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Children's Fiction General

Alligator Pie Classic Edition

by (author) Dennis Lee

illustrated by Frank Newfeld

Publisher
HarperCollins
Initial publish date
May 2012
Category
General, Humorous
Recommended Age
4 to 7
Recommended Grade
2 to 4
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781443411516
    Publish Date
    May 2012
    List Price
    $19.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

"You can almost hear the skipping rope slapping the sidewalk,” wrote Margaret Laurence of Dennis Lee’s timeless poetry collection Alligator Pie. One of the first illustrated books published about Canadian children and featuring Canadian place names, Alligator Pie established Dennis Lee’s reputation as “Canada’s Father Goose” and has sold more than half a million copies since its publication in 1974. This classic edition, featuring Frank Newfeld’s instantly recognizable original illustrations and book design, includes childhood favourites such as “Willoughby Wallaby Woo,” “Wiggle to the Laundromat” and “Skyscraper.”

About the authors

DENNIS LEE, Toronto’s first Poet Laureate and song lyricist for Fraggle Rock, is the author of enduringly popular children’s collections such as Alligator Pie, Garbage Delight, Jelly Belly, Bubblegum Delicious and The Ice Cream Store. He has received many honours, including the Vicky Metcalf Award for his body of work, and is also an acclaimed poet for adults. His poetry is anthologized and read aroUnd the world. He lives in Toronto.

WEB: DennisLee.ca

JEREMY TANKARD was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but left at the age of five for a new life in the United States and then Canada. After attending the Alberta College of Art and Design, he worked as a graphic designer and typesetter before embarking on a career in illustration. His artwork has appeared in major publications such as Time Magazine and The New York Times, and his picture books—including Grumpy Bird, Boo Hoo Bird, Me Hungry!, Piggy Bunny, It’s a Tiger, and Here Comes Destructosaurus!—are hugely popular and widely acclaimed.

WEB: JeremyTankard.com

Dennis Lee's profile page

Frank Newfeld received his art education in England, at the Brighton College of Art, and the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. Educated in England, Frank Newfeld immigrated to Canada in 1954. Once here, he founded his own design company in a studio on Spadina Avenue in Toronto.

In 1956 Newfeld, Frank Davies, Leslie (Sam) Smart and John Gibson founded the Society of Typographic Designers of Canada (TDC). Frank's Spadina Avenue studio which was often the meeting place for the Society in its formative years. He was elected President of the Society in 1959, the year that it received its Ontario charter. In 1963 Frank joined the firm of McClelland & Stewart as an art director, and within six years he was to become Vice-President, Publishing and a member of the board of directors.

Over his career Frank Newfeld has designed well over 650 books for publishers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States. Canadian publishers include Douglas and McIntyre, Groundwood, Longmans, MacMillan, Nelson, Oxford and UofT. Authors he has worked with include Berton, Cohen, Davies, Gottlieb, Laurence, Layton, Mowat, Newman. He has won over 167 awards, including three medals from the prestigious Leipzig Book Show, two Hans Christian Anderson awards, and two from Typomundus 20. Other awards include the Canada Centennial Medal, the Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, and awards from the AIGA, Art Directors and Type Directors clubs of New York, Chicago, Montreal and Toronto. Frank represented Canada at the 1976 Illustration Bienale in Czechoslovakia, and his work was exhibited in Bologna in 1990. He has created two children's books, both published by Oxford University Press. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy.

For many years Frank Newfeld was associated with Sheridan College where he served as an educator, illustrator and publication designer.

Frank Newfeld's profile page

Librarian Reviews

Alligator Pie: Classic Edition

One of the first illustrated books published about Canadian children and featuring Canadian place names, Alligator Pie established Dennis Lee’s reputation as “Canada’s Father Goose.” This classic edition, featuring Frank Newfeld’s instantly recognizable original illustrations and book design, includes childhood favourites, such as “Willoughby Wallaby Woo” and “Skyscraper.” Originally published in 1974, by Macmillan Company of Canada (Our Choice 1978 “Old Favourites”).

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. Spring, 2012.

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