An aptly titled introduction, with all the obvious major nonsense poems, a ""judicious jubilant"" sampling of others, a goodly number of limericks, Lear's own drawings, and Livingston's biographical remarks--directed to older readers than the ones who might pick up the separate picture-book versions. Livingston uses lines and phrases from the title poem--""His visage is more or less hideous""; ""A Runcible Hat""; ""He Weeps""--as headings for her topically arranged divisions, and prefaces each section with applicable background notes and quotes from Lear. These might touch on how he constantly ridiculed his own nose, how he often spoke wistfully of marriage, or how he burst into tears on performing ""The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo."" Choice Lear, most pleasantly packaged: certain to be a library staple.