Author & Illustrator Profile
Edward Lear
14 Books
Edward Lear was an English writer, artist, and poet widely recognized for his playful nonsense verse and mastery of the limerick form. His highly original works include A Book of Nonsense, Laughable Lyrics, and memorable poems like The Jumblies and The Dong with a Luminous Nose. He often illustrated his own writing with eccentric, wildly imaginative line drawings that perfectly matched his absurd humor. Lear's whimsical approach to language helped shape the long-standing tradition of humorous poetry for children.
High atop the Crumpetty Tree sits the Quangle Wangle, hiding his face beneath a truly gigantic beaver hat. Life is peaceful but undeniably lonely when your hat is a hundred and two feet wide and you have no one to share it with. Everything changes the day Mr. and Mrs. Canary arrive, politely asking if they might build a nest in the ribbons of his lovely hat. Soon, a whole parade of curious creatures comes flocking to join them. From the Stork and the Duck to the Pobble who has no toes and the Dong with a luminous nose, the Quangle Wangle's hat becomes a bustling home for an odd and delightful crew. This classic nonsense tale plays with language and imagination, celebrating the unexpected joys of welcoming new friends into your world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Join the grand King and Queen of the Pelicans as they sing and dance along the sunny banks of the Nile. This joyful collection gathers three favorite nonsense tales into one colorful adventure. First, you will meet the proud pelican royalty who love their river home and their splendid chorus. Next, follow the famous Owl and the Pussycat as they set sail in a beautiful pea-green boat with honey and plenty of money. Finally, discover the hilarious consequences of a very strange wardrobe in the story of the New Vestments. Filled with musical rhymes and delightful wordplay, these stories celebrate love, music, and the fun of being a little bit silly. The bouncing verses make every page perfect for reading out loud, bringing these beloved and peculiar characters right into your room.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
42 Pages
Duck is stuck in a nasty, damp pond and desperately wishes to see the world. Kangaroo has long, powerful legs and can hop all the way around the globe. When Duck politely asks for a ride on Kangaroo's back, it seems like the perfect solution for a grand adventure. There is just one tiny problem. Kangaroo is worried that Duck's cold, wet feet might give him the rheumatism. To make this friendship work, Duck must come up with a clever plan to keep Kangaroo warm and cozy on their travels. This delightful rhyming story proves that with a little compromise, teamwork, and some thick worsted socks, even the most unlikely pair of friends can achieve their dreams. Get ready for a bouncy, joyful trip filled with humor and loyalty.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
46 Pages
An eccentric old man decides his regular clothes are far too boring, so he invents a brand new outfit made entirely out of food and peculiar household items. With a hat made of cabbage leaves, a shirt sewn from pancakes, and a waistcoat of pork chops, he proudly steps out for a walk through town. It seems like a brilliant display of fashion until the local wildlife catches a whiff of his delicious suit. Soon, a hungry parade of dogs, cats, cows, and even mice begins chasing him down the street, eager for a tasty snack. This hilarious, fast-paced poem shows exactly why you should never wear your lunch. It is a wildly funny, rolling adventure filled with ridiculous imagery and bouncing rhythms that will leave you laughing out loud.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Step into a completely ridiculous world filled with glowing noses, bouncy rhythms, and characters who never do what you expect. This delightful treasury gathers some of the funniest and most inventive poems ever written. You will encounter the tragic but sweet tale of the Dong with a Luminous Nose, discover peculiar creatures making strange decisions, and read clever songs that practically sing themselves off the page. Each lyric twists language into surprising shapes, blending pure nonsense with just enough emotion to make you care about these bizarre friends. It is a playful puzzle of words designed to tickle your imagination and make you laugh. Perfect for reading aloud, this classic collection shows how much fun you can have when you stop trying to make perfect sense and just enjoy the music of poetry.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
60 Pages
Two famously ridiculous tales come together in one hilarious book. First, travel to the Coast of Coromandel to meet the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. His head is remarkably large, his body is remarkably small, and he is desperately trying to win the heart of a lady who is already busy with other things. It is a sweet, silly story about love that does not quite work out. Then, turn the page to discover the absolute chaos of The New Vestments. An eccentric old man creates a highly unusual suit entirely out of tasty food, only to realize that wearing a pancake shirt and a pork chop waistcoat makes you very popular with every hungry animal in town. These rhythmic, bouncing poems offer a perfect mix of gentle sadness, wild chases, and brilliant wordplay.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Meet an old man with a beard full of nesting birds, a young lady whose nose reaches all the way to her toes, and a whole cast of wonderfully weird characters. This legendary collection is packed from cover to cover with hilarious limericks and bizarre sketches that celebrate the joy of being completely ridiculous. Every page introduces a new, eccentric person dealing with a silly problem in the most absurd way possible. The clever, bouncing rhymes are incredibly catchy, making them impossible to read just once without wanting to share them out loud. It is the ultimate playground of language where logic goes out the window and pure fun takes the wheel. Discover the timeless humor that has kept readers laughing out loud for generations.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
