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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Lewis, whose bouncy The La-di-da Hare showed an unmistakable affinity with Victorian versifier Edward Lear, further acknowledges his inspiration with this inventive collection of rhymes about the poet. A whimsical prose foreword defines "Bosh" as "nonsense" in Lear-speak, and admits that these "runcible poems" are only loosely based on biographical facts. Then, with a turn of the page?and a turn of the oversize book, which is held sideways and, later, upside-down?a shadowy portrait of the infant Lear appears for the opening poem, "Born in a Crowd" (Lear was the 20th of 21 children): "I was just like a son to my sister Ann/ (Which made her a mother to me)./ Often we romped in the meadows and ran/ To the green leaf trees where the world began." Lewis delightfully approximates his source's deft wordplay, writing affectionately of Lear's oversize nose ("In the Middle of Your Face") and penning a letter to Lear correspondent Chester Fortescue, known to Lear as "40scue" ("I'm off 2 seek my 4chun with the sunrise?/ They say the weather's gr8 in Timbuk2./ I hope 2 paint 16y-weeny butterflies/ And catch a cagey cocka2 4 you"). Classic characters such as the Jumblies, the Owl and Mr. Foss the cat make regular appearances in the narrative; smart caricatures of Lear gaze out of most every spread; and a closing chronology charts Lear's years. Using somber charcoal grays and earthy browns lit by dabs of pale yellow and blue-white, Kelley (The Necklace; Rip Van Winkle) establishes an overcast 19th-century atmosphere and subtly counterpoints the lightness of the verse. Literary chronicles seldom prove as amicable as this evocatively illustrated homage, and Lear himself would certainly be pleased that Lewis's limericks scan perfectly. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-In this tribute to the "King of High Bosh," Lewis draws on actual instances in Edward Lear's unusual life to create some entertaining and informative poems. Lear, the master of nonsense, had 20 brothers and sisters, gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria, suffered from epilepsy, and lived in Italy for many years; all of this and more are recorded here. One of the most humorous incidents related is when Lear overheard a gentleman assert that there is no such person as Edward Lear, and furthermore, that the Earl of Derby is the actual author of The Book of Nonsense. Lear could not help but confront him with monogrammed handkerchiefs and other proofs of identity. These types of fascinating biographical details, letters to friends, and Lear's own words and nonsense rhymes provide the fodder for Lewis's imagination. Detailed endnotes cite the source of his inspiration for each poem. Children will especially enjoy hearing these selections, as words like "fizzgiggious" and "meloobious" beg to be read aloud. Kelley's illustrations have a surreal quality that will appeal to older readers. The vertical design is stunning, and the format demands attention. The poems will work especially well when paired with Lear's original work, though they are strong enough to stand on their own.
Robin L. Gibson, Muskingum County Library System, Zanesville, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Lewis, whose bouncy The La-di-da Hare showed an unmistakable affinity with Victorian versifier Edward Lear, further acknowledges his inspiration with this inventive collection of rhymes about the poet. A whimsical prose foreword defines "Bosh" as "nonsense" in Lear-speak, and admits that these "runcible poems" are only loosely based on biographical facts. Then, with a turn of the page?and a turn of the oversize book, which is held sideways and, later, upside-down?a shadowy portrait of the infant Lear appears for the opening poem, "Born in a Crowd" (Lear was the 20th of 21 children): "I was just like a son to my sister Ann/ (Which made her a mother to me)./ Often we romped in the meadows and ran/ To the green leaf trees where the world began." Lewis delightfully approximates his source's deft wordplay, writing affectionately of Lear's oversize nose ("In the Middle of Your Face") and penning a letter to Lear correspondent Chester Fortescue, known to Lear as "40scue" ("I'm off 2 seek my 4chun with the sunrise?/ They say the weather's gr8 in Timbuk2./ I hope 2 paint 16y-weeny butterflies/ And catch a cagey cocka2 4 you"). Classic characters such as the Jumblies, the Owl and Mr. Foss the cat make regular appearances in the narrative; smart caricatures of Lear gaze out of most every spread; and a closing chronology charts Lear's years. Using somber charcoal grays and earthy browns lit by dabs of pale yellow and blue-white, Kelley (The Necklace; Rip Van Winkle) establishes an overcast 19th-century atmosphere and subtly counterpoints the lightness of the verse. Literary chronicles seldom prove as amicable as this evocatively illustrated homage, and Lear himself would certainly be pleased that Lewis's limericks scan perfectly. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-In this tribute to the "King of High Bosh," Lewis draws on actual instances in Edward Lear's unusual life to create some entertaining and informative poems. Lear, the master of nonsense, had 20 brothers and sisters, gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria, suffered from epilepsy, and lived in Italy for many years; all of this and more are recorded here. One of the most humorous incidents related is when Lear overheard a gentleman assert that there is no such person as Edward Lear, and furthermore, that the Earl of Derby is the actual author of The Book of Nonsense. Lear could not help but confront him with monogrammed handkerchiefs and other proofs of identity. These types of fascinating biographical details, letters to friends, and Lear's own words and nonsense rhymes provide the fodder for Lewis's imagination. Detailed endnotes cite the source of his inspiration for each poem. Children will especially enjoy hearing these selections, as words like "fizzgiggious" and "meloobious" beg to be read aloud. Kelley's illustrations have a surreal quality that will appeal to older readers. The vertical design is stunning, and the format demands attention. The poems will work especially well when paired with Lear's original work, though they are strong enough to stand on their own.
Robin L. Gibson, Muskingum County Library System, Zanesville, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
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