Monday, January 16, 2012

The Book Review, Sunday, January 15, 2012: The Tale of Custard the Dragon

Madame L hopes these four lines bring back pleasant memories for some of you Dear and Gentle Readers:

Belinda lived in a little white house,
With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse,
And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon,
And a realio, trulio little pet dragon.

Why is the dragon called Custard? Ah, you'll have to read the rest of the poem to find out.

Madame L is delighted to report that she has just found this poem, which she loved as a child, "The Tale of Custard the Dragon," by Ogden Nash. This paperback book is charmingly illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.


Did you, Kind and Gentle Reader, know that The Atlantic Monthly called Ogden Nash "God's gift to the United States"? 

He wrote this poem in 1936, so he beat all those other dragon-story writers by decades. Madame L's discovery of this book has reminded her of many other rhymes by this great poet, which Madame L may just have to tell her Dear Readers about in future columns.


3 comments:

Ellen said...

I don't remember that poem, but it sounds like something I'd like to remember. Sounds like a fun book. I like Ogden Nash, too. Thanks for sharing!

AskTheGeologist said...

I first laid hands on an Ogden Nash book as an 11-year-old. It was truly a treasure. This I still remember:
"Candy is Dandy, but Liquor is Quicker."

In my pre-Mormon days in college I remember getting very, very, very sick on some mixed liquor. Just once. I can't say that it started quick, but CAN say that it definitely didn't END quick.

And it definitely taught me an unforgettable lesson. I've been a sugarholic ever since.
~~~~~

Ellen said...

Ah, Jeff, you made me laugh there at the end. :-D