Buttons

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s quick and soothing—like a lullaby snippet. Great as a ‘one more’ after a longer story or as a calm palate cleanser before sleep.

Story Synopsis

“Buttons” is a very short nursery-style rhyme that sounds like a friendly street seller calling out to customers. The speaker offers buttons “a farthing a pair,” describing them as round, sound, and pretty—just right for city girls. There’s no plot to follow, which is exactly why it works so well for very young children. The words are simple, the rhythm is bouncy, and the repetition makes it easy to memorize. In bedtime routines, tiny rhymes like this can act as a gentle bridge from big, imaginative stories to rest. You can read it once, then invite your child to say the last line with you. Or you can sing it softly, like a quick lullaby. It’s also a sweet reminder that children’s literature doesn’t always need dragons or castles. Sometimes it’s just a small, cozy piece of everyday life—turned into music with words.

Story Excerpt

Buttons, a farthing a pair, Come, who will buy them of me? They're round and sound and pretty, And fit for the girls of the city. Come, who will buy them of me, Buttons, a farthing a pair?

In One Glance