SOURCE: A review of The Cruise of the Aardvark, in The Washington Post Book World, December 24, 1967, p. 10.

In the following mixed review, Merriam contends that “Nash is a champion wit and social commentator at the upper level, but he becomes condescending in his new narrative poem for the little ones.”

Poetry is the Cinderella of the children's book field. Once she was a sooty scullery maid while proud stepsisters Science and Fiction held forth. Then along came Prince Federal-Funds-for-Language-Arts-Programs and lo! the maid turned into a modish princess. And so on to the ball, as books of verse now head publishers' lists and appear each new season in resplendent jackets and bindings.

Only one detail spoils this glowing scene: many of the volumes issued so readily don't deserve the permanency of print. There seems to be a peculiar equation operating: because children are only half as big as...