Pussywillows and Other Things

Jean Free is a past judge of the Vicky Metcalf and Ruth Schwartz awards
for children’s literature.

This third edition of New Brunswick author Jan Lister’s collection of
16 short rhyming poems about nature (pussywillows, toads, worms,
grasshoppers, and slugs are among the subjects) is attractively
designed. Unfortunately, both text and illustrations are often
simplistic, mawkish, and overly cute. The rhymes tend to be awkward and
contrived, and many of the poet’s themes are trite and clichéd. Not
recommended.