I can't remember when I was given this book, but it's still on my shelf now, in my living room. It's a beautiful, visceral, swashbuckling poem, and Alan Aldridge's illustrations are breathtaking.

The art in this is seriously stunning. The poem throughout is fun, but perhaps a little difficult for little kids, still the whole work is magical, and as a piece it is transcendent of its form. If I'd had this as a child I would have spent hours poring through this.

Beautifully illustrated story, quite different from what I anticipated, with some political undertones, however I suspect as a British reader I wouldn't have had those thoughts. The language is really beautiful and some of the rhymes made me smile because of how clever they were. Also, as a non native speaker but a master of English Studies, I got to learn some new vocabulary (not that I anticipate using it in real life but still that's my idea of fun). I'll surely reread it many times to fully enjoy the rhythm and both authors' talent.