The Da Vinci Cod and Other Illustrations for Unwritten Books (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This handsome book must be the year's most impressive illustrative feat." The Sunday Times on Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Who is the mysterious hero of Wuthering Tights? How do you Grill a Mockingbird? Are you brave enough to face the Heart of Dorkness?

There are many shelves in the library of unwritten books, all of them empty. Inspired by their blank pages and unfettered by know-it-all authors, award-winning political cartoonist Chris Riddell has created a remarkable collection of humorous illustrations for some of the finest books never written.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (April 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763630535
• ISBN-13: 978-0763630539
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,001,278 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply hilarious, January 11, 2008

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This collection of cartoons is hilarious. Each page is a visual/wordplay on the titles of famous books. The title piece is a caption that looks like a painting and is a fish dressed in Mona Lisa like clothing with the caption, "The Da Vinci Cod." Another is a hound dog in female clothing including a bonnet, with the caption "Tess of the Baskervilles." However, without question my favorite that had me laughing out loud is one featuring an adolescent boy zipping up while walking away from a urinal. There is a tear running from his eye, his lips are pursed in pain and the caption is "The Catcher in the Fly." Humor just doesn't get any better than that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flat-Out Funny, November 21, 2006

By	Wantz Upon A Time Reviews "www.wantzuponatime... (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Known for his political cartoons and book illustrations, artist Chris Riddell has assembled an entertaining collection of illustrations sure to please literature/English teachers everywhere. In THE DA VINCI COD: AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS FOR UNWRITTEN BOOKS, Riddell shares drawings that spoof famous book titles.

Besides "The Da Vinci Cod," there are drawings for "The Apes of Wrath," "The Water Adolescents," and "Oliver Bust." Sixty-six titles are spoofed, with the original publication dates ranging from 1776 to 2003, with the "apologies" to the authors at the back (in other words, Riddell provides a key in case a reader can't figure out the spoof).

This book is flat-out funny, and often irreverent. Literature teachers might get a kick out of assigning classes to figure out the title spoofs, as should the students (theoretically).

For anyone who likes to read or appreciates classic literature, this little book is a hoot. Take it home so you always have a few laughs available on an otherwise gloomy day.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
11/21/2006