on folk tales that had been passed down orally for generations, and Perrault was merely the first to write them down and officially publish them. Perrault’s version of these stories often included dramatized endings, which was a popular style within the French, like the story of “Little Red Riding-Hood” ending with the young girl being eaten by the wolf. These were intended to teach important morals often based on Christian teachings. With Perrault’s immediate success, he spurred the creation of the fairytale genre and influenced many authors to come, such as the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Anderson. Perrault’s stories have become classics within the fairytale genre with many being adapted by other authors or into different forms of media like plays, movies, and musicals.

D.J. Munro, “It Went on Very Easily,” from The Tales of Mother Goose, by Charles Perrault, 1696, 1901 edition by D.C. Heath & Co, Project Gutenberg. Another well-known story from Perrault’s original collection is “Cinderella,” a timeless fairytale of a young girl who, despite being mistreated by her new stepmother and stepsisters, always remains kind. Cinderella desperately wants to attend the ball held by the King’s son and is met by her fairy godmother who uses her magic to transform surrounding items, such as a pumpkin and rats into a carriage and horses. The fairy godmother then transforms her dress into a beautiful ball gown with precious glass slippers and warns her she must return by midnight. On the second night of the ball, Cinderella leaves in a hurry, forgetting a single glass slipper. The Prince, having fallen in love with this mystery princess, declares he will marry whoever fits the slipper perfectly. After the two stepsisters fail, Cinderella fits the glass slipper exactly and to everybody’s astonishment, she pulls the second slipper out of her pocket. Her stepsisters then beg for her forgiveness, and she graciously forgives them despite all their torment. Following her marriage to the Prince, she kindly ensures her stepsisters are taken care of. “Cinderella” is an entertaining story for children filled with fairies, magical transformations, and happy endings. While this fantasy is guaranteed to enthrall many children, it also includes important morals. Despite all the hardships that Cinderella endures, she stays a hard working and good-hearted individual. This teaches children that good things come to those with good character, as well as the importance of forgiveness. So while children are enchanted with magic, they are also learning how to be upstanding members of society.

Richardson, Frederick. Cover art for Mother Goose: The Volland Edition. 1984, arranged and edited by Eulalie Osgood Grover, Derrydale Books. Many people may not be aware that some of their favorite children’s stories such as “Cinderella” originated from Perrault’s The Tales of Mother Goose, but they will recall the nursery rhymes also associated with the character of Mother Goose. They may be familiar with the catchy verses of “Jack and Jill” or “Little Miss Muffet” from their childhood classrooms or the lullaby “Hush-a-bye, Baby” likely sung to them by their parents. These incredibly popular nursery rhymes have become classics within the genre of children’s literature for their clever rhyme schemes and entertaining appeal. This collection is thought to have been passed down from Elizabeth Goose, a grandmother from Boston who would regale her grandchildren with these silly rhymes. Her son-in-law, Thomas Fleet, wrote these rhymes and published them under the title, “Songs for the Nursery: or, Mother Goose’s Melodies.” Plastered across the cover page was a goose, likely a reference to Perrault’s The Tales of Mother Goose which was published a couple of decades prior and had grown in popularity within the United States. While no original copy of Fleet’s version can be found, his rendition along with Perrault’s solidified the symbolic image of Mother Goose. This figure is now often personified in its portrayals, wearing a bonnet, and aprons, among young children, perhaps combining both Fleet’s and Perrault’s visions. Mother Gooses connection to the fantastical stories of morals and melodic nursery rhymes established her as a prominent figure in children’s literature.