In literature, Mother Goose (French: Ma Mère l'Oye) is a legendary author of nursery rhymes. No human writer has ever been identified with the name, the first known mention of which appears to originate from a French work, Loret's La Muse Historique (1650).

The name is now used as a generic title for collections of nursery rhymess, especially ones of a previous age.

It is also the name of a pantomime featuring nursery rhymme characters.

See also:

• List of children's songs
• List of children's stories