Illustrator & Author Profile
Wallace Tripp
13 Books
Wallace Tripp was an American illustrator and children’s book creator known for his detailed, comic, and expressive drawings. He illustrated several Amelia Bedelia books, No Flying in the House, and picture-book or nonsense-verse collections such as A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse to Me and Granfa' Grig Had a Pig. His work is especially associated with playful language, old-fashioned visual wit, and richly animated characters.
Old King Cole, Jack Be Nimble, and a parade of stranger rhymes all step into Wallace Tripp’s comic world.
Granfa' Grig Had a Pig and Other Rhymes Without Reason gathers Mother Goose verses, including familiar nursery rhymes and lesser-known bits of traditional nonsense. The poems are short, rhythmic, and easy to enjoy aloud, while Tripp’s illustrations give the rhymes extra character, turning simple lines into scenes filled with expression, movement, and comic detail.
For readers ages 6 to 12, this collection is a lively bridge between nursery-rhyme familiarity and a more sophisticated sense of visual humor. Younger children can enjoy the sound and silliness; older readers can look closer for the jokes tucked into the art.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
Sir Toby Jingle has spent years keeping Grimghast Forest’s dreadful creatures away from the nearby villages. Now he is old, tired, and ready for peace—but the griffin, bear, dragon, tiger, and ogre are still out there.
So Sir Toby sets out on one last mission. This is not only a knight’s adventure; it is also a clever, comic fantasy about finding a way to stop old enemies without simply fighting forever. Wallace Tripp’s story brings together bravery, monsters, and the gentle humor of a hero who knows he cannot go on battling forever.
For ages 6 to 12, Sir Toby Jingle's Beastly Journey is a vintage fantasy adventure for readers who like knights, strange beasts, forest dangers, and a thoughtful twist on heroic quests.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
38 Pages
Wallace Tripp’s jokes rarely sit quietly on the page. In this illustrated book of pictorial humor, strange figures, wordplay, and visual surprises crowd together in the best possible way.
Wallace Tripp's Wurst Seller is described as a richly illustrated comic “tour de farce,” with a cast that ranges from larger-than-life characters to animal figures and odd little personalities. The humor is more about looking, noticing, and catching the joke than following a single story from beginning to end.
Although the original notes describe this as Tripp’s first book for adults, older children who already enjoy detailed cartoons, puns, and offbeat comedy may find plenty to explore. Best for confident readers and visual browsers who like humor that is clever, crowded, and a little strange.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
Roses may be red and violets may be blue, but in this collection, the next line is likely to be silly, surprising, or completely upside down.
Wallace Tripp brings together amusing poems by American and English writers, including traditional rhymes and verses by well-known literary voices. The poems are short enough to invite browsing and read-aloud fun, while Tripp’s full-color illustrations add wit, exaggeration, and extra jokes for careful eyes.
For ages 6 to 12, Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue and Other Silly Poems is a bright, funny introduction to comic poetry. It suits children who enjoy rhymes, odd language, clever pictures, and the feeling that a poem can be both artful and wonderfully ridiculous.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
A pig in a Wallace Tripp book is unlikely to behave like an ordinary pig for long.
The Tale of a Pig comes from the early part of Tripp’s career, when his finely drawn animal characters and comic sense were already becoming central to his work. Because the available metadata does not provide a reliable plot summary, this description avoids guessing at the story’s exact events. What can be said safely is that the title points to an illustrated animal tale centered on a pig, with the kind of expressive artwork associated with Tripp’s children’s books.
For ages 6 to 12, this is best presented as a vintage illustrated animal story for readers who enjoy classic children’s book art, gentle humor, and character-driven pictures.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
A horse tied to a person is only the beginning of the nonsense here.
This collection of playful verse gathers old favorites and odd little poems where logic slips, words wobble, and the funniest lines often arrive with a completely straight face. Wallace Tripp’s illustrations add another layer of comedy, turning short rhymes into busy scenes full of strange characters, expressive animals, and unexpected details waiting to be spotted.
For readers ages 6 to 12, A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse to Me is a joyful book for reading aloud, sharing with someone who enjoys absurd humor, or dipping into one poem at a time. It is especially suited to children who like language that sounds silly, clever, and wonderfully out of control.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
54 Pages
A muddy foot, a ridiculous rhyme, a face in the margin that seems to know the joke before you do—this lively poetry collection is built for readers who like their verse with mischief.
Wallace Tripp gathers funny poems from famous and lesser-known writers, pairing the words with detailed illustrations full of sly expressions, visual puns, and odd little surprises. You may meet lines by poets such as Emily Dickinson, Spike Milligan, and Shakespeare, but the fun is never limited to the names on the page.
