Three Little Kittens is a popular nursery rhyme that tells the story of three kittens and their misadventure with a lost set of mittens. The exact origins of the nursery rhyme are uncertain, but it has been a part of oral tradition and children’s literature for many years.
It’s likely that the rhyme evolved over time through the retelling and adaptation by different storytellers. The rhyme imparts a simple moral lesson about responsibility. The kittens lose their mittens, and as a consequence, they are told they cannot have any pie until they find them. This teaches young children about the importance of taking care of their belongings and facing consequences for their actions.
Lyrics for The Three Little Kittens
The three little kittens, they lost their mittens,
And they began to cry.
“Oh Mother dear, we sadly fear,
Our mittens we have lost.”
“What? Lost your mittens? You naughty kittens,
Then you shall have no pie.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow,
Then we shall have no pie.”
The three little kittens, they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
“Oh Mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have found!”
“Put on your mittens, you silly kittens,
And you shall have some pie.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow,
Then we shall have some pie.”
The three little kittens put on their mittens
And soon ate up the pie.
“Oh Mother dear, we greatly fear,
Our mittens we have soiled.”
“What? Soiled your mittens? You naughty kittens!”
Then they began to sigh.
“Meow, meow, meow, meow,
Then they began to sigh.
The three little kittens, they washed their mittens
And hung them out to dry.
“Oh Mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have washed.”
“What? Washed your mittens? Such good little kittens,
I smell a wolf close by.”
“Meow, meow, meow, meow,
We smell a wolf close by.”