Hist Whist

by E.E. Cummings

Book Overview

Presents with illustrations the celebrated author's poem of scary, ghostly things. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517573601
• ISBN13: 9780517573600
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

e. e. cummings for children

In the Halloween thriller hist whist, e. e. cummings' poem is beautifully illustrated into a timeless children's picture book. Amazingly, a single poem comprises this book. While some that are unfamiliar with cummings' style may be confused by his nonsense vocabulary, syntax stretches, and other irregularities, the veteran reader will acknowledge this as yet another wonderful free verse accomplishment of cummings. The alliteration in this poem superiorly extends itself to young audiences. The excited mood created by such phrases as "tip-toe/twinkle-toe" and "eyes rustle and run and/hidehidehide" transport the rushing, dancing reader to through the scary lines. However, this would likely not make the children's book list without the expert watercolor and colored pencil drawings of Deborah Kogan Ray. Her illustrations wonderfully enhance cummings' already vibrant poem. The autumnal drawings are dark, but still somehow glow with life and vivacity. Ray well understands the concept of positive and negative space, and her artwork demonstrates this. The frightening creatures described are accurately and creatively drawn, and just when one is beginning to fear, the cheerful, grinning faces of the costumed children relieve the reader. This amazing and beautiful book is a wonderful addition to children's literature; e. e. cummings and Deborah Kogan Ray together created a terrific Halloween story, hist whist.