Owl and the Pussy-Cat [Library Binding]

Edward Lear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1999

A new edition of Edward Lear's rhyme, illustrated by award-winning artist Ian Beck.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This version of Lear's popular poem is distinguished by its very Victorian but unfussy illustrations, which focus not only on the familiar lovestruck pair, but on their very model of a Grand Tour. After festively boarding a luxurious "pea-green" boat decorated with gilded carvings, the couple--together with assorted animal families--ride gondolas, sail past the Statue of Liberty and land on a tropical island where passengers and crew celebrate their nuptials. In Todd's masterful renditions, these elegant, genteel settings and costumes are almost photographic in their clarity. Models of propriety abound: sumptuous teas are served, and guests gather for a shipboard musicale where the owl "sang to a small guitar." The dapper creature is resplendent in a plaid deerstalker cap and (later) in tails with blue spats, while his perfectly beguiling mate dazzles with her lace bustles and parasols. Detailed without being cluttered, the illustrations are inventive without stretching the text too far in this perfectly satisfying variation on an old favorite. All ages.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2 There are plenty of clever, humorous details in Galdone's bright watercolor illustrations, but on a whole, this book fails to live up to earlier Galdone classics. In this version, the two animals' pea green boat is the ``HMS Nonsense,'' and the bong-tree is a tree hanging with sounding bongs. These details will attract children, as will the careful matching of picture to text, but overall the use of color is too intense. The usual subtlety evident in Galdone's illustrations is missing here; each part of the double-page spreads begs for equal attention, and the pussycat looks near-drunk on most pages. Humorous, creative touches including the self portrait on the back flap of the jacket still make this book worth consideration, but Hilary Knight's charming version (Macmillan, 1983) or Cauley's romantic interpretation (Putnam, 1986) would be superior choices. Barbara S. McGinn, Oak Hill Elementary School, Severna Park, Md.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Bt Bound (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613085078
• ISBN-13: 978-0613085076
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,951,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars the preview does not match the book, July 27, 2009

By 

mb - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Owl and the Pussy-Cat (Paperback)

The "Look Inside" preview shows an edition with illustrations by Paul Galdone. However, the edition of this particular book has illustrations by Ian Beck. This is not obvious if you are not paying close attention.

Amazon engineers, you need to change this preview!! Your customers can google to get the poem if they are not familiar with it. Showing a children's book that is illustrated by a different illustrator is misleading!

NOTE: my rating is for the misleading preview, not for the book itself!!