The Tale of Custard the Dragon

by Ogden Nash, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator), Lynn M. Munsinger (Illustrator)

Overview

In this humorous poem, Custard the cowardly dragon saves the day when a pirate threatens Belinda and her pet animals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316590310
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/28/1998
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ogden Nash is considered one of the country's best-known writers of humorous poetry, admired for his clever rhymes and lyrical verse. He has written several books for children.

Editorial Reviews

The late Ogden Nash's (Custard and Company) wordplayful 1936 rhyme gets a fresh start with timeless illustrations by Munsinger (Ho for a Hat!; One Hungry Monster). Title character Custard, the ``realio, trulio little pet dragon,'' lives with young Belinda, her dog Mustard, her cat Ink and her mouse Blink; while these housemates boast of their brave deeds, cowardly Custard cries for ``a nice safe cage.'' Yet when a pirate invades their home, the smaller pets desert Belinda (``Ink trickled down to the bottom of the household,/ And little mouse Blink strategically mouseholed''), and Custard courageously saves the day. Munsinger's watercolor-and-ink cartoons have a classic quality: Ink the cat appears Victorian, and there's a trace of John Tenniel's designs in pug-nosed, striped-hose-wearing Belinda. Custard is a little more up to date-like a lime-green beanbag with slender purple wings-and his moment of bravery reminds ``fearless'' readers of the purpose of guardians in a sometimes scary world. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Paging through this latest edition of Nash's classic nonsense poem for children is like meeting an old friend. Nash's work still feels comfortable and right. It still gives pleasure. Custard will always be a coward, but this does not stop him from saving his friends with gustatory Tlan from a villainous pirate. Munsinger's watercolors are appropriately humorous and de-scarifying.

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr