"Old King Cole" and "Little Bo Peep" are part of a famous collection of nursery rhymes credited to Mother Goose, a vague literary figure whose identity has been debated for centuries. British writer Mary Cooper published the first version of the familiar rhymes in 1744 and called it, "Tommy Thumb's Song Book." It was expanded and renamed "Mother Goose's Melody" in a later edition. The strong character-based poems often have multiple meanings, but the vivid images and strong rhythms are enough for children. Most historians agree that Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes are a collection of folklore and songs that have evolved over time.
British poet Edward Lear loved writing limericks and nonsense poems for children. Many of his poems are descriptions of eccentric characters who find themselves in absurd situations. His best known poem, "The Owl and the Pussycat," is a nonsense song steeped in rich fantasy. Lear was raised in London by his sister, Ann, who taught him to draw and nurtured his creative abilities. "A Book of Nonsense," his first collection of nonsense verse, was written for the children of the Earl of Derby, who hired Lear to draw illustrations of exotic pets. Poor health troubled Lear for much of his life. He died alone in Italy in 1888.
In 2006, New York native Jack Prelutsky was named the first poet laureate for children by the Chicago-based Poetry Foundation. Born in 1940, Prelutsky worked as a truck driver, photographer and a folk singer before becoming a full-time poet for children. He has published 35 volumes of poems often on simple topics like old food in the refrigerator, pancakes or flavors of ice cream. Prelutsky often uses his strong rhythms and rhymes to describe dreams, and sometimes, nightmares. His 1978 collection, "Poems to Trouble Your Sleep" is a favorite among fans. Prelutsky now spends much of his time touring the country stopping at libraries to read to his friends in the children's room.