Day 5: Remix

The body of a dalmation dog. It is white with black spots of varying sizes. Its paws are clutching a rapidly deflating toy ball. The body of a muddy hippopotamus. It's resting its dripping forefeet against the sides of its belly. The body of a rooster. It is a deep rusty red, with petrol-blue tail feathers showing behind it. A cow body with its forelegs crossed in a human-like way. Her tail is casually draped over one arm. A big fluffy ginger cat belly, with a white bib. The body of a frog, whose forearms are holding a clutch of presumably its own offspring, seen in varying levels of development from tadpoles to little froglets. A furry seal body, holding a seal pup (who is staring right at us) in one flipper. The dromedary is holding its forelegs up together, reminicent of how rabbits do, when they stand. A lizard body standing proud with two unnervingly human-like arms with talon-fingers held outspread.
The legs of a dalmation dog. They are placed one in front of the other with the tail hanging behind. The legs of a hippopotamus. They are standing in a big muddy puddle. Rooster feet with three little chicks pecking the ground around them. Pigeon-toed cow legs with udders peeking out between them. Ginger cat legs with a white-tipped tail behind them. Two strong looking frog legs with water dripping off them. The bottom end of a seal, standing up on its tail flippers. Dromedary legs, standing casually with more weight on one hip. Lizard legs with pointy toes and a long tail snaking out behind.
dalmatian

The head of a dalmation dog. It is looking sideways at us with a worried expression. The body of a dalmation dog. It is white with black spots of varying sizes. Its paws are clutching a rapidly deflating toy ball. The legs of a dalmation dog. They are placed one in front of the other with the tail hanging behind.

Illustrator Helen Oxenbury

The front cover of the Animal Allsorts book, with a 'tomcizaster' shown - cat head, lizard body, rooster feet.

I've had this book since I was very young. Other books by the illustrator Helen Oxenbury may be familiar to lots of British adults and children, as she has a body of work spanning 60 years! She did a lovely interview this year for It's Nice That, is 87 years old, and lives in London.