Lilian Moore (1909–2004)

Moore is one of my favorite children's poets, so even when she does light verse in the theme of a holiday that I don't care for, I'm still charmed. And the illustrations are bewitching, too.

Fyi, this collection is all about ghosts, witches, etc. - not about trick-or-treat or costumes. Not just for Halloween....

*Johnny Drew a Monster*

Johnny drew a monster.
The monster chased him.
Just in time
Johnny erased him.

There are also a half-dozen riddles:

IT'S
Right behind you,
Creeps on the ground,
Follows show more you home,
Does not make a sound.

Better turn 'round -- show less

An adult reader can tell that Moore is a poet and editor as well as an author (not that it's in verse, but it has that grace and that richness). A child will just feel so clever to know what the mother knows and none of other critters, not to mention Little Raccoon himself, know. Yes we've seen the theme before, but this is a wonderful interpretation of it. Art is perfectly apt.

Real poetry, for real children. The best thing you probably can do for yourself now is get the newer collection, [b:Mural on Second Avenue and Other City Poems|1107036|Mural on Second Avenue and Other City Poems|Lilian Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320484466l/1107036._SX50_.jpg|1093976], but if you can appreciate the older style of art, and can get a copy of this, do so.

Reread for Feb 2018 Poetry discussion in Children's Books group. There I show more said:

I still love this. Wonderful as Robert Louis Stevenson's nursery and garden rhymes are, I agree with Moore that city children need poetry that explores the environment that they're most familiar with. For example, from *Roofscape*

From my window
I can see
how roofs
design a sky.

My edition is the one illustrated with collages by [a:Mary Jane Dunton|6445041|Mary Jane Dunton|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and it's going to be one of the few books I keep to reread at will... even though this is probably my fourth read already.
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Reread prior to letting it go, as it seems I won't get grandchildren. It now is on openlibrary so you can read it.

This time I realize that there are many cities that don't look like Moore's. OKC, for example, is far too sprawly, and it doesn't seem like families actually live near the few skyscrapers. No beach or bay, either. Still, it's a wonderful collection with gems that anyone can relate to... and that others can learn from....

I think this time my favorite poem is Forsythia Bush, that yellow which "startles the street into spring."
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Wound up keeping it a bit longer and reread it again for the new Poetry folder in Children's Books. Now someone on paperbackswap wants it, so I know it will be going to a good home. It deserves it. I even bumped my rating another star, because the poems are so lovely, rich, resonant, and teachable, too. show less

I love openlibrary.org.

Again, Moore's under-appreciated skill shines through. Yes, this is a bit dated, and yes, there's a deus ex machina, but it's still delightful and child me would have loved it. I think modern animal lovers will like it, too. And the theme of an old work horse still being worth its keep and worthy of companionship is an important one.