The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

PreS-Gr 2—This classic poem has proved to be irresistible to generations of illustrators. In this appealing version done in lush blues and greens, Voake creates a lovely homage not just to the familiar words but to Lear's own paintings as well. The artist found multiple opportunities to expand on the whimsical text in her pen-and-ink and watercolor images—showing the lovers procuring the boat, taking part on a lengthy journey, and buying the wedding ring. The soothing colors of the sea and skies and the islands of the tropics are romanticized and dreamlike. There are also a few puzzling choices, such as pea-green accents that extend to people's skin color, and "the land where the Bong-tree grows" consists of a vignette with colonial overtones showing dark-skinned people carrying parasols. Overall, the art is more sophisticated than that of many of the picture book versions for kids, and perhaps it won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it is nonetheless expertly rendered and every bit as rich as earlier interpretations.