Hickory Dickory Dock

This Hickory Dickory Dock coloring page brings one of the best-known nursery rhymes to life with a little mouse climbing across a magnificent old grandfather clock.

The detailed drawing shows the mouse beside the clock face, surrounded by Roman numerals and ornate wooden details. Below, the glass-fronted case reveals the pendulum, weights, and clockwork gears inside. Bookshelves, teacups, candles, patterned wallpaper, and traditional furniture complete the cozy room.

It is a scene packed with things to color, but the mouse and clock remain firmly at the center of the drawing.

For younger children, it is a fun way to connect a familiar nursery rhyme with a creative activity. Older children can spend more time coloring the woodwork, clock mechanism, books, china, wallpaper, and other smaller details.

The Hickory Dickory Dock Nursery Rhyme

The most familiar version of the rhyme reads:

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.

It is a very short rhyme, but its strong rhythm and simple story have helped make it a favorite with generations of young children.

Different versions have appeared over the years, sometimes adding extra verses in which the clock strikes two, three, four, and beyond. New animals and actions are sometimes introduced as the numbers increase.

However, it is the original little mouse running up and down the clock that most people immediately associate with Hickory Dickory Dock.

The Mouse Ran Up the Clock

Our Hickory Dickory Dock drawing focuses on the most famous moment from the rhyme.

The little mouse has made its way right up to the clock face and appears to be holding onto one of the hands. Below him sits a huge traditional grandfather clock with a swinging pendulum and an intricate collection of gears.

Children can choose gray, brown, white, or even more unusual colors for the mouse. The clock could be finished in dark brown to resemble mahogany, lighter shades for oak, or completely different colors for a more playful storybook look.

The large clock face also provides an opportunity to talk about Roman numerals and telling the time while children are coloring.

A Grandfather Clock Drawing to Color

The grandfather clock is the largest feature on the page and contains plenty of interesting details.

At the top is the large clock face surrounded by an ornate wooden case. Below it, a glass door reveals the mechanical workings inside, including gears, weights, and the large pendulum.

Grandfather clocks use a pendulum to regulate their movement and keep time. The slow swinging motion and regular ticking sound make this type of clock particularly well suited to the rhythm of Hickory Dickory Dock.

Although the rhyme does not tell us exactly what sort of clock the mouse climbed, grandfather clocks have become closely associated with the story through children's books and illustrations.

How Old Is Hickory Dickory Dock?

Hickory Dickory Dock has been around for hundreds of years. An early printed version appeared during the eighteenth century, although the rhyme may have been spoken or sung before it appeared in books.

The wording has also changed over time. Older versions sometimes used slightly different opening words before the familiar "Hickory Dickory Dock" became established.

Nobody knows exactly where the unusual phrase came from. Like many old nursery rhymes, there are several theories about its origins, but no single explanation has been proved.

For most children, the meaning hardly matters. The repeated sounds are simply fun to say and make the rhyme easy to remember.

A Fun Nursery Rhyme Drawing for Kids

This Hickory Dickory Dock drawing has much more to color than just the mouse and clock.

The shelves contain rows of books and decorative cups, while candles stand around the room. Patterned wallpaper covers the walls, giving older children lots of smaller sections where they can experiment with different colors.

The clock itself can become the main focus. Children could try realistic wood shades or create a bright fantasy clock using reds, blues, greens, and golds.

The page can also be used alongside other nursery rhyme activities featuring characters such as Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, Jack and Jill, and Little Miss Muffet.

Free Printable Hickory Dickory Dock Coloring Page

This free printable Hickory Dickory Dock coloring page turns the famous nursery rhyme into a detailed scene featuring the mischievous mouse and his enormous clock.

Simply print the page and choose your own colors for the mouse, grandfather clock, books, candles, cups, wallpaper, and furniture.

Whether it is being used at home, in a classroom, or as part of a nursery rhyme project, this Hickory Dickory Dock coloring page offers a fun way to enjoy the familiar tale of the little mouse who ran up the clock.