Preposterous Pets

Thirteen short stories and poems include the works of Ted Hughes, Ogden Nash, and Jack Prelutsky, and feature such characters as a cowardly dragon and a cat who instructs mice on proper behavior.

Kindergarten-Grade 5?A surprising collection of stories and poems. Other than Ogden Nash's "The Tale of Custard the Dragon," which is sweeter than the rest of the selections, the 13 short stories and poems (all previously published) are united by irreverence and dry humor. Clark's ink-and-watercolor illustrations enhance the comic potential of each selection. This book, first published in Great Britain, introduces such characters as Donald Blisset's permanently hatted hero ("Mr. Smith's Hat"), Alice M. Coats's madly carnivorous bear ("The Story of Horace"), and Jan Marks's oven-dwelling devils ("Out of the Oven") to readers who appreciate the preposterous.?Kathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 5-8. Like Cecil and Clark's earlier collections, Stuff and Nonsense (1990) and Boo (1991), this presents a number of poems and stories in one attractive, thematic volume. The large type will make it accessible to some young readers, but the book is probably best suited to reading aloud. First published in Great Britain, it includes writings by Ted Hughes, Ogden Nash, Jack Prelutsky, and Philippa Pearce. Line drawings with watercolor washes, many in full color, appear throughout the book. The mood is upbeat, the illustrations are plentiful and often comical, and the selections explore a popular subject: pets. A good choice for libraries with a demand for read-aloud anthologies. Carolyn Phelan