A cow jumping over the moon while a cat fiddles and a dish dances with a spoon

Nursery Rhymes · Traditional English nursery rhyme with new bedtime verses

Hey Diddle Diddle

A fiddling cat, a moon-jumping cow and runaway crockery begin the familiar nonsense, followed by new verses that yawn, put the fiddle away and settle everyone for bed.

The traditional rhyme

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

More verses for bedtime

The fiddle played softly,
The bright moon shone,
The cow gave a yawn
And went quietly home.

The little dog curled
On a patchwork chair,
While dish and spoon rested
Together with care.

The End

Next story: Hey Diddle Diddle, Little Red Hen
Henny Penny Surprise me Tonight's story

About this story

The familiar six lines spend the last burst of energy; the new verses bring the same characters quietly home.

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Talk about it

The lesson

A little nonsense can make an ordinary night joyful.

Questions to ask

  1. Who played the fiddle?
  2. What jumped over the moon?
  3. Which silly part makes you laugh?

Words to know

fiddle
Another name for a violin.
sport
Fun or playful activity.
dish
A plate or bowl used for food.

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