John Lithgow

Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse is a satirical poetry collection from award-winning actor and bestselling author John Lithgow. Chronicling the last few raucous years in American politics, Lithgow takes readers verse by verse through the history of Donald Trump's presidency. • Lampoons the likes of Betsy DeVos, William Barr, Rudy Giuliani, and dozens more. • Illustrated from cover to cover with Lithgow's never-before-seen line drawings. • Draws inspiration from A. A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and even Mother Goose. • Great for fans of A Very Stable Genius by Mike Luckovich, Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter by Scott Adams, and The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. The poems collected in Dumpty draw inspiration from A. A. Milne, Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Mother Goose, and many more. A feat of laugh-out-loud lyrical storytelling, this timely volume is bound to bring joy to poetry lovers, political junkies, and Lithgow fans alike.

The Age of Trump in Verse (Political Satire Book, Poetry, Political Humor Gift)

Dumpty

From listening to his grandmother recite epic poems from memory to curling up in bed while his father read funny verses, award-winning actor John Lithgow grew up with poetry. Ever since, John has been an enthusiastic seeker of poetic experience, whether reading, reciting, or listening to great poems. The wide variety of carefully selected poems in this book provides the perfect introduction to appeal to readers new to poetry, and for poetry lovers to experience beloved verses in a fresh, vivid way. William Blake, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dylan Thomas are just a few names among Lithgow's comprehensive list of poetry masters. His essential criterion is that "each poem's light shines more brightly when read aloud." This unique package provides a multimedia poetry experience with a bonus MP3 CD of revelatory poetry readings by John and the familiar voices of such notable performers as Eileen Atkins, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close, Billy Connolly, Jodie Foster, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Lynn Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Gary Sinise, and Sam Waterston. Every reader will enjoy reciting or listening to these poems with the entire family, appreciating how each one comes to life through the spoken word in this superlative poetry collection.

The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family

The Poets' Corner

In this riveting and surprising personal history, John Lithgow shares a backstage view of his own struggle, crisis, and discovery, revealing the early life and career that took place out of the public eye and before he became a nationally known star. Above all, Lithgow’s memoir is a tribute to his most important influence: his father, Arthur Lithgow, who, as an actor, director, producer, and great lover of Shakespeare, brought theater to John’s boyhood. From bedtime stories to Arthur’s illustrious productions, performance and storytelling were constant and cherished parts of family life. Drama tells of the Lithgows’ countless moves between Arthur’s gigs—John attended eight secondary schools before flourishing onstage at Harvard—and details with poignancy and sharp recollection the moments that introduced a budding young actor to the undeniable power of theater. Before Lithgow gained fame with the film The World According to Garp and the television show 3rd Rock from the Sun, his early years were full of scenes both hilarious and bittersweet. A shrewd acting performance saved him from duty in Vietnam. His involvement with a Broadway costar brought an end to his early first marriage. The theater worlds of New York and London come alive as Lithgow relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors, including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, and Meryl Streep. His ruminations on the nature of theater, film acting, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it. Lithgow’s memory is clear and his wit sharp, and much of the humor that runs throughout Drama comes at his own expense. But he also chronicles the harrowing moments of his past, reflecting with moving candor on friends made and lost, mistakes large and small, and the powerful love of a father who set him on the road to a life onstage. Illuminating, funny, affecting, and thoroughly engrossing, Drama raises the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.

An Actor's Education

Drama

The next book in John Lithgow's New York Times bestselling series Following the success of New York Times bestsellers Dumpty and Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents the third book in his runaway hit series. A Confederacy of Dumptys takes us through a history of twenty-five "American Scoundrels" in this all-new collection of Lithgow's satirical poems and illustrations. While the Trump Era was rife with corruption and abuse of power, it was nothing new. Through Lithgow's cutting humor, you will read about a rogues' gallery of villains that came before Donald J. Trump, powerful men and women who were corrupt, venal, criminal, adulterous, racist, or just plain disgusting. With dark and lyrical stories from across American history, you will learn about long-forgotten figures and bad actors of today, including the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, the perpetrator of 19th century women's pyramid schemes, and participants in both the Watergate scandal and the Capitol insurrection. Trump and Nixon show up, of course, but also Leona Helmsley, Boss Tweed, Typhoid Mary, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, and many more. Skipping through time, and delivered with classic Lithgow wit and style, A Confederacy of Dumptys is an exuberant reminder of how not to repeat history. Digital audio edition read by the author. The perfect book for: • Political satire fans—viewers of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. • American history buffs and trivia enthusiasts—readers of Jon's Stewart's America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and Josh Clark's Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things. • Poetry, art, and illustration aficionados.

