"There was once" is a collection of fairy tales, stories and nursery rhymes retold by Constance Wilde (Constance Lloyd), the wife of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. "There was once" includes such fairy tales and nursery rhymes as: Little Red Riding Hood, Puss-in-boots, Little Bo-peep, Cinderella, Old Mother Hubbard, The three bears, Babes in the wood, Jack the giant killer, The three kittens.

The "Animedia Company" e-book edition (2013) contains the original colorful illustrations by John Lawson, which were carefully restored by a publisher. This edition is modified especially for the e-book format.