Twopence Coloured
Tree bright bold daubs of modern picture-book illustrations would have astonished us when we were small. They are often based on the way children paint for themselves and have a daring disregard for colour and outline. By contrast, the text of the stories seems almost too scrubbed and simple in style. A reprint of The Two Old Bachelors, by Edward Lear, shows just how un- sophisticated our language has become. Inevit- ably something is lost. Who now would dare to write, as Lear does, about 'the nearly purple- dicular crags'? Yet many children delight in such preposterous verbal humour. Paul Galdone provides some flouncing frock-coated illustra- tions for the new edition of Lear's nonsense doggerel (Bodley Head, 12s. 6d.).
Of course, limited vocabularies have their virtues. The Beginner Books, pioneered by Dr. Seuss, are an excellent development in this field, but you must keep the books hidden until the child can read them all by himself. His excite- ment when this moment comes is well worth' waiting for. The latest story is A Fish out of Water, by Helen Palmer (Collins/Harvill, 8s. 6d.), in which a boy overfeeds his goldfish and it rapidly outgrows its bowl, the bath, the cellar and the local swimming pool. P. D. Eastman's illustrations are full of action. I particularly like one of the boy straddling a toppling telephone table in the flooded hallway.
John Burningham does a beautiful variation on the ugly duckling theme in Borka (Cape, 12s. 6d.). His little goose fails to grow any feathers, so the doctor advises Borka's mother to knit her some. When Borka proudly shows off her new jersey, her contemporaries simplY laugh, , so she hides from their scorn in the reeds when she should be doing her lessons. Inevitably the flock flies away into a magnificent purple sunset, completely forgetting their earth- bound sister who stands desolate among the bullrushes. Wandering through drizzle, she finds refuge on a friendly boat. Later, they steam into London and Borka makes her home at Kew, where there are so many strange birds that no one finds her ridiculous. In his illustrations, John Burningham captures the glistening liquid quality of marsh landscape with its shifting patterns of sky and the merging reflections of light upon water and cloud.
A bird with a similar problem is the hero of Anthony Abrahams's story Polonius Penguin Comes to Town (Dobson, 13s. 6d.). Down at the South Pole, everyone knows that penguins can swim from birth. Young Polonius, who has none of the persistence advocated by his pompous namesake, is in despair at his own meagre aqualic performance, so he stows away on a ship bound for England. He gets a taste of feudal ocean life, with the captain dressed in 3 Napoleonic hat and lots of fanciful braid. Staying with Sailor Rufus and his family, he takes swimming lessons in the bath and sleeps on a block of ice at the fishmonger's when the weather gets too hot. Written in a rather jollY style, the book has appropriately washy illustra- tions by Hilary Abtahams and makes a good average talking-bird story.
The new version of St. George and the Fiery Dragon, by Elizabeth and Gerald Rose (Faber, 13s. 6d.), is just the answer for pacifist parents who can't bear the thought of buying pistols for, Christmas. In fact, your little monster should gulp this pill down gladly, and ask for more. The Rose Dragon seems just as fierce and terrible as his ancestors. When an ugly maiden is left out for him, he burns up a few forests to show his annoyance. But just as George, in his well- oiled armour, is about to strike the fatal blow', a wail of protest stays his hand. The dragon has saved the girls for cooks and they've made, him very comfortable with lovely suppers an° embroidered 'cushions to recline upon. In return, his life is spared and everyone troops happily back to the castle, except for the poor dragon, who gets banished. The book has immense charm and an attractive type of humour which plays back and forth between text and illustrations.
I often feel sated with Ardizzone, until a ne° book revives my interest. Peter the Wanderer (O.U.P., 12s. 6d.) is a straightforward quest book' An old sailor is searching for treasure and 0 little boy is searching for the sailor. His travels take him to the Mountains of the Far West and give scope for some attractive watercolours 0e rockS and waterfalls and great peaks above con' trees. The treasure is found, despite the machin0" tions of three villains who lurk intermitted,' around corners but never become too menacing; The opening pages, featuring an Ancient Mariner in various declamatory postures, threaten us with acute boredom. Luckily the story proves full of quiet incident, copiousli
illustrated.
Strictly for Bambi-lovers, Achilles and Diann is a corny love-story by H. E. Bates and Carol Barker (Dobson, 15s.). Diana, the female donkeY' gives Achilles (male—same species) 'slow side; long glances' from under her false eyelashes and they converse in antiquated slang. The illustra' tions are lavish and detailed, but careless di5' crepancies in hair styles and clothing spoil the wedding pictures. ANTONIA SANDFOIM
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