Beatrix Potter gathered material for a book of rhymes over many years. In 1917, when her publisher was in financial difficulties and needed her help, she suggested that Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes could be brought out quickly, using her existing collection of rhymes and drawings. The fact that the illustrations were painted at different times explains why the style occasionally varies.

Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes is number 22 in Beatrix Potter's series of 23 little books, the titles of which are as follows:

1. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
2. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
3. The Tailor of Gloucester
4. The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
5. The Tale of Two Bad Mice
6. The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
7. The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
8. The Tale of Tom Kitten
9. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
10. The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
11. The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse
12. The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes
13. The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse
14. The Tale of Mr. Tod
15. The Tale of Pigling Bland
16. The Tale of Samuel Whiskers
17. The Tale of The Pie and the Patty-Pan
18. The Tale of Ginger and Pickles
19. The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
20. The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit
21. The Story of Miss Moppet
22. Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes
23. Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes