Where is Thumbkin is a popular song among the little ones, especially babies. Based on finger play, it is a catchy nursery rhyme and easy for kids to remember as it has repetitive lines.
The origins of the nursery rhyme are unclear, but earlier versions of the song I Hear Thunder were known to be sung in the early 20th century. The song became popular after it was featured in the PBS series Barney & Friends.
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Set to the tune of popular english nursery rhymes like “Are you sleeping, Brother John”, “I hear thunder”, Bits of paper” and many others.
Lyrics Of The Rhyme Where Is Thumbkin in English
Here are the complete lyrics of the poem Where Is Thumbkin
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am.
Here I am.
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Where is Pointer? Where is Pointer?
Here I am.
Here I am.
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Where is Tallman? Where is Tallman?
Here I am.
Here I am.
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Where is Ringman? Where is Ringman?
Here I am.
Here I am.
How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Where is Pinky? Where is Pinky?
Here I am.
Here I am. How are you today sir?
Very well I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
Where’s the whole family? Where’s the whole family?
Here we are.
Here we are. How are you today sir?
Very well we thank you.
Run away. Run away.
What Will Kids Learn From Where Is Thumbkin?
The nursery rhyme Where Is Thumbkin is aimed at introducing children to their body parts, the fingers on their hand in particular, through fun and whimsical character names. Children also learn simple words and sentences that are used in polite conversation. The finger play that goes with the rhyme include hiding one hand and revealing it when the name of the finger is called out. This also helps babies learn object permanence when their parents play with them.
Theme Of The Nursery Rhyme Where Is Thumbkin
Where Is Thumbkin song for kids is based on finger play. In this rhyme, each finger of the hand has been given a name, the thumb is called Thumbkin, the first finger is called the Pointer, the middle finger is called the Tallman, the third finger is called the Ringman, and the little finger is called Pinky. The poem flows like a conversation with one person asking where a particular character is, and the other person becoming that character and and replying. It can also be sung by one person using whimsical voices.
The conversation the poem is in the form a general polite greeting. The first person asks for one of the characters, then that character replies, saying here I am. This is followed by a polite conversation asking how are you today, well, and thank you.
Rhyming Scheme Of Where Is Thumbkin
This song relies on repetition for rhyming. You can notice the pattern AA BB CD EE when singing out Where Is Thumbkin.
Further, the following stanzas also repeat the same lines, except the name of the finger keeps changing with every verse.
Words That Your Child Will Learn From Where Is Thumbkin
Names Of The Finger-Characters: Thumbkin, Pointer, Tallman, Ringman, Pinky.
While these are made-up names to add whimsy to the rhyme, the names point towards certain attributes of each of the finger.
Sight Words: Where, Here, Is, How, Are, Am, You, Today, Very, Well, Thank
Suggested Activities
1. Finger Puppets
- Take a sheet of paper and cut out small rectangular strips from it. You can use paper of various colours too
- Roll the strip around each of your finger, to form a cylindrical shape.
- On the paper, draw eyes, nose and a smile.
- Your finger puppets are ready! Reveal them one by one while singing along this rhyme.
2. Stage A Play
- Gather six friends, siblings or cousins for this fun activity.
- Cut out a giant palm from a thermocol or cardboard sheet.
- Make cut-outs on the finger of the sheet, large enough to peek the head out of it.
- Get 5 children to hide behind the palm.
- Assign characters to each of the children.
- Now, let the sixth child stand in front of the hand and recite the rhyme Where Is Thumbkin.
- Each child peeks their head out from the corresponding finger and says their lines.
Also Read:
I Hear Thunder Rhyme for Nursery Kids
One Little Finger Rhyme for Children
Finger Family Nursery Rhyme for Kids
