Rhymekins Classic Nursery Rhymes

In 1988 and 1989, Funrise marketed as "Rhymekins" in various packaging a number of storybook plastic figurines together with matching storybooks. Some of these are fables, while others are nursery rhymes or fairytales. Maximum height or length 4". Made in China. Except for one, the source is unknown.

I am surprised to see fables so well represented among these figurines. TH, LM, and TMCM are all featured, as well "The Emperor Without Clothes." As I rediscovered these figurines, I found three of them apt for fables but then learned they are designed to go with fairytales. Now I have to find the Rhymekins TMCM pair!

LM: Scale was clearly not a goal here!

"The Emperor Without Clothes": I am pleased that they thought that meant that he was in his underwear! He originally came with the truth-telling child. He has disappeared, but we can hope that he has not disappeared in our life!

TH: Both figures are lively. The tortoise, whose source I happen to know, has a great smile! Tortoise $3 from Frances Thompson, Fremont, CA, through Ebay, July, '00. Frances writes that Funrise put out a line of storybook characters from fairy tales and fables. Now I have found many of them!

These three figures are part of the Rhymekins sets. As I discovered them, I thought easily of each of them as a fable character. Does not the little fellow on the left – who turned out to be Jack from "Jack and Jill" -- perfectly represent the attitude of the rich man who buried his treasure and then discovered that it was stolen? And could not that middle character be the farmer whose goose suddenly produced golden eggs? (I wonder if he is the giant or Jack.) And that little fellow on the right: Could he not be La Fontaine's "Gregoire" returning the sack of cash to the financier? For his makers, he was Jack, with his bag of seeds.