Oyfn Pripetchik

אױפֿן פּריפּעטשיק
By Mark Warshavsky

Oyfn pripetchik brent a fayerl,
un in shtub is heys.
Un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlakh
dem alef-beyz.

Zet zhe kinderlakh,
gedenkt zhe, tayere, vos ir lernt do.
Zogt zhe nokh a mol un take nokh a mol:
“Komets-alef: o!”

Lernt kinderlakh, lernt mit freyd,
lernt dem alef-beyz.
Gliklekh is der Yid, wos kent die toyre
un dos alef-beyz.

.en translation

At the fireplace

At the fireplace a little fire burns
And in the room it’s warm.
And the Rabbi teaches little children
The aleph-bet

See you children-dear,
Remember dear, what you’re learning here.
Say once again, and then once again,
“Komets-alef: o!”

Children, learn with happiness,
Learn the aleph-bet.
Lucky is the jew who knows the Torah.
And the aleph-bet.

Chicka chicka boom boom

Apple to Zucchini

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z
by Lois Ehlert

Apple to Zucchini,
come take a look.
Start eating your way
through this alphabet book.

THE CAT’S IN THE CUPBOARD

THE ROLE OF CATS IN NURSERY RHYMES
by Sarah Hartwell

Great A, little a, bouncing B,
The Cat’s in the cupboard, and she can’t see.

This of course is a play on the first letters of the alphabet, with alliteration for cat, cupboard and “C” (rendered “see” in the verse). This illustrates the use of nursery rhymes in teaching language and letter skills to young children.