View source for The Owl and the Pussy-cat by Edward Lear, Charlotte Voake and Julia Donaldson

{{infobox2
|title=The Owl and the Pussy-cat
|sort=Owl and the Pussy-cat, The
|author=Edward Lear, Charlotte Voake and Julia Donaldson
|reviewer=Rachael Spencer
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=
|pages=32
|publisher=Puffin
|date=October 2014
|aznuk=072329321X
|aznus=072329321X
|cover=072329321X
|website=
|video=
|summary=An excellent new edition of Edward Lear's classic verse, this is a beautiful book which will sit happily on any bookshelf to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
}}
This is a poem which has always resonated with me because there is something about it which is nothing short of magical. It taps into that part of children who still love nursery rhymes, or to pretend they fly to the moon when they go to sleep. This edition is beautifully laid out, and I would happily buy it in a heartbeat.

The illustrations in this book are by Charlotte Voake who also illustrates the [[The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-cat by Julia Donaldson and Charlotte Voake|Julia Donaldson follow up]], and they work just as well here as they do there. Something about them really taps into the energy of the verses. The colours and vast landscapes work as a great reflection of the world created by Edward Lear, and the style of illustration really fits in with the ethereal quality of the piece.

The language used in this verse has always been the thing which made it so memorable for me. Runcible spoons, the light of the moon, and all of the repetition which all add up to give the whole piece a beautiful, dreamlike quality and this is what made it so special to me as a child. 

What I think is wonderful about this book is the way it keeps alive this classic poem, with new illustrations which bring to a modern audience brilliantly. It has a foreword written by Julia Donaldson, which says almost exactly what I want to say here, boiling down to the fact that this poem’s sense of adventure and wonder is something which shouldn't be forgotten by the nation. Hopefully, this book will help to make sure of that. I can't imagine being happier with a present as a young child that receiving this along with Donaldson’s follow up book. 

The follow up to this, [[The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-cat by Julia Donaldson and Charlotte Voake]] makes the perfect pairing.  You might also enjoy [[What the Jackdaw Saw by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt]]. 

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[[Category:Edward Lear]]
[[Category:Charlotte Voake]]
[[Category:Julia Donaldson]]
[[Category:Children's Rhymes and Verse|Owl and the Pussy-cat]]