Gems from the Childcraft Books for Children - Poems of Early Childhood

In one of volumes of the Childcraft series that we have, is a poem from the man who brought us the immortal Alice in Wonderland, loved by families all over the world. Lewis Carroll's mind was simply - unfathomable. Few people seem to be familiar with this poem of his, entitled - "He Thought He Saw".

Like Carrol's Jabberwocky poem, it is a "nonsense" rhyme, but you and your children will enjoy it. Part of it goes like this:

"He thought he saw a banker's clerk descending from the bus :
He looked again, and found it was a Hippopotamus.
'If this shoud stay to dine, he said, there won't be much for us!' "

I read that, as a young child, and never forgot it. The rest of the poem is equally nonsensical, but - definitely a delight!

Photo taken by Emily Tack, from our owned copy of the Childcraft book. Illustrated beautifully by J. S.

My grown children all remember the Jonathan Bing poems. That Beatrice Curtis Brown had a droll sense of humor. One of the two Jonathan Bing poems that are in the Childcraft editions we have that we had, starts out:

"O, Jonathan Bing, O Bingathon Jon
Forgets where he's going and thinks he has gone.
He wears his false teeth on the top of his head,
And always stands up when he's sleeping in bed."

Sounds like one of my tribe, but they don't wear false teeth! Your children will love the colorful illustrations as much as the poems - and don't be surprised to find yourself laughing, too!

Photo taken by Emily Tack, from our owned copy of the Childcraft book. Illustration by R.L.

I couldn't tell you how many children have laughed at this one! I first memorized it, when I was very, very young, and have "tickled" people young and old with its tongue-twisting ridiculosity! Oh, that's my own word - I made it up...

The poem goes like this:

"Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant -
No! No! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone..."

That's how it starts, and continues on, in silliness. Penned by Laura Richards, it's one of my favorites, and you'll probably fall in love with it, too!

Photo taken by Emily Tack, from our owned copy of the Childcraft book. Illustration by Walt Disney.

Now, how many poems do you know about the hired help? I don't think I know any others, just this one!

The poem is narrated by a child, who declares that the man who works for their "Pa" is "the goodest man you ever saw". The children just love him, and it's easy to see why! Here's one thing the child says:

"An' the Raggedy Man, he knows most rhymes
An' tells 'em, ef I be good, sometimes:
Knows 'bout Giunts, an' Griffins, an' Elves,
An the Squidgicum-Squees 'at swaller themselves!
An' wite by the pump in our pasture-lot,
He showed me the hole 'at the Wunks is got..."

Now, can you see how that would capture a child's attention? It still catches mine!

"The Raggedy Man" was written by James Whitcomb Riley, who also wrote the well-known poem, "Little Orphan Annie".

Photo taken by Emily Tack, from our owned copy of the Childcraft book. Illustrated, again, by J. S.

Featuring the art of Walt Disney, this short little poem is one that just sticks in your brain. Here it is, in its entirety:

"They strolled down the lane together,
The sky was studded with stars.
They reached the gate in silence,
And he lifted down the bars.
She neither smiled nor thanked him
Because she knew not how;
For he was just a farmer's boy
And she was a Jersey cow."

For well over half a century, that sweet, short little poem has stuck in my head, and I can still recite it, today!

Photo taken by Emily Tack, from our owned copy of the Childcraft book. Illustration by Walt Disney.