You Know Who

by John Ciardi, Edward Gorey (Illustrator)

More zany and good-humored poems from America’s beloved poet.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

John Anthony Ciardi was an American poet, translator, editor, writer and etymologist.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this, I came to the conclusion that Ciardi was probably a father with a similar parenting style to what I think William Maxwell must also have displayed: kind and indulgent but also at times wryly, though lovingly, strict. The poems are smile-inducing, especially their endings, and I enjoyed reading them. The addition of Gorey's drawings, though not dark like some of his other illustrations, are always welcome.

My favorite part of the book though, which I bought used, is that it is stamped as coming from a particular school and the first names of students, 2nd-graders through 5th-graders from 1977 to 1987, who took this book from the school library are written in their own handwriting on the included check-out card. That, too, is smile-inducing.

[Sarah G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up from 4.5

[Ed Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw John Ciardi at Stevens Tech under the tetulage of
Professor Ed Foster in the 1980s. I thought of him as the "enemy" because his poems rhymed. Now years later and older, John I am sorry your poems are fine.
Poems with drawings by Edward Gorey makes these children poems
fly off the page.
You Know who, who knows You. Okay, I go on with another
book.