Dennis Lee – författare

Melvis the monsterAnd Elvis the elfWere hunting for booksOn the library shelf…

Dennis Lee is back with a lively new collection that will delight fans of his classic children’s poetry, including the perennial bestseller Alligator Pie. From noisy daytime chants to soothing bedtime verses, this irresistible medley of story poems, schoolyard rhymes, and pure nonsense is vividly captured in whimsical and energetic art by celebrated illustrator Jeremy Tankard.

Three classic Dennis Lee titles in one beautiful book

This giftable and shareable volume brings together three of Dennis Lee’s best-loved collections of poetry—Alligator Pie, Jelly Belly and The Ice Cream Store—spanning three decades of his warm and whimsical rhymes.

“You can almost hear the skipping rope slapping the sidewalk,” wrote Margaret Laurence of Dennis Lee’s timeless poetry collection Alligator Pie. One of the first published illustrated books about Canadian children, and featuring Frank Newfeld’s instantly recognizable original illustrations, Alligator Pie has sold more than half a million copies since its publication in 1974.

Originally published in 1983, Jelly Belly tickles readers with a mix of humour and traditional Mother Goose charm. The vivid illustrations by Juan Wijngaard (winner of the 1981 Mother Goose Award) reveal wonders as readers follow the characters throughout the book and stumble upon new and fascinating visual treasures.

In the kid-pleasing collection The Ice Cream Store, originally published in 1991, Dennis Lee delves into the special and imaginative world of children. David McPhail’s gorgeous and appealing watercolour paintings of children and animals portray both the familiar and the fantastic, extending the meaning of the poems and providing a colourful feast for the eye.

No one needs a wizard and his old bag of tricks—until the day he meets a black cat with a spiffy hat and a lonely heart. Together they share a magical night in Toronto’s Casa Loma castle, enjoying a candlelight feast of tuna and wine and the company of new friends. Originally published in Lee’s 1974 collection, Nicholas Knock and Other People, The Cat and the Wizard enjoyed a second life as a much-praised picture book and is now available from HarperCollins.

"You can almost hear the skipping rope slapping the sidewalk,” wrote Margaret Laurence of Dennis Lee’s timeless poetry collection Alligator Pie. One of the first illustrated books published about Canadian children and featuring Canadian place names, Alligator Pie established Dennis Lee’s reputation as “Canada’s Father Goose” and has sold more than half a million copies since its publication in 1974. This classic edition, featuring Frank Newfeld’s instantly recognizable original illustrations and book design, includes childhood favourites such as “Willoughby Wallaby Woo,” “Wiggle to the Laundromat” and “Skyscraper.”

Peppered with regional names, sing-song rhythms and a dash of wicked fun, Garbage Delight has been a staple on Canadian bookshelves for thirty-five years. Its forty-two superbly crafted poems offer a feast of silly, sassy and soothing verses for every taste, from the thundering “I Eat Kids Yum Yum!” to the more lyrical “The Coming of Teddy Bears.”

This handsome classic edition featuring Frank Newfeld’s original illustrations and book design will have a new generation of readers banging their spoons for more.

Young readers will fall in love all over again with Dennis Lee’s light-hearted verse, which embraces universal childhood experiences of every flavour, from digging holes to foreign lands to searching for the perfect pet. David McPhail’s gorgeous watercolour paintings capture Lee’s subtle celebration of multiculturalism and offer a colourful feast for the eye.

Oh, the kids around the block are like an Ice cream store,

’Cause there’s chocolate and vanilla,

And there’s maple and there’s more…

A slice of Alligator Pie—sized for little ones! One of the best loved Canadian poems of all time, “Alligator Pie” established Dennis Lee’s reputation as “Canada’s Father Goose” when it appeared in his classic poetry collection of the same name in 1974. Now Lee''s timeless rhyme is paired with striking artwork by Sandy Nichols, winner of a nationwide competition to find the perfect illustrator for the iconic poem. This special 40th anniversary edition will stand up to re-readings for years to come and is a must-have for every baby and preschooler''s library.

Zoomberry, zoomberry, zoomberry pie:

Zoomberry, zoomberry, now I can fly.

Who hasn’t dreamed of flying? In this enchanting bedtime poem by Canada’s Father Goose, a crotchety wizard shares his secret spell for taking flight. Based on Dennis Lee''s “The Wizard,” from his acclaimed collection Melvis and Elvis, and gorgeously illustrated by award-winning illustrator Dusan Petricic, Zoomberry is a magical adventure for the very young that will send readers soaring through nighttime skies.

A delightful dose of "Canada''s Father Goose" for pint-sized poetry fans! Based on the title poem of Dennis Lee''s classic collection, Garbage Delight is a feast for the senses, a stew of sly humour and memorable rhymes. This edition features winsome artwork by Sandy Nichols, who previously paired with Dennis Lee to create the bestseller Alligator Pie, and is a staple item for every toddler''s bookshelf.

"You can almost hear the skipping ropes slapping on the sidewalk." --Margaret Laurence

Good Night, Good Night collects some of Dennis Lee’s best-loved poems on the themes of bedtime and dreaming, brought to life by the warm and whimsical art of award-winning illustrator Qin Leng. This board book is the perfect nighttime read-aloud for the very young.