“A scandalous man was Mr Tom Narrow,
He pushed his grandmother round in a barrow.
And he called out loud as he rang his bell,
‘Grannies to sell! Old grannies to sell!”
This volume contains all of James Reeves’ poems written for children, including The Wandering Moon, The Blackbird in the Lilac and Ragged Robin.
According to the Oxford Companion to Children's Literature, his poetry “is generally regarded as the best British ‘serious’ children's verse since Walter de la Mare - though the poems are usually far from serious in subject-matter.”
James Reeves (1909-78) was a poet, educationalist and folklorist. He started his career as a teacher, but after failing eyesight forced him to retire in 1952 he became a full-time writer and editor.
In this complete edition, first published in 1973, the delight is two-fold as the poems are complemented by Edward Ardizzone's beautiful and witty illustrations.
Published by Heinemann, London in 1973.
First Edition. Signed by author and artist.
Good condition with binding intact.