Completed before Shel Silverstein's death in 1999, this collection of poems and drawings was a work in progress for over 20 years and is as ground-breaking, insightful, witty, and wondrous as Shel Silverstein's imagination. Runny Babbit is destined to be a classic for readers of all ages. By the legendary creator of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic Runny Babbit delightfully reveals the distinctive characters of Shel Silverstein's extraordinary wisdom and vision. This unique book is filled with wordplay, rhymes, and the clever language of spoonerisms. Named for the Rev. W. A. Spooner, of New College, Oxford, who was inordinately guilty of this mistake, a spoonerism is a form of malapropism in which there is an accidental transposition of the parts of two or more words. For example, "Runny Babbit" for "Bunny Rabbit," or "Toe Jurtle" for "Joe Turtle." Silverstein extends this concept to create a magical new language, rich with layers of humour, meaning and playfulness.

Author Biography

Shel Silverstein is one of America's best-loved poets. Other works published by Marion Boyars in the UK include Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic.