Jumblies

`` They went to sea in a sieve, they did '' ; Rand's tumbling, green-faced jumblies romp through this rollicking classic, as their sieve survives storms and spins. When their feet get wet, they bail out and wrap their toes in pink paper, tied with a pin, to keep them dry. The pictures of the fanciful places they visit and their exotic finds provide a visual feast as satisfying as the lyrical nonsense of Lear's verse. While some may find that the movement of the stanzas is slowed by the lavish illustrations (one line or a couplet may support an entire spread, which alters, subtly, the flow of language), Rand is clearly delighted by the poem, and conveys his pleasure to readers. Ages 3-8. (Mar.)