In late May 1932, Martinů composed a cycle of short songs with piano accompaniment Four Children's Songs (consisting of the parts "Počítadlo" [Counting-out Rhyme], "Divokej holub" [Wild Pigeon], "Vlaštovička" [Little Swallow] and "Dětská hádanka" [Child's Riddle]) based on texts from Erben's collection. He dedicated them on June 1 for the birthday of his “little friend Annette,” who was the four-year-old daughter of Miloš Šafránek, later known as the art historian Anna Fárová. The texts once again confirm his strong focus on folklore, which continued to captivate him even in Paris.
Jaroslav Mihule, Martinů: Osud skladatele, Prague: Karolinum, 2002, p. 201.