Mother Goose in Prose

Frank Baum was a famous author of children's books. He is best noted for his book The Wizard of Oz. France, England, and America all claim the origin of Mother Goose. In 1650 a small book was published in England containing some of these stories, but without the name Mother Goose. In 1697 Charles Perrault published in France a book of children's tales entitled "Contes de ma Mere Oye," and this is really the first time we find authentic record of the use of the name of Mother Goose. At the beginning of the 18th century "Songs of the Nursery; or, Mother Goose's Melodies for Children." was printed in the U S. Frank Baum has taken the stories that are so familiar and written them filling in details and lengthening some of the stories.