A compact anthology of short rhymes and playful verse written in early childhood and arranged by the ages at which they were composed. The pieces use a childlike voice to render animal songs, holiday verses, riddles, light moral observations, and wordplay, occasionally experimenting with other languages and invented turns of phrase. Humorous sketches and simple portraits of daily life alternate with fanciful imaginings, and lively illustrations accompany the poems to emphasize their spontaneous charm and the development of a young poet’s imagination.