Edward Lear, Angela McAllister (text) & Kevin Waldron (illustrations)(Simon & Schuster)


The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea,
In a Beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey,
and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.




This classic nonsense rhyme needs no introduction but in this new edition Edward Lear’s wacky tale is given a new leap of life thanks to Angela McAllister’s new verse. In this new version we get to see the owl and the pussycat post-wedding and there are babies involved!
We had loved Mr Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo a couple of years ago so we were very excited to see a new book illustrated by Kevin Waldron. It did not disappoint; his illustrations are vivid, quirky and highly unusual. Although The Owl and the Pussycat does not have the “vintage” feel of Mr Peek, I still very much enjoy his style, and so does my son, who loves his illustrations. His modern take on the story still manages to capture the essence of the tale, holding proof that this is definitely an ageless classic.  I have to admit I knew little of the text (one of my many cultural flaws, having not been born and bred in the UK) until my son came home from school one day and recited the whole thing back to me!  But how can one fail to be charmed by those two eccentrics?

This new edition is the perfect opportunity to introduce a young audience to this classic book and a chance for their parents to take a trip down Memory Lane by rediscovering what was no doubt a childhood favourite. All in all, a great book to share and to laugh out loud with!
Warmly recommended.

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