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The Dong with a Luminous Nose

A poem retold from Nonsense Books by Edward Lear

Edward Lear was an English artist and poet famous for his nonsense verse—playful poems full of made-up words and creatures. This poem tells the story of the Dong, a lonely creature who lost someone he loved and wanders the dark searching for her, guided by a glowing nose he made himself. First published in the nineteenth century, Lear's work invites children into worlds of imagination where feelings are real even when the creatures are not. This text reflects its era; a few period terms have been modernised. The poem is worth a child's time because it shows how love and loss can be spoken of with gentleness, wonder and a little bit of light in the dark.

Band

Purple · Pre-readers and first readersTypical starting range: ages 4–5

Length

short · about 340 words in 4 sections · 4 pictures

Source

Nonsense Books, Edward Lear

First published

see the About page in the reader

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (6 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Colouring page
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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