The Boy Who Became a Parrot: A Foolish Biography of Edward Lear, Who Invented Nonsense

“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” has delighted generations of children, and this thoroughgoing picture book biography carefully documents the life of its author, Edward Lear (1812–1888). Hill details Lear’s childhood in 19th-century London: one of 20 children and raised by older sisters, Lear lived with epilepsy, calling the disorder his “Demon.” When he learned to paint with dazzling fidelity animals brought back to England by explorers, the talent drew him to the attention of the earl of Derby—whose children inspired many of the cartooning and nonsense verse for which he is now best known. Though there’s as much telling as showing in this extended, dreamlike examination of a creator who found ways to express his love of the unconventional, Carlin weaves Lear-like scribbles (and some of the artist’s own work) in and around smudged, often ghostly figures, portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 6–12. (Apr.)