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The Jumblies
This picture book brings to life the classic Edward Lear rhyme about the adventurous and colourful Jumblies who go to sea in a sieve.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
6 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Edward Lear
755 books206 followersEdward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet, who is known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limericks, a form he popularised.
His principal areas of work as an artist were threefold: as a draughtsman employed to make illustrations of birds and animals; making coloured drawings during his journeys, which he reworked later, sometimes as plates for his travel books; and as a (minor) illustrator of Alfred Tennyson's poems.
As an author, he is known principally for his popular nonsense collections of poems, songs, short stories, botanical drawings, recipes and alphabets. He also composed and published twelve musical settings of Tennyson's poetry.
His principal areas of work as an artist were threefold: as a draughtsman employed to make illustrations of birds and animals; making coloured drawings during his journeys, which he reworked later, sometimes as plates for his travel books; and as a (minor) illustrator of Alfred Tennyson's poems.
As an author, he is known principally for his popular nonsense collections of poems, songs, short stories, botanical drawings, recipes and alphabets. He also composed and published twelve musical settings of Tennyson's poetry.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 30, 2021
They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea!
And when the Sieve turned round and round,
And every one cried, ‘You’ll all be drowned!’
They called aloud, ‘Our Sieve ain’t big,
But we don’t care a button! we don’t care a fig!
In a Sieve we’ll go to sea!’
Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.
One of today's charity shop finds!
You have got to love an Edward Lear poem and this is no exception. It is silly and funny and has been beautifully illustrated here to bring it to life. It may technically be a children's picture book but it is fun for all ages. 3.5 stars.
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea!
And when the Sieve turned round and round,
And every one cried, ‘You’ll all be drowned!’
They called aloud, ‘Our Sieve ain’t big,
But we don’t care a button! we don’t care a fig!
In a Sieve we’ll go to sea!’
Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.
One of today's charity shop finds!
You have got to love an Edward Lear poem and this is no exception. It is silly and funny and has been beautifully illustrated here to bring it to life. It may technically be a children's picture book but it is fun for all ages. 3.5 stars.
May 27, 2012
Goreys' illustrations are wonderful as always, but I'm afraid I was not overwhelmed by the verse of Mr. Lear.
March 26, 2018
The poem starts off very well, and it is also incredibly poignant in points, and the rhyming scheme is fun as well; however, the ending falls rather flat in my opinion.
November 25, 2019
This review originally posted at http://www.drttmk.com/books/jumblies.
All jumblied up.
A book of nonsense. The poem is vaguely familiar, though I've never seen this illustrated version before. "In a sieve they went to sea," "Far and few, far and few,/Are the lands where the Jumblies live:/Their heads are green and their hands are blue;/And they went to sea in a sieve." Apparently these creatures are tiny, because they're in a sieve and a crockery jar, and they've got a veil and a tobacco pipe for a sail and mast. The sieve starts sinking, so they wrap their feet in paper to keep them dry, and somehow they keep floating. They get to some other lands and buy a whole bunch of random stuff, and come back home 20 years later. All the other Jumblies throw them party and give them a feast, and the rest go, 'You know what? That was a great idea. We should do that too.' What is this book trying to say, if anything? Was it a bad idea? Don't listen to other people when they tell you what you're doing is stupid even though it clearly is? Maybe it's just pretty words to rhyme and be silly. I don't know if there's some kind of deeper meaning behind this or not.
These illustrations are very interesting. The pig they buy is the color of the sky, clouds and all. There's a giant, realistic looking, Stilton cheese. It's... interesting. It's not great, but it's not bad. It's just goofy.
Message: If you do something impossible, everybody will be jealous. Or, maybe there is no message.
All jumblied up.
A book of nonsense. The poem is vaguely familiar, though I've never seen this illustrated version before. "In a sieve they went to sea," "Far and few, far and few,/Are the lands where the Jumblies live:/Their heads are green and their hands are blue;/And they went to sea in a sieve." Apparently these creatures are tiny, because they're in a sieve and a crockery jar, and they've got a veil and a tobacco pipe for a sail and mast. The sieve starts sinking, so they wrap their feet in paper to keep them dry, and somehow they keep floating. They get to some other lands and buy a whole bunch of random stuff, and come back home 20 years later. All the other Jumblies throw them party and give them a feast, and the rest go, 'You know what? That was a great idea. We should do that too.' What is this book trying to say, if anything? Was it a bad idea? Don't listen to other people when they tell you what you're doing is stupid even though it clearly is? Maybe it's just pretty words to rhyme and be silly. I don't know if there's some kind of deeper meaning behind this or not.
These illustrations are very interesting. The pig they buy is the color of the sky, clouds and all. There's a giant, realistic looking, Stilton cheese. It's... interesting. It's not great, but it's not bad. It's just goofy.