For ages 6 to 12, Marguerite, Go Wash Your Feet is a playful invitation to read poetry aloud, look closely, and discover how a short poem can become even funnier when pictures join the joke.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
56 Pages
Annabel Tippens has no parents, but she does have Gloria: a tiny white dog who talks, wears a gold collar, and looks after her with fierce devotion.
Annabel thinks her life is simply her life until a cat named Belinda reveals something astonishing: Annabel is half fairy. Suddenly the odd things she can do—like flying around the house—begin to make sense. But magic comes with a painful question. If Annabel chooses the fairy world, what will happen to the friend who has always cared for her?
No Flying in the House is a classic gentle fantasy for ages 6 to 12, full of talking animals, hidden identity, and the emotional pull between wonder and loyalty. It is especially appealing to readers who like magical stories with heart.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
164 Pages
Amelia Bedelia is looking for a brand new job, but finding the right fit is proving to be a hilarious challenge. Because she always does exactly what she is told, her new bosses are completely confused by her actions. When a beauty shop manager tells her to pin up a customer's hair, she uses real safety pins. When an office boss asks her to file some important papers, she takes out a nail file and begins shredding the documents to pieces. Fired from one job after another, she eventually accidentally wanders into a local baseball game and takes a swing at sports. You will not be able to stop laughing as she creates absolute chaos in the beauty parlor, the office, and the baseball field. Follow the world's most literal thinker on her wild search for a job, and see how her hilarious misunderstandings always manage to create an unforgettable adventure.
6-8 Years
64 Pages
The Grizzlies need one more player, and Amelia Bedelia is ready to help. That sounds simple—until baseball words start meaning exactly what they say.
In this funny early reader, Amelia Bedelia steps onto the field with her usual cheerful confidence and her very literal way of understanding language. Tagging a player, stealing bases, and playing ball all become much more confusing when Amelia is involved. Young readers get the fun of a sports story, the silliness of wordplay, and the satisfaction of figuring out the joke before Amelia does.
Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia is a Level 2 I Can Read story, well suited for ages 6 to 8 who are gaining confidence with longer sentences, familiar characters, and laugh-out-loud misunderstandings.
6-8 Years
68 Pages
Uncle Podger insists he can hang a picture by himself. Then the whole household gets pulled into the disaster.
This picture-book version of the comic Uncle Podger episode turns one small household task into a grand performance of confusion, confidence, and chaos. The fun comes from watching a man treat a simple job as if it requires everyone’s help—while somehow making everything harder. Wallace Tripp’s illustrations bring out the slapstick energy of Jerome K. Jerome’s classic comic writing.
For ages 6 to 12, My Uncle Podger is a witty illustrated classic for readers who enjoy old-fashioned humor, family commotion, and the kind of comedy where the grown-up in charge may be the least sensible person in the room.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Step into the hilarious household of the world's most literal-minded housekeeper. When Amelia Bedelia receives a list of simple chores, she follows every single word exactly as it is written. If the instructions tell her to dress the chicken for dinner, she might just sew it a tiny outfit. If she needs to dust the furniture, you can expect her to sprinkle actual dust all over the living room. Her well-meaning mix-ups constantly turn ordinary days upside down, leading to laugh-out-loud messes that will keep you giggling from start to finish. This collection brings together three of her most famous misadventures, including a time when her exact obedience gets her fired from multiple jobs and an unforgettable afternoon where she steps onto a baseball field to fill in for a sick player. You will love seeing how her unique way of looking at the world always ends in a surprisingly sweet and funny resolution.
6-8 Years
64 Pages
By
Peggy Parish
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Pictures by
Fritz Siebel, Barbara Siebel Thomas, and Wallace Tripp
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With
Herman Parish
Meet Amelia Bedelia, the most lovable and literal-minded housekeeper you will ever encounter! It is her very first day working for the Rogers family, and she wants to make sure she follows their list of chores perfectly. But when the instructions tell her to "dress the chicken" and "trim the steak," Amelia Bedelia knows exactly what to do—out come the fancy ribbons, tiny clothes, and delicate lace!
From dusting the furniture with actual dusting powder to drawing the drapes on a piece of paper, her hilarious misunderstandings turn the entire household upside down. Just when Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are ready to lose their patience, Amelia Bedelia serves up a surprise that might just save her job.
Discover the classic, laugh-out-loud story that has kept readers giggling for generations. Get ready to fall in love with Amelia Bedelia's uniquely funny way of looking at the world!
6-8 Years
74 Pages
