Author Will Moses tells the story behind the nursery rhyme in this volume circulated through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Mary Elizabeth Sawyer nursed a lamb struggling for its life who became very devoted to her. A visitor to the school wrote the poem which was later set to music by hymn writer Lowell Mason. Very interesting book! Also of interest is the continued existence of the Sudbury, Massachusetts school where the event occurred. The illustrations were appropriate, adding to the interest. ( )

I thought this story of Mary and her little Lamb was very cute. On pages, 7 and 8, when Mary decides to take the more weak and tiny lamb is a good thing for readers to see. The theme or overall message teaches readers responsibility and the importance of taking care and loving another. The setting was accurate according to the time. I saw this on page 14 and pages 5-6 where the barn is shown as well as the road Mary and her little Lamb ran on. The illustrations make the setting seem a little more old fashioned- which is when this story originally took place. The characters both acted realistically throughout the story. Pages 15-16, the Lamb is seen and described doing "Lamb-like" things. Seeing this also helps the plot make sense and makes things believable for the audiences reading. ( )

Young Mary Elizabeth Sawyer was born in 1803 in Sterling, Massachusetts. Growing up on the farm, she helps nurse a little lamb who was rejected by his Mother for being frail and sickly, to good health. She lives far away from any neighbors, so she and the lamb become fast friends. So much so, that the little lamb even follows her to school! Mary tries to keep the lamb hidden under her desk with a blanket over him. However, when her teacher calls her up to the front of the classroom to recite her lessons, the little lamb comes up to the front, too! All the little schoolchildren laugh about it all and since Mr. John Roulstone happens to be visiting that day, it inspires him to write the poem that later became the famous children's nursery rhyme.

Summary: This book is about the rhyme mary had a little lamb. It tells the story of a young girl named Mary Elizabeth Sawyer who lived on a farm in Massachusetts. She helped nurse a lamb back to health and the lamb thought mary was his mom so he followed her everywhere and to school where the rhyme was made up for her.
Personal reaction: I hadn't ever heard this side of the story so I thought it was interesting to learn the new side.
Classroom extension: I would have all the students sit together and try and make up a rhyme for our classroom that includes everyone

the true story of the poem Mary had a little lamb.