Message: If you do something impossible, everybody will be jealous. Or, maybe there is no message.
August 30, 2019
I heard the nonsensical poem being read in an episode of Inspector Lewis - a British police procedural and was enthralled by it:
‘They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter's morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea! . . .’
It's a whimsical, very cute little tale of an adventure of The Jumblies going to sea in their sieve...
‘They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter's morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea! . . .’
It's a whimsical, very cute little tale of an adventure of The Jumblies going to sea in their sieve...
April 29, 2019
Having enjoyed Edward Gorey's biography, I have been seeking examples of his illustrations to "get to know him better." The Jumblies was one of his first ventures into being an illustrator, since Lear only did one drawing for this enchanting verse. Loved it.
January 29, 2021
The art is lovely, but I do not see the point of this story. The verse was not very witty, or deserving for such cute illustration. It didn't keep my child's interest, but we'll revisit it when she's older and see.
January 17, 2018
Nonsensical nonsense that makes no sense, but it rhymes and therefore it pleases. Loved by all.
January 2, 2020
A favourite childhood story of mine. Happy to be sharing it with my baby.
December 17, 2020
Childhood favorite- still so fun
January 15, 2021
Delightfully illustrated by Edward Gorey (which is why it was bought).
February 2, 2021
A lovely poem with vibrant illustrations and incredible characters. Exciting and fun, the repetitive "and they went to sea in a sieve" will stick!
Read
September 26, 2022For school.
Read
October 31, 2022Quite silly
March 23, 2024
The little Jumblies characters are super cute and I guess this encourages imaginative play and it does have a fun sing-song poem, but the story just falls a little flat.
February 7, 2016
'The Jumblies’ by Edward Lear
Illustrated by Sam McPhillips
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book, featuring the classic nonsense poem by Edward Lear; a truly rhythmical read.
‘They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter's morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea! . . .’
What a wonderful way to introduce children to the world of classic literature and the nonsense poem of Edward Lear. This is a poem to share with children of all ages. It has beautiful bright images to capture their attention especially showing the little Jumblies.
‘. . .Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.’
This book along with several others is retailed at £5.99 but I found this for 99p in the Aldi Supermarket (UK); fantastic bargain.
I have today been informed that my sister’s grandson (whom I bought the book for) loves it.
Happy Reading
Illustrated by Sam McPhillips
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book, featuring the classic nonsense poem by Edward Lear; a truly rhythmical read.
‘They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter's morn, on a stormy day,
In a Sieve they went to sea! . . .’
What a wonderful way to introduce children to the world of classic literature and the nonsense poem of Edward Lear. This is a poem to share with children of all ages. It has beautiful bright images to capture their attention especially showing the little Jumblies.
‘. . .Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.’
This book along with several others is retailed at £5.99 but I found this for 99p in the Aldi Supermarket (UK); fantastic bargain.
I have today been informed that my sister’s grandson (whom I bought the book for) loves it.
Happy Reading
April 19, 2023
Rereading Edward Gorey 2023. Knowing that Edward Lear was a touchstone for Edward Gorey, this must have been a deep honor for him. I like seeing other references Gorey throws in; japanese prints, surrealist skies, and even a dedication to Lear's cat, Foss. Gorey's drawings are faithful to the poem, but create a unique vision of their own, an unforgettable statement of reverence for Lear's work.
Paired with Lear's other Jumbly book, The Dong with the Luminous Nose, this makes a lovely story of joy, bravado and loss. And a solid foundation of nonsense.
Paired with Lear's other Jumbly book, The Dong with the Luminous Nose, this makes a lovely story of joy, bravado and loss. And a solid foundation of nonsense.
September 7, 2010
This is a perfect marriage of illustration to text. Gorey's drawings are exactly what is called for when, "...they bought an owl and a useful cart..." and so on. Cranberry tarts, silvery bees, the woman who bears the rice; all are rendered exactly as one would hope to imagine them if we were great.
Available from Pomegranate Communications Inc.
Available from Pomegranate Communications Inc.
February 1, 2016
This book makes no sense at all! How can you keep your feet dry with pink paper while sailing about in a sieve? But reading it puts the baby to sleep everytime so it can't be all bad! And it means the first book I have read this year is a classic :)
March 1, 2008
This, along with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and the Hunting of the Snark comprised the first furnishings of my mind.
February 6, 2017
Edward Gorey's work is just so delightful! The detail of his line drawings and cross-hatching is stunning. And the poem by Lear is great fun!
June 24, 2015
Lovely, for the most part! And a lot better than his book of nonesense.
September 16, 2015
a child 3ood favorite revisited.
April 1, 2017
Odd story, but Lear is classic. Illustrations are okay.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews