"Tom Potts was fooling with a gun
(Such follies should not be),
When--bang! The pesky thing went off
most unexpectedly!"
Long before Richard Scarry or Dr. Seuss, an American artist delighted a
generation of children and their parents with hilarious, topsy-turvy
illustrations and slightly subversive tales told in rhyme. This was
illustrator/author Peter Newell.
Originally published in 1908, The Hole Book remains as profoundly
enjoyable and incredibly popular as ever. With humorous text and
irresistible drawings, this classic work will delight readers of all
ages with the story of Tom Potts' bullet, which leads him through all
sorts of unexpected scenes and adventures, each funnier than the last.
Peter Newell (1862-1924) began his career as an artist drawing
portraits, using crayons as his medium. In his fantastic humor, many
believe, is the first appearance of the gentle humor of the absurd which
The New Yorker has subsequently developed to such a high level.