Great selection! I adore Belloc’s Cautionary Tales and have oftentimes wished that he had written a greater variety of these for me to refer my children to. Poems about the dangers of sassmouth or picky eating, for example!
I wonder if the tongue-in-cheek fable-ish approach that Belloc used in these poems may have been a poke at the previous century’s tracts and serials geared toward children and their moral edification, with dire fire and brimstone warnings in the absence of repentance. Belloc’s ironic tone invites the reader to smile at the ridiculousness of the extreme outcome of the lighter offenses of children, and was probably a breath of fresh air.
This is another favorite poetry collection in our family. The kids particularly like Henry and the string. Our copy is from Folio Society and has fabulous illustrations—I believe that poor Rebecca was carried out in an envelope.
Love it! I'll have to find this collection for the great-grandson . . .
Love it! I'll have to find this collection for the great-grandson . . .
Great selection! I adore Belloc’s Cautionary Tales and have oftentimes wished that he had written a greater variety of these for me to refer my children to. Poems about the dangers of sassmouth or picky eating, for example!
I wonder if the tongue-in-cheek fable-ish approach that Belloc used in these poems may have been a poke at the previous century’s tracts and serials geared toward children and their moral edification, with dire fire and brimstone warnings in the absence of repentance. Belloc’s ironic tone invites the reader to smile at the ridiculousness of the extreme outcome of the lighter offenses of children, and was probably a breath of fresh air.
I've always assumed that there was definitely that kind of satirical intent.
This is another favorite poetry collection in our family. The kids particularly like Henry and the string. Our copy is from Folio Society and has fabulous illustrations—I believe that poor Rebecca was carried out in an envelope.