My Gramma used to read my dad a childrens book when he was young (he was born in 1951) and she can’t remember the book but knows the phrase “(from the top top top) of his head head head” – the part in () I think is what she said but not sure. I think it might have been a golden book, and not sure of the rest from there. His name when he was little was Jimmy, not sure if that’s the character or not. Good luck, it’s not much to go off of. I could probably probe for more if needed from my Gramma. (i was hoping to surprise her). Thanks!
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
This reminds me of an obscure Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme:
There was a little man, and he had a little gun,
And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead.
He went to the brook, and saw a little duck,
And shot it right through the head, head, head.
Is it possible she’s remembering a collection of nursery rhymes? This one is included in ‘The Real Mother Goose’ by Blanche Fisher Wright and is probably included in other anthologies as well.
There is also a story based on this rhyme called ‘The Little Man and His Little Gun.’ The story was written by L. Frank Baum (of Wizard of Oz fame) and is included in the book ‘Mother Goose in Prose.’ In the story, there is a man named Jimson who stopped growing as a child so he was very small. He had a little gun made for himself and went hunting. He shot a duck, not realizing that it belonged to another man – Johnny Sprigg. The next day he went out to try to shoot the drake, but Johnny Sprigg (who wore a red wig) was hiding in the bushes to find out who had shot his duck. Seeing the wig, Jimson shot at it, thinking it was the drake. Mr. Sprigg then made Jimson pay him for the loss of both duck and wig. The following verses appear in the story:
There was a little man and he had a little gun,
And the bullets were made of lead, lead lead.
He went to the brook and shot a little duck,
And the bullet went right through its head, head head.
He carried it home to his good wife Joan,
And bade her a fire to make, make, make,
While he went to the brook where he shot the little duck,
And tried for to shoot the drake, drake, drake.
and later:
There was a little man and he had a little gun,
And the bullets were made of lead, lead, lead.
He shot Johnny Sprigg through the middle of his wig,
And knocked it right off from his head, head, head.
I hope this helps!