Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

This is a classic work, exactly as I expected. I also wanted to read it to small children, but some of the poems are beyond their understanding.

T.S. Eliot proves with Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats that the rhyming poem is just as valid as free verse. Why some people continue to regard the rhyming poem as the lower form of poetic expression, or as something strictly for the little ones, is beyond me (perhaps it's due in part to the fact that TV advertisers abuse this art form on a regular basis, cheapening it with their cringe-inducing jingles). But whatever the case, these detractors have either never read, or (hard as it is to believe) forgot the magnificent rhyming poetry contained in T.S. Eliot's slim yet thoroughly satisfying masterpiece. The illustrations included in this edition are by Ed Gorey, and they complement Eliot's poetry beautifully. This is a great book. Highly recommended!

I also recommend Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland, which like Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, is a collection of brilliant rhyming poetry. As the title suggests, this book contains 'the lost rhymes' of Wonderland, 19 full-length poems that replicate the style of Lewis Carroll so cannily you'd almost swear the legend of the lost rhymes is true. This one may be the most serious contribution to rhyming poetry since Eliot penned his classic ode to cats.

If you have not read this before you attend the theater to see "Cats" you will not get it!

I purchased this book for my 8-year old as a 'job well done' gift at the end of his 2nd grade school year. He loves it, knows much of it by heart now. His initial interest stemmed from watching the musical, Cats, and is now just as much a fan of T.S. Eliot. The classics go a long way in a childs life...

Great audio tape for both poetry and CATS fan. Here you can hear all the poems that go into the songs for CATS Musical. You can hear them clearly cause there spoken not sung. The poets use great voice to show the expressions that the cats in the poems may feel.Its also great to use this to learn the songs. Also soem parts of a few poems were cut from the Musical. On this cassette you can hear the fuel poem as written.