The Song of Sixpence: Picture Book

In Short

This book functions as an anthology of traditional nursery literature, anchoring the famous "Sing a Song of Sixpence" with the longer, more complex fairy tale "Princess Belle-Etoile" and a whimsical "Alphabet of Old Friends." It serves as a visual and literary bridge between the simple, percussive nature of rhymes and the expansive, moralistic world of classic fables. By weaving together the mundane—like bread and honey or a lost sheep—with the extraordinary—like singing apples and enchanted birds—it preserves a specific Victorian sensibility that remains a cornerstone of the nursery canon.

The Story

The volume opens with the rhythmic, surreal scene of a King, a Queen, and a Maid, all interrupted by the sudden appearance of four-and-twenty blackbirds and a violent avian intrusion. This sets a tone of unpredictable whimsy that transitions directly into the far more narrative-driven "Princess Belle-Etoile."

The tale of Belle-Etoile follows three sisters, one of whom, Blondine, marries a King. After bearing three children marked by stars and gold chains, Blondine and her sister Brunette become the targets of their jealous sister Roussette and the wicked Queen-Mother. A servant, Feintise, is tasked with murdering the royal children but abandons them at sea instead. They are rescued by a Corsair and his wife, who raise them as their own, naming them Belle-Etoile, Petit-Soleil, Heureux, and their cousin Cheri.

As they mature, the children discover their mysterious origins and set out on a voyage to uncover their identity. Their journey is haunted by Feintise, who remains in the service of the wicked Queen-Mother. Seeking to destroy the children, Feintise uses her influence to send them on perilous, impossible quests for the "dancing-water," the "singing-apple," and finally, the "little green bird that tells everything."

Each brother is trapped by the dangers of these quests, eventually becoming statues in a frozen hall. It falls to the disguised Princess Belle-Etoile, aided by a turtle-dove she once spared, to complete the final task. By outsmarting the green bird, she gains the power to restore her brothers. The group returns to the King, revealing their true identities through their star-marked foreheads. The truth of the assassination plot is laid bare, the villains are punished, and the family is reunited.

The volume concludes with the "Alphabet of Old Friends," a series of vignettes that move through the letters of the alphabet, each accompanied by a snippet of rhyme or folklore. From the pragmatic advice of a cock and hen to the tragicomic tale of Taffy the Welshman, these verses offer a snapshot of a folkloric world where animals speak, tailors make mistakes, and everyday activities are imbued with a sense of playful rhythm.

How It Unfolds

The royal domesticity The book introduces the King in his counting-house and the Queen in her parlour, establishing a sense of order that is immediately shattered by the blackbird incident. This abrupt shift from regal stability to chaos introduces the reader to the unexpected nature of the nursery world.

The flight of the innocents The narrative shifts to the birth of the star-marked children and the treachery of their grandmother and aunt. By sparing the children’s lives, the servant Feintise sets the stage for a long-form fairy tale of survival and magical inheritance.

The voyages and the quest The children, now young adults, venture into the world to discover their origins, bringing them to the notice of their true father. Feintise, undeterred, manipulates their desires through the Princess, forcing the princes into increasingly dangerous magical trials.

The frozen hall The brothers fall one by one into the trap of the green bird, becoming statues in a silent, icy purgatory. This creates a moment of high tension as the burden of rescue falls entirely upon the Princess.

The restoration Belle-Etoile breaks the curse using the red feather and returns home to achieve a final, formal recognition of her noble blood. The story concludes with the restoration of the family and the downfall of the conspirators.

The rhythmic epilogue The final section abandons the long-form narrative for the sharp, staccato beats of the alphabet. Each letter provides a bite-sized encounter with traditional figures, grounding the book in the familiar cadence of folklore.

The People

The King and Queen represent the initial, rather detached authority figures of the nursery world, whose lives are disrupted by the very events they try to control. Blondine and Brunette are figures of maternal virtue, while Roussette embodies the classic, destructive jealousy found in fairy tales. The Corsair and his wife act as the book’s moral compass, demonstrating that status is less important than the care provided to the children in their charge.

Belle-Etoile is the true protagonist. She is characterized by her beauty and, more importantly, her capacity for compassion, which allows her to spare the turtle-dove—a decision that ultimately secures her survival. Prince Cheri stands as her devoted protector; his desire to please her is his greatest strength and his primary vulnerability, leading him into the traps laid by Feintise.

Feintise serves as the ultimate antagonist, a figure of persistent, whispering malice. Unlike the impulsive King or Queen, she is a schemer who uses the Princess’s own curiosity as a weapon. She is defined by her perfidy, and yet, her failure to destroy the children emphasizes the power of the magical world to preserve innocence. The Alphabet section introduces a parade of smaller, distinct archetypes—from the hapless tailor to the contrary Mistress Mary—who possess no grand arc but embody specific personality traits that children recognize instantly.

In Its Own Voice

"The King was in his counting-house, Counting out his money."

The opening rhyme establishes the mundane, domestic setting of a royal household before the intrusion of the blackbirds.

"The Princess saved its life, and let it fly."

This single act of mercy serves as the turning point for the heroine’s ultimate success in the fairy tale.

"I had a little husband No bigger than my thumb; I put him in a pint pot, And there I bade him drum."

This rhyme from the alphabet section captures the surreal, playful logic of nursery verse.

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores the tension between order and chaos. In "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and the alphabet rhymes, the world is fragile; an act as simple as hanging clothes can lead to a stolen nose, and a king’s treasury can be raided by birds. The fairy tale "Princess Belle-Etoile" elevates this, asking whether innocence can survive in a world governed by betrayal.

The narrative argues that compassion is a form of currency more valuable than jewels or gold. By sparing the life of a bird, the Princess gains the means to save her brothers, suggesting that the natural world rewards those who act with kindness rather than force. It is a story about the inevitable victory of truth over deceit, and the endurance of family bonds against external malice.

Why Read It Today

This book is a piece of living history for those interested in the evolution of children’s literature. It offers a glimpse into a time when folklore and nursery rhymes were not just entertainment, but a way to structure a child's understanding of morality and causality. The pacing is deliberate, and the language occasionally reflects the older, more formal tone of the early 20th century, which can feel quite charmingly distant to modern ears.

Readers will appreciate the rhythmic intensity of the rhymes, which are designed to be read aloud. The fairy tale portion provides a satisfying, classic structure of challenge and reward that feels both ancient and comforting. While some of the period attitudes—such as the casual cruelty in rhymes like "Taffy"—might surprise a modern reader, they are part of the raw, unvarnished charm of the collection. It is best read slowly, savoring the way the stories transition from the absurdity of a bird in a pie to the high-stakes quest of a princess. It is a perfect choice for those who value the intersection of classical illustration and traditional storytelling, serving as a reminder that even the shortest rhyme can hold a deep, lingering resonance.