Here's a wonderful baby rattle with Little Bo Peep from around 1940s Little Bo-Peep is not just a Pixar character in the Toy Story franchise. No, she is also the subject of a nursery rhyme and song that is hundreds of years old. Let’s dive in.

The Earliest Version

The rhyme, which is all about a small character named Bo-Peep who has lost her sheep, can be traced back to 1805, though it may be older than that. Even then, the 1805 version only shows the first verse, about the adult Bo-Peep, little in stature, not years.

Prior to 1805, there was a kids’ game called bo-peep in the 1500s, much like the peek-a-boo of today. The term is mentioned in Shakespeare’s King Lear, but the rhyme itself, with the character and her sheep, has no record before the early 19th century. Vintage Sterling Nursery Rhyme Baby Rattle Teether - Little Bo Peep - 4" Long total weight 30.3grams