This article describes the benefits of teaching nursery rhymes to students, particularly as it relates to language and sound patterns. Most cultures have parallel forms of nursery rhymes, limericks and simple poetry that children easily understand and enjoy. Yet teachers of young children report that many of their students do not know a single nursery rhyme, limerick, poem or fable. The obvious reason for this is that parents do not read them at home or have access to them. The other explanation is more daunting. In schools across America today, the challenge is in the increasing number of children from war-torn regions around the world who are not fluent in their own language. Major school districts are faced with a task that is much more difficult than standard ESL instruction. However, teachers may use nursery rhymes, limericks and simple poems in unlocking the world of English language to all students. In fact, this may be one of the useful ways to instruct since simple rhymes teach language and sound patterns and human brain learns through patterns and connection.