Tommy Thumb, Where Are You?

This variation of the finger song gives names to each finger and typically uses the same tune as "Where is Thumbkin," which is the French nursery rhyme "Frère Jacques" (or its English version, "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?"). "Tommy Thumb Where Are You" and "Where is Thumbkin?" are closely related finger play songs, both being English-language nursery rhymes and action songs of American origin with earlier versions sung in the early 20th century. The broader concept of "Tommy Thumb" in children's literature has a much older history, with "Tommy Thumb's Song Book," published in 1744, considered the earliest known collection of British nursery rhymes, suggesting that "Tommy Thumb" as a character or theme in children's songs predates the popular "Where is Thumbkin?" finger play. The song gained significant popularity through appearances on children's television shows like Barney & Friends and Sesame Street (Elmo's World), and is widely used in nursery, pre-school, and kindergarten settings because its simple, repetitive phrases and tactile actions aid in teaching children fine motor skills, hand anatomy, and following instructions. Common variations include different finger names (like "Pointer," "Tall Man" or "Toby Tall," "Ring Man" or "Ruby Ring," and "Baby" or "Pinky"), regional differences in closing lines ("Run away!" versus "Go Away!"), and different action sequences, with some versions including a final verse for "Fingers All" or "The Family" where all fingers appear together.