Custard and Company: Poems

by Ogden Nash

An illustrated collection of humorous poems on a variety of topics.

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Fiction, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Frederic Ogden Nash was an American poet well known for his light verse. At the time of his death in 1971, the New York Times said his "droll verse with its unconventional rhymes made him the country's best-known producer of humorous poetry".

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrity Death Match Special (Camus centenary edition): Custard and Company versus Le Mythe de Sisyphe

When walking with Sartre, Camus
Once stepped on a large piece of poo
With a glance at the turd
He said, "Life's absurd!
But more so for me than for you."

Match abandoned after pitch invaded by rhinoceros

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! They must be read out loud for full effect!
My favorite (both poem and illustration):
The Dog
The truth I do not stretch or shove
When I state the dog is full of love.
I've also proved, by actual test,
A wet dog is the lovingest.

[Essie-Marie F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk how he became so famous, but Nash's poetry is endlessly enjoyable and amusing. A childhood favourite that's stood the test of time and continues to lift my spirits now as a young adult.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun collection of poems - most of the poems are very short and rhyming, which was perfect for enticing our girls to read the poems aloud to me. The vocabulary was a bit advanced, so I would recommend this book for older children.

Some of the words are completely made up (for fun or for rhyming convenience), so it might help if a parent read the book with the child to help discern the real from the made up words. We had our online dictionary handy to look up any words that they did not recognize.

The black and white illustrations by Quentin Blake are humorous and complement the poems nicely. And the style of the poems and illustrations reminded us of our beloved Shel Silverstein poetry books. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

new words: lieder, moujik, mazurka, formic, objurgate

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy. It is a collection of many different humorous poems; some describe the world in a strange new way, some tell stories, and some are just fun to read aloud. These poems appeal to a child's imagination and offer laughter and adventure.

Although I myself am not a parent, somewhere deep inside me is a little voice telling me that despite dirty diapers, sleepless nights, and colic, it would be worth having children, just so I could read them this book. There is a sense of wonder in this book that I wouldn't have thought possible.

This book is pure magic.

[Barbara Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this version was published in 1980, I could well have read it as a child. I certainly remember many of the poems. However, I'm pretty sure I'd know some of these poems even if I hadn't read this, since Nash is so famous.

[Ericka Clou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of humourous poems when I was a kid.

[Theresa F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a lot of Ogden Nash's work. I'm charmed by his sense of humor and his playful use of language. There were however a number of poems in this collection, some of the longer works in particular, where I had trouble finding the rhythm of the piece as I was reading it. Still an enjoyable book, just slightly frustrating at points.
Did I like it? Yes.
Would I reread it? Maybe.
Would I recommend it? It's hard to go wrong with Ogden Nash.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great except too dark for kids and one poem about pizza making you fat which was not appreciated

[Shary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Clever poems made better by clever drawings.

[AS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love : )

[Ellice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ogden Nash nonsense poetry. Illustrations by Quentin Blake. I truly am not sure what more one could want in a book.

For those who are dubious, try on this couplet from one of my favorite poems, "The Wombat":

"...I would not engage the wombat
In any form of mortal combat."

If that doesn't make you want to read this book, I don't know what will.

[ProfCurrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of poems written by Ogden Nash. This book would be great for 5th or 6th graders. Although some of the poems are easy, others are a little bit harder to decipher for someone in a younger grade. These poems are very silly and funny. The poems' topics range from animals (both real and fantasy animals), people, and funny situations. The illustrations are also very silly. This book uses rhyming words frequently, and would be helpful when teaching rhyming patterns.

Cheryl Tucker

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book of poetry to read. There are a lot of poems about animals and also funny poems that are a spin on life. It was an enjoyable book to read. I like that humor is incorporated into all of the poems. The poems in this poetry book all rhyme.

[Alec Longstreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite illustrator made a selection of poems by my favorite poet, and I only just found out about it a few weeks ago!!?! A classic that will be much loved and often read in my family.

[Kye Flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

lilting, cheeky, unctious, friendly, eye-popping, hilarious