Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch

The work of Hieronymus Bosh fascinates me. What a treat it was to find a book not only about my beloved artist but one that is a work of art all by it self. Pish Posh Hieronymus Bosh is a children's book written by Nancy Willard and illustrated by The Dillons (Diane and Leo.) Bosh lived and painted in the Netherlands during the thirteenth and fourteenth century. His paintings are famous for their strange little creatures. I look at them and at times, the paintings appear futuristic with the alien like creatures and flying spaceship like objects. My first impression of his work was the science fiction like quality. This children's book is written in rhyme, and tells a story of Hieronymus and his disgruntled housekeeper. Sick and tired of tripping over and caring for a myriad of unbelievable le creatures, she packs her bag and off she goes. She soon discovers the creatures have literally attached themselves to her for she is not only a housekeeper but to the creatures, "a mother." Apparently, the life she wished for was not to be. "They're not what I wished for. When women are young, they want curly-haired daughters and raven-haired sons. In this vale of tears we must take what we're sent, Feathery, Leathery, Lovely, or Bent." In addition to the wonderful story about Bosh and his housekeeper, the book is a thing of beauty worthy of consideration as a family treasure. The text type and display type were hand lettered and are near three dimensional in appearance. The original artwork is unique and colorful. The book is presented on 100-pound Natural Karma paper meant to endure for generations of readers. Short Biographies of Bosh, the author and the illustrator serve as cream to this wonderful desert of a book.

Medieval Dutch painter Hieronymous Bosch often included strange creatures in his paintings. Of course, as a busy artist, he would have employed a housekeeper, and she might have been a trifle disturbed by the many bizarre creations inhabiting the household. This is the premise behind Willard's poem. The housekeeper, exasperated by having to deal with "three-legged thistles" sleeping in her wash, an oven which turns itself into a rake, and dragons which block the sink, packs her bags and leaves. She doesn't realize until much later, however, that several of the strange creatures have stowed away in her baggage. They beg her to return and Bosch is so happy to see her again that he promises to reinvent his creatures to be more helpful to her. They marry and (presumably) live happily (but weirdly) ever after. I wish I had had this book when I was a child-I think I would have spent many hours returning to it again and again to enjoy the cadence of the poetry and explore the weirdness of the illustrations. However, since it was written thirty years after I was born, I guess I can't feel too deprived, and I'm glad to have it now. What a delight! It's a rich and beautiful book. Without a doubt, while Willard's poem is very entertaining to read aloud, this book is all about the illustrations. They do it all: complement, extend, and enrich the story. They are filled with movement, befitting the commotion the poor housekeeper must endure in a house inhabited by two-headed bats, pickle-winged fish, and a pigeon-toed rat. The only calm picture illustrates the housekeeper's memory of working as a laundress at a convent. It is dominated by three serene nuns in dark habits. It presents a sharp contrast to the madcap Bosch household, where something is peeking, creeping, running, clinging or jumping everywhere one looks. The housekeeper looks furious for much of the book, and her clothing is a swirl of red, white, and black. After walking twenty-two miles to (I'm assuming) her parents' home, she collapses in bed. The three scenes here are a study in blues and greens, enhancing the nighttime setting. Her startled face is caught in the glow of lamplight as "a mole in a habit, a thistledown rabbit, a troop of jackdaws, a three-legged dish, the pickle-winged fish, and a head wearing claws" leap from her luggage and entreat her to return home. She flies home on the fish, and daylight returns in full color. Bosch (sleeping with a ludicrous colander on his head) appears in a red nightshirt and slippers with enormous red pom-poms, and dances joyously with his bride-to-be as the newly helpful creatures look on. There are fewer of them in this final scene, and the housekeeper smiles radiantly. It's interesting that the final illustration, the wedding feast, is left for the back cover of the book.

This has got to be one of my favorite children's books. I don't know which is more impressive--the extravagant Bosch-inspired illustrations, or the witty verse with its precise rhymes and impeccable rhythm. At first it appears to be a too-precious book appreciated only by adults, but in fact children seem to love it too. My 3-year-old son, entranced by the jumping, singing langauge, loves it. He particularly enjoys all the talk of creepy crawlies and moster-animal hybrids. ("Which one is the pickle-winged bat, Mama?") It appears to be out of print at this time (9/22/03). No!!!!!!!!!!! It is an unbelievably good book, and it ought to be available. Anyone I've ever given it to as a gift has treasured it. Now we'll have to treasure our copies all the more.

"Once upon a time there was an artist named Hieronymus Bosch who loved odd creatures. Not a day passed that the good woman who looked after his house didn't find a new creature lurking in a corner or sleeping in a cupboard..." So begins Nancy Willard's inventive picture book about this mysterious Dutch painter who filled his canvasses with fantastic and intriguing beings of all shapes and sizes. This poor housekeeper couldn't take it anymore. "I'm quitting your service, I've had quite enough/of your three-legged thistles asleep in my wash,/of scrubbing the millstone you use for a dish,/and riding to shops on a pickle-winged fish." She packs her bags and leaves, but once out on her own, finds she misses all the chaos her employer's imagination brings to life, and comes flying back home on that pickle-winged fish to a happily-ever-after ending..... Ms Willard's clever, rhyming text has a medieval look and feel, and a lyrical cadence that begs to be read aloud. But it's Diane and Leo Dillons' amazing and evocative artwork that really makes this book stand out and sparkle. Youngsters will enjoy poring over and exploring the bold and engaging pictures of two headed dragons, dancing cucumbers, monkeys, and lizards, and beehives in boots... and are sure to find something new and exciting each and every time they open the book. Perfect for kids 5 and older, Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch is a creative and entertaining introduction and includes a short biography at the end to complete the story. This is definitely a picture book budding art lovers shouldn't miss.

This book is worth buying for the illustrations alone. Although the story is not terrifically compelling, and some of the words are too difficult for young children, the book as a whole is a pleasure - endless fun for reading aloud, quite enjoyable for adults and children both.The rhymed verse tells of the woes of Bosch's beknighted housekeeper, who must do all the standard house chores while caring for - and being harrassed by - Bosch's collection of weird creatures. She decamps, but finds she can't live without Bosch or his menagerie. Naturally, they live happily ever after. Some of language here is a little advanced, and most kids will understand the book better if an adult helps read it the first few times through. The real heart of the book is not the story but the menagerie - the fish with pickle wings, the dandified oven, the three-legged thistles, the assorted dragons and reptiles - that lives all over and through Bosch's house. The illustrations perfectly capture the peculiar creatures, making them oddly appealing as well as just odd, in lovely, richly-colored and highly detailed renderings. The special frame (the work of the artists' son) is also wonderful. So, although the story is a little weak, this book as a whole is a treasure; it's a literate, intelligent work that acts a springboard to fun and imagination for readers of all ages. The hardbound edition makes an excellent gift for adults who are fans of Bosch or just fantasy, as well as for kids who are tired of cute little stories about Squishy-Wishy Squirrel.