I love Edward Lear's story and James Marshall's illustrations are magical. I don't like the version with Jan Brett's illustrations. I've never liked Jan Brett's illustrations. I've spent hundreds of hours looking at children's books and I always pass over Jan Brett's books. Her illustrations just don't appeal to me. Her illustrations are distinctive and I can always recognize her work but I don't like them. There is just something missing--they don't have any life to them or something. I can't explain it. I have always loved James Marshall. His genius transcends understanding. His illustrations complement Ed Lear's beautiful tale perfectly.

A very good illustrated version of the classic poem- the pictures are beautiful with a distinctly exotic flavour, great for all ages!

This book is just so cool. Longing for a trip to the tropics? Read this version of the book to your little one and you can at least feel like you are there. The illustrations are really sweet. They have a lot of details so that kids kind find new things with each reading. My two-year old loves this book. It is a great twist on an old tale

I was given this book by my father when I was seven years old and was thoroughly enchanted by it, and remain so to this day. The Owl and the Pussy Cat has passed into children's lore - many people know the rhyme through the song (was it Burl Ives?) or through new illustrated versions of it. They know the limericks (or at least the form, if not the rather esoteric content - the old man with the Beard, for instance, and the lady with the excessively long chin who

had it made sharp
and purchased a harp
and played several tunes with her chin).

But do they know of The Dong with the Luminous Nose, or the Pobble Who Has No Toes, or the short history of Violet, Slingsby, Guy, and Lionel? Or the illustrated botanical alphabet with such plants as the ManyPeeplia Upsidedownia (you'd have to see the drawing!) It would be impossible to say how many times I read, re-read, and enjoyed this book as a child and an adult, including the rather touching, affectionate introduction to the man himself.

Please, please buy this book. You'll never regret it.

Edward Lear's limmericks, humorous poems and other nonsensical endeavours all collected into one volume. This book never fails to bring a smile on my face, even though I've quite outgrown its designated age group. I think Lear's work can appeal to anyone with a wry view of the world and an affinity for the mildly grotesque (whatever that means). Need I also mention the endearing sketches which decorate the book and Holbrook's most helpful introduction? In short, this is the ideal present for yourself or your loved ones.

A wonderfully grim story about a man sequestered by loneliness until he meets his love when she sails to his island with her family. When her visit is over, the Dong can't rest until he finds his love by the light of his luminous nose. Gorey is articulate with his poetry. You will feel this book haunt you hours after reading it.

What can I say about this book...when I was 4 my father started reading this to me - by the time I was 5 it was a nightly ritual. This is one of Leary's wierdest, most imaginative, dreamlike books for children (and adults). And yes, I learned to read by matching up the rhythms of the story I heard night after night with the page numbers, pictures and shape of the words. A must for every children's collection.

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.

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.

I am not a huge fan of old "nursery rhyme" type poetry, but this book caught my eye and my 3 yr old boys and I love it! The illustrations are simply amazing as each page unfolds from 2 children visiting an eccentric, storytelling neighbor to the children becoming the owl and pussycat. My boys immediately noticed the firepole in the man's house among other curiosities. As the children enjoy a snack and the man reads the poem, the floor turns to water and the window seat to a pea green boat. The bespeckled little boy becomes an owl and girl becomes a cat. The poem is read a second time with them as the main characters and the illustrations cleary 'telling' the story. Just as fluidly, the children return to human form and their mothers call them for dinner as the poem winds down. This book would certainly be a wonderful addition to a classic nursery rhymes collection.

If you're a fan of Hilary Knight's artwork (and if you're not, you ought to be), you will definitely want this book. Those who are only familiar with Knight's wonderful pen and ink drawings for Eloise and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle will be amazed at the beauty of his full color illustrations. This book is good enough for either your child's/nephew's/niece's bookshelf, or (in my case) your own. The illustrations of a young boy and girl slowly becoming part of the tale are beautifully rendered. I am glad to see so many Knight books on the market again, and hope that i will get to see some more.

This is a very well presented hardback containing the best of Edward Lear. Perhaps not as complete as Holbrook Jackson's Complete Edward Lear, it nevertheless contains his best work, including A Book Of Nonsense, Limericks, alphabets and his most well-known poems, The Dong With The Luminous Nose, The Quangle Wangle Quee, and The Jumblies. The author's quaint illustrations are well reproduced throughout.

The reason this book is so important to comedy is that the incluence on people like Spike Milligan, Beyond The Fringe, and of course Monty Python's Flying Circus is clear. Lear was obviously the 19th century precursor to those humourists. Lear brings an educated and intelligent angle to his humour just as his successors did, and his talent as a poet and artist make this collection much more than just a collection of 'nonsense'!

I can see why Stacy of California thinks this is a weird "incomprehendable" book. The word is "incomprehensible" Stacy. It takes a person of a proper old-fashioned education to appreciate this fine piece of classic literature. We oldsters don't get weird modern art either, or some of the wacky movies Hollywood gives awards to but no one can imagine why.

Edward Lear's nonsense is of the best. Read it aloud! Your kids will amaze you by how fast they can begin to recite along with you! If you remember "The Owl and the Pussycat" from your childhood, you owe it to yourself and your children to share it and "The Jumblies" with them.

This book was just great. I had to keep putting it down because i was laughing so hard.