Books

Only a few years ago (1950s) we walked on solid earth. Today we whirl through space. Space is big. It is not cozy. But with these verses and drawings… cheerfulness breaks in. Suddenly, science seems merry. And space begins, with the rhyme on page 1, to feel a little more like home. A witty collection of 1950’s space age poetry accompanied by clever black and white line drawings.

Little Bo Peep Has lost her sheep, The radar has failed to find them. They’ll all, face to face, Meet in parallel space, Preceding their leaders behind them.

Some poems, such as The Theory that Jack Built, are pages long and delightfully illustrated. Here’s another short poem:

Little Jack Horner Sits in a corner Extracting cube roots to infinity, An assignment for boys That will minimize noise And produce a more peaceful vicinity.

"Originally published in 1956, this quirky, long out-of-print classic comes in the guise of a children’s illustrated book, but should appeal, now that it’s been rediscovered by Purple House Press, to a much broader audience. With delightful line drawings by Marian Parry reminiscent of those found in Stanislaw Lem’s timeless sci-fi novels, Frederick Winsor’s rhyming verses bring a wide variety of scientific theories, thought, and spirit to life. Probable-Possible, my black hen, She lays eggs in the Relative When. She doesn’t lay eggs in the Positive Now Because she’s unable to Postulate How. The Space Child’s Mother Goose will delight, confound, and edify the egghead inside all of us." —BookSense.com Daily Pick July 24th, 2001