Mother Goose: Simple Simon

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Short scenes, gentle humor, and a predictable pattern. Great for bedtime because it feels light and ends without big emotions.

Story Synopsis

“Simple Simon” is a Mother Goose-style rhyme that follows a character who tries, tries, and keeps missing an obvious step. He meets a pie-man and asks for a taste—only to learn he needs a penny. He tries a folk trick with a bird’s tail and discovers it doesn’t work. He attempts other small adventures, each time learning (in a silly way) that wanting something isn’t the same as being prepared. The tone is playful, not judgmental: Simon is curious and harmless, just a bit mixed up. For ages 4–7, it’s a cozy bedtime pick because it’s made of short episodes that are easy to follow. Afterward, parents can add one gentle line like, “Next time, we’ll remember what we need,” turning the rhyme into a warm moment about planning and patience.

Story Excerpt

Simple Simon met a pieman walking down the road to the fair. The pieman's basket smelled like warm, sweet pies. " May I taste one? " asked Simon. The pieman smiled. " Show me your penny first. " Simon looked in his pockets. " I don't have one, " he said. Simon saw a little bird hopping in the grass. He remembered hearing that if you put salt on a bird's tail, it would stay still. He sprinkled a little salt near the bird, but the bird flew away. Simon climbed up a tree to look at a bird's nest sitting on a branch. The branch bent and wobbled. Down tumbled Simon, right into a muddy puddle. Simon tried to catch a duck by the pond. He waited very quietly. But the duck…

In One Glance