More and Merrier

OHSAY CAN YOU SAY? by Theodor S. Geisel '25 (Dr. Seuss) Beginner Books, 1979. 40 pp. 53.50 A LOT OF LUMPS by Scott Masrber '78 Illustrated by Jamie Olson '81 Scoal Press, 1979. 188 pp. $8.95

It is a privilege for any writer to find an audience. It is the gift of some writers to capture theirs. For 25 years, Dr. Seuss has delighted and enchanted his young audience by stretching their imaginations, tickling their senses of humor and tangling-their-teeth-with- the-tips-of-their-tongues. His latest creation for his Beginner Books library, Oh Say Can YouSay, introduces us to the likes of Pete Briggs, " ... a pink pig, big pig patter . . . / who/puts his patted pigs away in his Pete Briggs Pink Pigs Big Pigs Pigpen."

While some of Dr. Seuss's books appear to have been written for "alterior motives"-for Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! read, "Richard M. Nixon . . . ," and you will see what I mean-this latest book has been written with the true Seussian spirit: to show kids that reading is not only important, it is also fun. To make a child eager to open a book may very well be the most important accomplishment in this business of writing. Dr. Seuss has done it so many, many times, and OhSay Can You Say? does it again.

On the other hand, like many first novels, Scott Marber's A Lot of Lumps tends to be a bit self-indulgent. New writers, by definition, seem compelled to love every word they put down on paper-the more adjectives the merrier. The story of Whantmoor Taikenstele and his living lumps sort of scurries around all over the place, searching for a specific audience, narrative point of view, through line and moral. But these scurryings like a puppy's, are fun nonetheless. Marber's characters, like Jamie Olson's illustrations, are sketchy but imaginative, and certain moments within the story are really quite delightful, although they would stand out more prominently with less embellishment and more editing.

What Marber lacks in skill, however, he makes up for in enthusiasm. And, let's face it, to have written a book and formed one's own publishing house at his age and stage is a tremendous accomplishment as well as a great head start. Marber deserves our congratulations. Here's hoping that he and his writing will continue to grow.

Chas Carner, whose own first novel Tawny, astory for juveniles, was published in 1978, hasformed LAN A, a writing cooperative in NewYork.