Frank Jacobs - Hand Shadow Fun

Copyright Copyright 1996, 2015 by Frank Jacobs All rights reserved. Bibliographical NoteHand Shadow Fun, first published by Dover Publications, Inc., in 2015, is a republication in a new format of Fun with Hand Shadows, first published by Dover in 1996. It is comprised of a selection of illustrations by Henry Bursill, originally published in Hand Shadows to be Thrown Upon the Wall (1859) and Hand Shadows: Second Series (1860) by Griffith and Farran, London. The accompanying verses were written specially for this edition by Frank Jacobs. International Standard Book NumbereISBN-13: 978-0-486-80193-3 Manufactured in the United States by Courier Corporation 79674401 2015 www.doverpublications.com An ancient pastime that has lost none of its ability to amuse, the creation of hand shadows is simple. Position your hands as indicated in the illustrations shown in this book, put a source of light behind them and cast the shadows onto the blank part of a wall.

To add to the fun, Frank Jacobs has written new nonsense verses to go with each traditional shadow.

A stupid goose Has gotten loose. No, not a moose A goose named Bruce. The people holler, Whats the use? Well never catch a goose thats loose! But look! A hand is holding Bruce A hand that grips him like a noose, Which means weve gotten back our goose At least till Bruce Again gets loose. THE GOOSE The deer we see here is a buck; His antlers tell us so. In mating season, with some luck, Hell find himself a doe.

Lets hope he hasnt long to wait, That soon she will appear And when he says, Please be my mate, Shell answer, Yes, my deer. THE DEER

This pesky bunny comes to feast On lettuce in your garden. Youd think that once or twice, at least, Hed say, I beg your pardon. THE BUNNY When planning a vacation trip, Birds need no plane, or train or ship To take them to some far-flung destination; They spread their wings and fly for free, Which means they never have to see A travel agent for a reservation. BIRDS Although they give us milk and cheese, Most goats are rather hard to please; Theyre rough and gruff, wont take advice In other words, they just arent nice. And even when we treat them well, They still give off that dreadful smell.

Should one show up, be on your guard; Dont get too closehell butt you hard. THE GOAT

Toby was a happy dog; Toby never growled. Toby was a quiet dog who never yelped or howled. Toby never tore around; Toby always sat, until that dreadful day last week when we brought home a cat. TOBY The elephants no household pet; He doesnt bark or purr; Hes so gigantic, you can bet That lions call him Sir. Most times he is a peaceful soul Who seldom starts a riot.

But get him mad? Well, on the whole, I dont think you should try it. THE ELEPHANT

Because he is so sleek and trim, The greyhound runs quite fast; The other dogs wont race with him They know theyd finish last. THE GREYHOUND If pigs were human, they would go To restaurants and delis; The only pleasure that they know Is filling up their bellies. But should a skinny pig you find Whos hard to feed and fatten, A word from you will change his mind When spoken in pig Latin. THE PIG The bruin, with his teeth and paws, Does not obey our local laws. So if you see one walking past, Just say Helloand run real fast! THE BRUIN Who is this creature that we see? Its clear hes not an ox; Hes surely not a chimpanzee, A kangaroo or fox.

But if you said a mule he is, You got the answer right; Not only have you solved the quiz Youre also pretty bright. GUESS WHO?

This bulldog, many people say, Once filled his foes with fright. But now that he is old and gray, Hed rather growl than fight. THE OLD GROWLER The fellow pictured here Is quivering with fear. You can see that he is shaken to the core; It seems he caught a glimpse This wimpiest of wimps Of that old, gray growler on the page before. A FRIGHTENED MAN Just hear the tortoise boast out loud While speeding down the trail.

Hes got good reason to be proud He just outraced a snail. THE TORTOISE

Who is this boy? It could be Roy, Or Jack, or Jim or Harry; It might be John or Algernon Or maybe Sam or Larry. Weve tried our best; weve guessed and guessed A dozen times this week. Weve still no clue; I guess its true That shadows never speak. A BOY The grouchy camel, as a rule, Is twice as stubborn as a mule. He hates to work; hes often rude In short, hes got an attitude.

He tries all sorts of nasty tricks He spits and grunts and whines and kicks; He hates the desert, hates the sun; He hates all humans, every one. Oh, by the way, twixt me and you, He hates all other camels too.