Alice in Wonderland: A Book in Verse—J. T. Holden and Andrew Johnson

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 6, 2010

Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland

by J.T. Holden (Author), Andrew Johnson (Illustrator)

Reading Level: Ages 10 and up

Hardcover: 112 pages

Publisher: Candleshoe Books; 1st edition edition (January 11, 2010)

Source of book: Publisher

What to expect: Alice in Wonderland characters, Verse, Riddles

I couldn’t resist writing a review of this book, for many reasons: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is currently showing in theatres. The entire book is written in verse, which makes it a good choice for National Poetry Month. And … who doesn’t want to know who it was that really stole the Queen of Hearts tarts?

J.T Holden has adeptly re-imagined the characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. As a young boy, Holden was made aware of a rumour that some of Carroll’s rhymes—rhymes that had not made it into the original books—had been lost. These ‘lost rhymes’ are the inspiration behind Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland; a compilation of masterful, original poetry. While adding new and interesting elements, Holden has managed to keep the timeless appeal from the original works, allowing true fans to insatiably dig in.

From the absurdity of the verse to the well composed rhyme to the shrewd black-and-white illustrations, this book is certainly a literature lover’s delight.

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