This is a book of nonsense poems, about made up animals. Like the Canterlope and the Raggit. As I am an incorrigible punster, I had a ball working on these rhymes. Obviously Janet Street enjoyed herself, too, as the ebullient pictures show.
Beneath the Ghost Moon
My editor at Little Brown, the marvelous Maria Modugno, sent me a picture by a young artist named Laurel Molk. It was a charming water color of mice dressed in Halloween costumes and playing musical instruments. “We love her work,” Maria said, “but she can’t write a story. Can you do something for
Grandad Bill’s Song
Almost ten years after my father died, I wrote this rhymed picture book about a boy on the day of his grandfather’s funeral. Why rhyme? I have absolutely no idea, but it was one of those books that simply poured out. The initial writing took several days and then I was weeks worrying it over.
Too Old for Naps
This is one of the poems from “The Three Bears Rhyme Book” made into a Big Book and illustrated by a young Russian illustrator. The cover is actually too big to scan properly.
Mouse’s Birthday
I was challenged by an editor to write a repetitive nursery rhyme. So I began it “Mouse’s house is very small, very small, very small. Hardly any room at all for anyone but mouse.” And then the editor turned the book down. So I turned around and sold it to my wonderful editor at Putnam
Welcome to the Green House
This book about the rain forest in occasional rhyme began when one of the Save the Rain forest groups asked me to write a book for Laura Regan to illustrate. I adored her bold, color-drenched work. But I said they needed to find a publisher before I’d start. I knew there would be lots and lots of research ahead.
Honkers
Pat Gauch at Philomel wanted me to write a follow-up book for John Schoenherr after our success with OWL MOON. I wrote this book in the first person hoping it had the same tone. Perspicacious readers will note that the book is not illustrated by Schoenherr (he was already at work on a goose book)
Raining Cats and Dogs
I am a cat person. My husband is a dog person. We’ve owned both and so these poems are from experience! And no–there is no mistake. Half the book is upside down so you can start from either end, depending upon whether you prefer cats or dogs. Janet Street’s uproarious pictures are right on beat!
What Rhymes With Moon?
This is a book of poems all about the moon. Ruth’s warm and loving illustrations are a real highlight of the book. (See “Old Dame Counterpane” for more about her work.) A few of the poems were reprints, but most are original to this book.
Encounter
This is the story of Columbus’ landing in the Americas, as told by a boy of the Taino people who already lived there. The 500th anniversary of Columbus’s voyage was coming up, and my Harcourt editor of the time–Bonnie Ingber–suggested such a book was needed. I thought a Taino should write it.