Pictures by William Steig. New York: Michael de Capua Books, Farrar, Status and Giroux, 1988. 1^st edition. No pagination. Hardcover with dustjacket; both VERY GOOD PLUS condition.

A superb lesson in natural science, rhyming verse and lively illustrations! 

The best description of this book is penned on the dust jacket flap:  Jeanne Steig’s collection of verse takes a light-footed stroll through the animal kingdom, noting the attributes and eccentricities of its creatures, both wild and domestic, up to and including man.  You’ll learn how to identify an elephant (tiny eyes, string tail), what to expect from a camel (not much), why snails are slow (only one foot), and why it is ridiculous to imagine that the stork delivers babies.  Some of the beasts examined are lovable, some are decidedly not.  All are briskly represented in William Steig’s drawings, which add another dimension to his wife’s deft and lively verses.  All the “wit and wacky” you have come to love from the creator of Shrek, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Doctor DeSoto. More William Steig titles and first editions are available.