The Owl and the Pussycat: And Other Nonsense

K-Gr 5—Celebrating Edward Lear's 200th birthday, this collection features seven of his poems, including "The Owl and the Pussycat," "The Jumblies," and "The Dong with a Luminous Nose." Haunting spot art and spreads feature intriguing settings and spritely creatures, bringing out new dimensions of these beloved tales. Ingpen even devotes a couple of pages to a field guide of Bong-tree Land. The selections flow naturally from one to the next and appropriately conclude with "How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear!" For readers who want to immerse themselves in the writer's world, there is some biographical information as well as some reproductions of his paintings and a letter. Finally, there's a recipe for Bong-fruit Chutney. Serving as a nice introduction to Lear for young readers, this thin volume has a fanciful feel that matches the works of the poet it honors.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA