THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT

The illustrations for virtually every one of these four inexpensively produced editions of previously copyrighted texts look like commercialized combinations of the styles of better known artists. Of the four, Peter Swan's playfully offhand pictures are the least pretentious and perhaps the most interesting simply by virtue of his musical/performing fame, though the drawings don't compensate for the absence here of those other elements. Cattaneo's derivative scribble and soft wash accompaniment to The Walrus and the Carpenter might be acceptable to those who found Gerald Rose's antic 1969 version too manic, but as both Barbara Cooney's and William Pene du BoW versions of The Owl and the Pussycat carry similarly low price tags, there isn't much excuse for King's slick/smart performance. Astrop has less competition and Causley's little nonsense rhyme is a pleasant enough trifle but the conventionally frolicsome pictures don't add that much to a verse that would give more value for money as part of a nursery rhyme collection. In all, harmless froth for drug store book racks.