An Edward Lear Alphabet [Hardcover]

Edward Lear (Author), Vladimir Radunsky (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Edward Lear's acrobatic rhymes insistently tumble from the tongue and celebrate the glorious fun of wordplay. Only Vladimir Radunsky's electric artwork could possibly capture this much energy. Within the quiet covers of this book, the artist springs loose the grandest kings, the highest of kites, a goose-stepping gander, and, even, Lear himself. The pages almost turn themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Edward Lear Alphabet was first published in 1871, illustrated with the King of Nonsense's own incongruously matter-of-fact pen-and-ink sketches. Evidently Lear composed this rhyming alphabet for some children he befriended in a hotel, leaving a poem a day on the family's breakfast table. "A was once an apple pie, / Pidy / Widy / Tidy / Pidy / Nice insidy / Apple pie," he begins jauntily. Kids will love repeating the verses out loud--"E was once a little eel, / Eely / Weely / Peely / Eely / Twirly tweely / Little eel"--particularly early readers just learning to sound out words. Vladimir Radunsky's modern, explosively colorful, rather Monty Python-like collages (reminiscent of Yucka Drucka Droni) complement Lear's simple verse remarkably well, considering the century-long leap in style and attitude. These bold illustrations, many of which conjure a bald, bearded, bespectacled Lear, make the whimsical poet's verse all the more accessible. Readers who adore Lear and his joyful frivolity should also investigate the 1846 classic A Book of Nonsense, a rollicking, ridiculous poetic romp that no child or adult should be without. (Ages 3 to 6) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Lear published these nonsense rhymes in 1871, yet the intervening century has not tarnished their brightness. In this exhilarating update, Lears whimsical presence makes itself felt in singsong verse and in antic images of a white-bearded gentleman who flies a letter-K Kite and runs from a letter-M Mouse. Lears choice of key words is delightfully eccentric, gaining steam through the course of the 26 letters with a predictable formula: E was once a little eel,/ Eely/ Weely/ Peely/ Eely/ Twirly tweely/ Little eel precedes F was once a little fish,/ Fishy/ Wishy/ Squishy/ Fishy/ In a dishy/ Little fish. Readers will find themselves wagging their heads and swaying to the words, which demand to be announced in a seesaw rhythm. The Victorian poets flair for ageless verse is pumped up by the pared-down, color-saturated illustrations. Radunsky (Yucka Drucka Droni) places collage-style images against flat, featureless backdrops of deep pink, hot yellow and Astroturf green. Each letter of the alphabet is posted on the page in a geometric shape, as if snipped from a book of clip art. The illustrator, like the poet who inspires him, takes the unserious quite seriously, and the result is an unpredictable alphabet that sustains its zany energy over repeated readings. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 25 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060281138
• ISBN-13: 978-0060281137
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,118,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vibrant romp through the alphabet., April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Edward Lear Alphabet (Hardcover)

Vladimir Radunsky captures all the true spirit of Lear's alphabet verse by pasting up this classic into a virtual scrapbook--full of colors and images for the next milennium. The dumpiest of pumps, a goose-stepping little goose kicking off his boots, and even Edward Lear himself runs wild through the pages. But this is not just an expression of virtuosity, it's a lot of fun, too. A wonderful introduction to the alphabet and the work of two masters.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun to read AND listen to, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: An Edward Lear Alphabet (Hardcover)

the reviewer below is right--this ISN'T your average kids' book and that is what makes it so much fun! its silly rhymes make my 2 year old laugh out loud and although he can't say all the words, he does like to try. stick with winnie-the-pooh if you like, but if you want some bright, nonsensical fun, try this book.