Limericks have been around since the 14th century, providing a whimsical and often humorous way to narrate short tales. These brief poems are not only entertaining but also allow creativity to flourish, making them a favorite among children and educators alike. Once you grasp the rhythmic structure of a limerick, you can concoct stories that will have everyone laughing. This explains why limericks remain a popular choice in classrooms, captivating students with their playful nature!
What is a limerick?
A limerick is a five-line poem that follows a specific AABBA rhyme scheme. In this structure, the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with one another, while the third and fourth lines share a different rhyme. It may seem a bit challenging at first, but after reading a few examples, you’ll quickly catch on!
Edward Lear is credited with popularizing limericks through his beloved work, The Book of Nonsense, released in the 1800s. His whimsical limericks continue to inspire modern authors, as seen in collections like The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear. Some of the delightful limericks for kids listed here are directly from that collection!
Limericks for Kids
Here’s a collection of limericks perfect for sharing in the classroom. (Make sure to review them for appropriateness first!)
1. There was an old man from Nantucket
There was an old man from Nantucket
Who kept all his cash in a bucket;
But his daughter named Nan,
Ran away with a man—
And as far as the bucket, Nantucket.
2. A certain young fellow named Bee-Bee
A certain young fellow named Bee-Bee
Wished to wed a woman named Phoebe.
“But,” he said, “I must see
What the clerical fee
Be before Phoebe be Phoebe Bee-Bee.”
3. There once was a fly on the wall
There once was a fly on the wall
I wonder why didn’t it fall
Because its feet stuck
Or was it just luck
Or does gravity miss things so small?
4. There once was a farmer from Leeds
There once was a farmer from Leeds
Who swallowed a packet of seeds.
It soon came to pass,
He was covered with grass,
But has all the tomatoes he needs.
5. A canner, exceedingly canny
A canner, exceedingly canny,
One morning remarked to his granny,
“A canner can can
Anything that he can;
But a canner can’t can a can, can he?”
6. There was a young man from Dealing
There was a young man from Dealing
Who caught the bus for Ealing.
It said on the door,
“Don’t spit on the floor,”
So he jumped up and spat on the ceiling.
7. A fellow jumped off a high wall
A fellow jumped off a high wall
And had a most terrible fall.
He went back to bed,
With a bump on his head,
That’s why you don’t jump off a wall.
8. Here’s to the chigger
Here’s to the chigger,
The bug that’s no bigger
Than the point of an undersized pin;
But the welt that he raises
Sure itches like blazes,
And that’s where the rub comes in!
9. As 007 walked by
As 007 walked by,
He heard a wee spider say “Hi.”
But shaken, he shot
It right there on the spot
As it tried to explain, “I’m a spi …”
10. An elderly man called Keith
An elderly man called Keith
Mislaid his set of false teeth—
They’d been laid on a chair,
He forgot they were there,
Sat down, and was bitten beneath.
11. There was an old man from Milan
There was an old man from Milan
Whose limericks never would scan.
When told this was so,
He said, “Yes, I know.
But I always try to get as many syllables into the last line as I possibly can.”
12. I’m papering walls in the loo
I’m papering walls in the loo
And quite frankly I haven’t a clue;
For the pattern’s all wrong
(Or the paper’s too long)
And I’m stuck to the toilet with glue.
13. There was an odd fellow named Gus
There was an odd fellow named Gus,
When traveling he made such a fuss.
He was banned from the train,
Not allowed on a plane,
And now travels only by bus.
14. Is it me or the nature of money
Is it me or the nature of money
That’s odd and peculiar? Funny,
But when I have dough,
It goes quickly, you know,
And seeps out of my pockets like honey.
15. There was a young woman named Bright
There was a young woman named Bright
Whose speed was much faster than light.
She set out one day,
In a relative way,
And returned on the previous night.
16. There once was a man from Tibet
There once was a man from Tibet
Who couldn’t find a cigarette,
So he smoked all his socks,
And got chicken-pox,
And had to go to the vet.
17. I need a front door for my hall
I need a front door for my hall
The replacement I bought was too tall.
So I hacked it and chopped it,
And carefully lopped it,
And now the dumb thing is too small.
18. A newspaperman named Fling
A newspaperman named Fling
Could make “copy” from any old thing.
But the copy he wrote
Of a five-dollar note
Was so good he now wears so much bling.
19. There was an old man of Peru
There was an old man of Peru
Who dreamed he was eating his shoe.
He woke in the night
With a terrible fright,
And found it was perfectly true.
20. I know an old owl named Boo
I know an old owl named Boo
Every night he yelled Hoo,
Once a kid walked by,
And started to cry,
And yelled “I don’t have a clue!”
21. I once fell in love with a blonde
I once fell in love with a blonde
But found that she wasn’t so fond
Of my pet turtle named Odle,
Whom I’d taught how to yodel,
So she dumped him outside in the pond.
22. My dog is really quite hip
My dog is really quite hip
Except when he takes a cold dip.
He looks like a fool,
When he jumps in the pool,
And reminds me of a sinking ship.
23. I’d rather have fingers than toes
I’d rather have fingers than toes.
I’d rather have ears than a nose.
And as for my hair,
I’m glad it’s all there,
I’ll be awfully sad when it goes.
24. There was a young schoolboy of Rye
There was a young schoolboy of Rye
Who was baked by mistake in a pie.
To his mother’s disgust,
He emerged through the crust,
And exclaimed with a yawn, “Where am I?”
25. There was a Young Lady whose chin
There was a Young Lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin:
So she had it made sharp,
And purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.
26. There was a young lady of Cork
There was a young lady of Cork
Whose pa made a fortune in pork.
He bought for his daughter
A tutor who taught her
To balance green peas on her fork.
27. A painter who lived in Great Britain
A painter who lived in Great Britain
Interrupted two girls with their knitting.
He said, with a sigh,
“That park bench—well I
Just painted it, right where you’re sitting.”
28. Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory dickory dock.
29. There is a young schoolboy named Mason
There is a young schoolboy named Mason
Whose mom cuts his hair with a basin.
When he stands in one place,
With a scarf round his face,
It’s a mystery which way he’s facing.
30. The incredible Wizard of Oz
The incredible Wizard of Oz
Retired from his business becoz,
Due to up-to-date science,
To most of his clients,
He wasn’t the Wizard he woz.
31. There once was a cat from Spain
There once was a cat from Spain
Who loved to dance in the rain.
With each step and twirl,
She’d give a whirl,
And then start all over again!
32. A young bear named Lou
A young bear named Lou
Found a large pot of blue goo.
He painted his chair,
And most of his hair,
And then laughed at the colorful view.
33. There was an old owl who loved books
There was an old owl who loved books.
He read in all crannies and nooks.
With his big, round glasses,
He taught reading classes,
And got lots of appreciative looks.
34. A bouncy young kangaroo
A bouncy young kangaroo
Wore shoes that were bright, shiny blue.
He hopped in the sun,
Having so much fun,
And he made all his friends want some too.
35. A small, happy frog named Finn
A small, happy frog named Finn
Loved to leap and spin in the wind.
With a jump and a hop,
He just couldn’t stop,
Wearing always a big, wide grin.
36. There once was a dog from Kent
There once was a dog from Kent,
Who to the circus he went.
He juggled some bones,
And balanced on cones,
And was happy wherever he went.
37. A little bird loved to sing
A little bird loved to sing,
In the garden during the spring.
With notes high and low,
In the sunshine’s glow,
She made the whole neighborhood ring.
38. There once was a mouse so keen
There once was a mouse so keen,
Who invented a cleaning machine.
It swept and it scrubbed
And even dust-rubbed,
Leaving everywhere wonderfully clean.
39. A cheerful young duck in a pond
A cheerful young duck in a pond,
Of swimming was incredibly fond.
She’d dive and she’d splash,
In a jubilant dash,
Forming ripples that reached far beyond.
40. There was a bright young bee
There was a bright young bee,
Who buzzed merrily by the sea.
Collecting some nectar,
With skill of a collector,
As busy and happy as can be.
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