Edward Lear’s The Scroobious Pip” is about a most unusual animal. The rest of the animals just couldn’t figure out what he was: beast bird, fish or insect. And the pip insists that “My only name is the Scroobious pip!” over and over. The animals finally agree that the pip is all the above.

My son loved the nonsense verse and the use of made-up words like chippetty, flippetty, and pliffity along with all the animals mentioned as well as the wonderful illustrations. Adults are equally charmed!

Nancy Ekholm Burkert illustrated the book, using a drawing by Lear for the Pip. In her forward, she also mentions that the poem was unfinished and Ogden Nash, no stranger to nonsense verse, finished the poem. His additions are clearly marked in my edition of the poem.

Lewis Carroll and “Jabberwocky” may be more famous but Lear’s Pip is just as charming a read. ( )

Available online at Scroobious Pip. This is my favorite, I think, because there is a logic to it: all the other critters trying to figure out what the pip is. And also, because I love the sound of the noises

And sang these words with a rumbling sound-
Chippetty Flip; Flippetty Chip

And sang these words with a chirpy sound-
Chippetty Flip; Flippetty Chip;-

And sung these words with a liquid sound-
Pliffity Flip; Pliffety Flip;-

And sang these words with a whistly sound
Wizzeby wip - wizzeby wip--

And they roared and sang and whistled and cried
Till the noise was heard from side to side-
Chippetty tip! Chippetty tip!

I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan of poetry in general, but I love me some light verse. Lear is a master. ( )

This was given to me when I was six. One of the first books I read by myself, I loved it. The flow and the humor of the words are wonderful, but the illustrations add so much to the story. I could sit and examine them for hours. ( )