Published in 1971 by Thomas Y. Crowell in Great Britain. Illustrated by William Stobbs.

There are beautiful, large-scale full-color art images on nearly every page.

To introduce the very young to the joy of making music, here is an enchanting collection of the worlds most beloved nursery songs.

Internationally known musician Elizabeth Poston, with a scholar’s regard for detail, has sought out the most authentic versions of all of these traditional songs.

Her original piano accompaniments are extremely simple, designed to be played easily by the nonexpert child or adult; they are primarily just guided to the tunes, for the songs are really meant for fun and singing.

In addition to songs of American and English origin,there are many from other countries, including France, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

There are funny songs and tender lullabies, Mother Goose rhymes and marching tunes—the whole gamut of songs passed down from generation to generation.

Distinguished British artist William Stobbs, principal of the Maidstone College of Art in Kent, has provided charming gouache illustrations in full color for every page of this sumptuous collection of those earliest nursery songs which are every child’s birthright.

Elizabeth Poston lives In Hertfordshire, England, whore she was born.

She was educated privately, at the Royal Academy of Music, and in Europe.

During her poststudent years, she was once locked up with a goat in a prison cell in southern Europe, but was released when she proved to be carrying not code but folk songs.

Returning to England, she joined the BBC’s staff. She resigned later to pursue her own work, but acted as adviser, producer, and composer at the inception of the BBC’s famed Third Programme.

She has traveled widely, distinguishing herself in almost all fields of music, and has covered unusually wide ground creatively in both words and music in the concert hall, theater, church, films, radio, television, and records, as well as in the field of music education.

William Stobbs has had an equally distinguished career as artist, illustra-tor, and educator.

He shares Elizabeth Poston’s meticulousness in research and her pleasure in introducing traditional beauty to children.

He has illustrated many books for young people and has been awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal for his work.