The Portmanteau Book

by Gail Rockwell and Thomas Rockwell

Book Overview

Stories, poems, and nonsense for all moods and conditions. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553150626
• ISBN13: 9780553150629
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 141 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 8

Customer Reviews

A Quirky Work

As some other reveiwers noted, I'd thought I'd imagined this book. We'd borrow it from the library every time we'd go to the one near my grandmother's house - such an odd book, it wasn't available in our small town - and as an adult my brother reminded me of its title. So of course I had to find it! This book is a classic for its quirky-ness. Children of the 70's-80's will appreciate it for its references to simpler times, and if I had kids of my own I would read it to them.

A Fantastic Book, but Not For All Kids

Like the other reviewers, I thought I had imagined this book, one of my favorites from the local library when I was a kid. I was very excited when I was able to locate a copy. Yes, it is a very interesting and unique puzzle book... But I think I can guess why no publisher is bringing it back into print. In today's society, where there is increasing concern about children's violence, there may be many people who would object to several items in the book. For instance, the cookbook section describes in detail how to capture a bratty little sister, tie her up and "pretend" to eat her for a meal (Boiled Kvetch)... How to scare a pretty girl who is teasing you with sticky syrup (Candied Peach), or how to add a dead mouse to spinach (Infested Spinach). Standard fare from Rockwell, the guy who taught us all how to Eat Fried Worms, but there would certainly be some child in America who will actually try out some of Rockwell's suggestions, landing the author and publisher in some sort of lawsuit. So, Parents, if these kinds of things worry you, DO NOT GET THIS BOOK FOR YOUR KIDS. On the other hand, its a great book for grownups to enjoy.

Thought I'd imagined this book...

... and I thought I had imagined this book. I haven't seen this since I was a kid; my only copy absolutely disintegrated. I agree with the two other reviewers: rather than remaining out of print, this book needs to be re-released. The short stories are wonderful. The poetry is twisted. The whole *book* is twisted."Wilmington, Delaware, I never go anywhere..."

An offbeat book to spark creativity

When I was a boy I checked this book out of my local library constantly during the summer -- it was the strangest book I had ever read, so full of crazy ideas and images. I don't think I completely understood it at the time, but I new it was something wonderful and fresh and unique. If you can locate a copy your kids will love it.

Creative and unique stories presented with wry wit

This book, unfortunately, has been out-of-print for many years. I hope that some wise publisher decides to reprint it soon, because it provides a compendium--nay, a veritable portmanteau--of creative, fun, fresh, wry, witty, sometimes sarcastic, and always funny offerings for kids. The Portmanteau Book is written in the vein of "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Jules Feiffer, or perhaps "Otis T. Firefly's Phantasmagorical Almanac" (also little-known and out-of-print). Younger readers should enjoy the offbeat humor and peculiar flavor of the material. It is illustrated throughout; the line art is well-done and some of the outlandish illustrations are just a kick. This book contains some very funny writing and matches that humor with quirky artwork. I would highly recommend this book because it appeals to many readers, not just those who are a part of the target-audience. It is rare to find a children's book which is funny and intelligent, which presents material which kids will understand, but with which older people will still relate. Imagine a pastiche of the best parts of the humor of MAD magazine, mixed with a simplified form of the convoluted prose puzzles of Umberto Ecco's "Foucault's Pendulum," or "Landscape Painted with Tea" by Milorad Pavic. This book will be appreciated by those who like quirky comedy movies such as' A Fish Called Wanda' or 'Raising Arizona.' If you read this book, don't skip the index--it's an absolute hoot!