8 DECEMBER 1883, Page 19

Blue-Red ; or, the Discontented Lobster, by Juliana Horatio. Ewing,

painted in colours by R. Andre (S.P.C.K.), is an amusing story in verse, with equally amusing illustrations. The lobster who was not satisfied with being blue, and would be red, and who became red, "but then—which he did not expect—he was dead," is an interesting person who met with a tragical fate, not wholly without honour, for

"lie looked exceedingly nice,

With cream-coloured sauce, and pale-green lettuce and ice ;"

while

"His claws were raised to very high station, They keep the earwigs from out- carnations."

There is really good nonsense, written and drawn, in this book.