Mother Goose in Prose

by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum

"Mother Goose in Prose" by L. Frank Baum is a collection of children's stories published in 1897. This debut work transforms twenty-two beloved nursery rhymes into expanded narratives, revealing the backstories behind familiar verses like "Little Bo-Peep" and "Humpty Dumpty." Each tale begins with the original rhyme before unfolding into a fuller story. The collection features a girl named Dorothy who can talk to animals, foreshadowing Baum's later famous creations. Illustrated by Maxfield Parrish in his first book project, this volume laid the foundation for Baum's legendary career in children's literature.