The Squirrel (Little Squirrel, Living There) Lyrics
A child offers a squirrel a cage, a wheel to run in and a basket of nuts. The squirrel says no thank you: it would rather stay free in its hollow tree. So the child shares the nuts instead.
The Squirrel (Little Squirrel, Living There)
"Little squirrel, living there
In the hollow tree,
I've a pretty cage for you;
Come and live with me!
"You may turn the little wheel,
That will be great fun!
Slowly round, or very fast
If you faster run.
"Little squirrel, I will bring
In my basket here
Every day a feast of nuts!
Come, then, squirrel dear."
But the little squirrel said
From his hollow tree:
"Oh! no, no! I'd rather far
Live here and be free!"
So my cage is empty yet,
And the wheel is still;
But my little basket here
Oft with nuts I fill.
If you like, I'll crack the nuts,
Some for you and me,
For the squirrel has enough
In his hollow tree.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/little-squirrel-living-there/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes, Action Songs
- Tune
- Finger play, spoken or sung
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| In the hollow tree | Make a circle with one hand and poke the other thumb through it, like a squirrel peeping out. |
| I've a pretty cage for you | Hold your hands facing each other, fingers curved, like the bars of a cage. |
| You may turn the little wheel | Roll your pointer fingers over each other. |
| In my basket here | Lock your fingers together, palms up, like a basket. |
| If you like, I'll crack the nuts | Tap one fist on top of the other. |
What Does The Squirrel (Little Squirrel, Living There) Mean?
The child means well and offers everything a pet could want. But the squirrel answers that it would "rather far", much rather, stay where it is and be free. The child accepts this: the cage stays empty and the wheel stays still, but the basket of nuts gets shared anyway. The finger play is a small lesson that wild animals belong in the wild.
History and Origin
The finger play is from Emilie Poulsson's Finger Plays for Nursery and Kindergarten (1889), with music by Cornelia C. Roeske. Many of Poulsson's finger plays teach children about animals, seasons and work through hand shapes.
Learning Activities
- Squirrel watch: look for squirrels in a park and watch them carry and hide nuts.
- Nut sharing: share a small bowl of nuts or seeds at snack time, if no one has a nut allergy.
- Wild or pet: sort animal pictures into wild animals and pets.