Product Description

This unique anthology of Spike's poems and stories for children presents his classic children's books in a way they have never been seen before. The large format gives ample scope to make the most of Spike's own illustrations, lovingly coloured specially for this book. The anthology comprises Silly Verse For Kids (1959), The Bald Twit Lion (1968), A Book of Milliganimals (1968). Unspun Socks From A Chicken's Laundry (1981), Sir Nobonk and the Terrible, Awful, Dreadful, naughty, Nasty Dragon (1982) and Startling Verse For All The Family (1987). Spike does not regard children as small grown-ups, but as an entirely different species who live in a secret, magical world which very few adults understand. His poems were inspired by listening to his own children, and subsequently his grandchildren, and marvelling at the way they could invent new words or incorporate sound effects into their everyday language. In 'borrowing' their language, Spike has created a range of poems and stories which are a delight to read to younger children, for older children to read themselves, or for grown-ups recapture some of the magic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #250482 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Help your children learn Milliganese with A Child's Treasury of Milligan, a classic collection of daft short stories and nonsense rhymes from the king of Downright Silliness, Spike Milligan.

This stunning anthology of Milligan's poems and stories for children comprises his classic books Unspun Socks for A Chicken's Laundry, A Book of Milliganimals, Silly Verse for Kidsand much more. A great book for sharing and reading aloud (once your child gets hold of one of the remarkably silly and occasionally quite naughty verses, there'll be no stopping them...)it would also appeal to more reluctant readers who may well be persuaded by the silliness of it all, and enjoy reading it alone in short bursts. Grown-ups beware: if you are a fully fledged Milligan fan you may well find this book irresistible. Age 7 and over--Susan Harrison

Amazon.co.uk Review
Children have "a secret world that only very perceptive adults have any real knowledge of. I have. Lucky me", writes Spike Milligan. In this beautifully illustrated volume, the perpetual eccentric displays his childlike empathy with the mysterious minds of kids. It brings together four of his collections of verse: Silly Verse For Kids, A Book of Milliganimals, Unspun Socks From A Chicken Laundry andStartling Verse For All The Family, along with two longer pieces of prose The Bald Twit Lion and Sir Nobonk and the terrible, awful, dreadful, naughty, nasty Dragon.

Spike is best known as a former Goon, and there is something of that spirit in these works. He demonstrates his versatility, however, in poems that range from the educational and irreverent (The ABC andMacDrown) to the satirical (Crocodile), darkly comic(Winds light to disastrous), linguistically inventive(Ipple-apple Tree) and downright weird (Fiddle faddle). There is much wisdom here, as well as intellectual allusions to keep the adults happy. An index would have helped, but for children from eight to one hundred and eight, this book is highly recommended. --Stephen Portlock

Good Housekeeping
'A wonderful collection of Spike's stories and poetry for children. Some of them are funny, some of them downright strange, but they're all inventive, and imaginative.'

Customer Reviews

milligan does it again ---- in verse
Yet again another example fo Spike's excellent works, this time in verse.
Spike Milligan has created laughter for the whole of his life and this is no exception.
No matter what your age, this is the book to raise your spirits in the long winter nights, or to keep you happily amused while lying on that beach.
Definitely one for the library

A great book for children especially parents
I love the poems and stories whether I'm reading out load or just entertaining myself. As for my daughter she definately loves the drawings and ROARS at the lions and MOOS with the cows but she is still working on the Pygmy Hippo.

Money well spent
I work with a class of 6 and 7 year olds, and after reading a selection of these poems to them, I know it was money well spend. I can't think of a better collection of poems to help children hear, understand and appreciate humour within poetry. The nonsense rhymes have provided hours of amusement to the children (and myself), and frequent requests to re-read their favourite, currently "I've just been attacked by wild bananas"! I much valued book from my collection!