290 Pages
Prepare to laugh as you flip through pages filled with utterly ridiculous rhymes and bizarre botanical drawings. This classic collection invites you into a universe where logic takes a vacation and imagination completely takes over. You will encounter strange individuals making questionable choices, peculiar plants that definitely do not grow in a standard garden, and catchy limericks that stick in your head for days. The witty combination of bizarre sketches and clever wordplay shows exactly why nonsense verse is so much fun to read aloud. Whether you are discovering the strange habits of unusual characters or admiring the impossible flowers, the brilliant absurdity keeps you guessing. It is a wonderfully weird reading experience that proves poetry does not always have to make perfect sense to be highly entertaining.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
310 Pages
Step into a brilliantly absurd world where normal rules completely disappear. This delightful collection uncovers hidden gems of nonsense rhymes and whimsical sketches that bring everyday objects and peculiar creatures to life. From teapots and quails to tumbling snails, the playful verses twist language into clever, unexpected shapes. You will discover bouncy rhythms and silly scenarios designed to make you laugh out loud and wonder what strange thing might happen next. Each poem acts like a tiny puzzle of words, perfect for reading aloud and sharing with friends. The inventive language encourages you to play with sounds and see the humor in the completely ridiculous. It is an invitation to let your imagination run wild and appreciate the simple joy of words that exist just to be fun.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
110 Pages
The Pobble sets out for a grand swim across the Bristol Channel, carefully wrapping his nose in a piece of scarlet flannel to keep out the cold. His Aunt Jobiska always told him that a Pobble is perfectly safe as long as he protects his nose. But when he finally reaches the other side, a startling discovery is made. All ten of his toes have mysteriously vanished. Did the fish eat them? Did he leave them behind? No one knows for sure. Despite the shocking loss, the brave Pobble discovers that life without toes is actually quite manageable, especially when you have a caring aunt waiting with a feast of eggs and buttercups. This rhythmic, funny poem turns a minor disaster into a charming and silly adventure.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
23 Pages
Dive into a brilliant world where alphabets misbehave, strange plants bloom, and animals embark on impossible journeys. This packed treasury of nonsense bursts with funny stories, clever songs, and completely unbelievable facts. You will set sail with the famous Owl and the Pussycat, travel alongside the brave Jumblies, and learn the bizarre history of the Seven Families of the Lake-Popple. Each section offers a new surprise, from alphabet rhymes that twist your tongue to botanical drawings of flowers you will never see in a park. The playful language bounces off the page, challenging you to keep a straight face while reading about dancing animals and singing birds. It is a fantastic celebration of words and imagination that proves reading should always be an adventure.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
156 Pages
On the dark and rugged Hills of the Chankly Bore, a lonely figure wanders through the night with a spectacular, glowing nose. The Dong was once a happy creature who fell deeply in love with a Jumbly girl when her clan visited his shores. But when she sailed away in her sieve, he was left behind with a broken heart. Determined to find her across the vast and stormy ocean, he builds himself an amazing artificial nose that lights up the sky to guide his search. This touching and slightly spooky tale mixes true sadness with brilliant absurdity. It is a memorable journey about hope, dedication, and the lengths we will go to for the people we care about, wrapped up in bouncing, rhythmic poetry that makes the strange feel wonderfully real.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
46 Pages
Despite everyone warning them that it is a terrible idea, the brave and colorful Jumblies decide to go to sea in a sieve. With their green heads and blue hands, these cheerful explorers pack their strange little boat with honey, a pig, and a beautiful green parrot before setting sail across stormy waters. While their friends back home worry they will certainly sink, the Jumblies prove that courage and a bit of foolishness can lead to the greatest adventures. They discover mysterious new lands, trade for strange and wonderful treasures, and experience the journey of a lifetime. This classic rhythmic tale celebrates the joy of proving people wrong and the thrill of exploring the unknown. It is a bouncing, musical story about following your wildest dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
15 Pages
By
Edward Lear
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Pictures by
Lorinda Bryan Cauley, Craig Thompson, Barbara Cooney, O. Wood, James Marshall, and Maurice Sendak
Set sail on a beautifully silly journey across the sea! When the elegant Owl and the lovely Pussycat step into their beautiful pea-green boat, they are ready for the adventure of a lifetime. With a guitar by his side and a boat filled with sweet fruit, the Owl serenades his true love under the glowing stars. Their romantic voyage lasts for a year and a day, taking them to magical lands where the Bong-Tree grows. Along the way, they must find a special ring so they can finally be married by the turkey who lives on the hill. This classic nonsense poem is filled with delightful rhymes, musical language, and whimsical charm. You will be swept away by the playful romance and the unforgettable cast of characters in this timeless, joyful adventure.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