Portraits of American Scoundrels in Verse

A Confederacy of Dumptys

Following the success of his New York Times bestseller Dumpty, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents a brand-new collection of satirical poems chronicling the despotic age of Donald Trump. Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown is darker and more hard-hitting than ever. Lithgow writes and draws with wit and fury as he takes readers through another year of the shocking events involving Trump and his administration. His uproarious poems and illustrations encompass Trump's impeachment, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter protests, and much more. Lithgow targets Mitch McConnell, Mike Pompeo, Bill Barr, Jared Kushner, Elaine Chao, and many others, but also includes a few heroes of the moment, including Anthony Fauci, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, and even Barack Obama. The book arrives at a time when it's needed most. With all-new poems and never-before-seen line drawings, Lithgow will once again make readers laugh and pause to remember some of the most defining moments in recent history—skewering the reign of King Dumpty one stanza at a time. Digital audio edition read by the author.

Verses for a Despotic Age

Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown

Following the success of New York Times bestseller Dumpty comes award-winning actor and national bestselling author John Lithgow's next book of satirical poetry chronicling the era of Trump madness. Darker, funnier, and more hard-hitting than ever, Lithgow writes with poetic fury and cutting satire, taking readers verse-by-verse through the last year of even more unthinkable and shocking real events surrounding Trump and his administration--including poems about the impeachment, Rudy Giuliani, Mick Mulvaney, Jay Sekulow, Jim Jordan, Roger Stone, and others. With completely new poems and never-before-seen line drawings, Lithgow will once again make readers laugh in frenzied times with this mix of striking and humorous prose--dismantling the reign of Dumpty one stanza at a time.

A boy imagines that he is a manatee, sprinkling seaweed on his Raisin Bran-atee and dignifying his watery domain with his wit, sophistication, and urbanity.

(Book & CD)

I'm a Manatee

Sue, a kangaroo, and some of her Australian animal friends put on a play called "The Runaway Pancake."

Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake

Sue doesn't want to be a kangaroo! She's sure there's something out there much better for her to be, so she goes off to explore. And sure enough, there are lots and lots of choices out there--but Sue's in for a surprise when she finally realizes that maybe a kangaroo is exactly what she wants to be.

With Audio Recording

Marsupial Sue

A lively and lyrical picture book jaunt from actor and author John Lithgow! Oh, children! Remember! Whatever you may do, Never play music right next to the zoo. They’ll burst from their cages, each beast and each bird, Desperate to play all the music they’ve heard. A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves in this hilarious picture book based on one of John Lithgow’s best-loved tunes.

with audio recording

Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo

A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves.

In his first book, actor and musician John Lithgow introduces a memorable character, a fickle yet lovable child prodigy who brings the sounds and rhythms of an orchestra to sprawling visual life. With a double gatefold showing the entire orchestra, this is the ultimate book for the music lover in all of us.

The Remarkable Farkle McBride

A mischievous boy slips away from his teacher during a field trip to a natural history museum and, after the museum closes, sees all of the people he knows transformed into animals.

Carnival of the Animals

What's a palooza? An activity that keeps kids from uttering those terrifying words, "I'm bored!" You may know John Lithgow as star of stage, screen, and television or even as a bestselling children's book author. But his most important role -- parent -- was also the most fun. Whether building cardboard castles or putting on a King and I puppet show or conducting a treasure hunt in the National Gallery of Art, John has spent years perfecting the art of the palooza. A palooza is easy to do! • A palooza doesn't cost much (some cost absolutely nothing) • A palooza is instigated or organized by parents but is quickly taken over by children • A palooza may involve a computer but never the TV • A palooza may use all varieties of arts and crafts • A palooza may secretly teach children (and parents!) a thing or two • A palooza is entertaining for the entire family • A palooza depends entirely on the inexhaustible creativity, ingenuity, imagination, and sense of fun of young minds This book contains 101 ideas for creating paloozas for children ages 3 to 12 wherever you are. Grouped according to interests and themes -- like art, drama, music, vacations, and birthdays -- and incorporating lots of extrapaloozas, fun facts for parent and child, and suggested additional reading for all ages, John's paloozas range from adopting your own soup can for a day to inventing your own secret language to establishing left-handed day or creating a self-portrait. A Lithgow Palooza! is an utterly unique collection of original activities guaranteed to transform any household from bored to bubbling with fun.

A Lithgow Palooza!

Tom Bower

Universal Studios

Brian De Palma

Terri Austin

Ross Horsley

Gale Anne Hurd

Lolita Davidovich

Steven Bauer

Frances Sternhagen

Gregg Henry

Mel Harris

Gabrielle Carteris

Barton Heyman

Amanda Pombo

Press kit includes announcement letter, a listing of cast and credits, production notes, log of events and short biographies about John Lithgow, Lolita Davidovich, Steven Bauer, Brian De Palma and Gale Anne Hurd.

Raising Cain

Boris Kulikov

Jean-Louis Ginibre

Barbara Cady

From Greek drama through vaudeville and modern cinema, nothing in the theatrical experience has ever guaranteed a laugh like a man in a dress. This spectacular pictorial history examines the grand tradition of male cross-dressing in the movies through more than 700 photos, more than half of which are previously unpublished. The screen's greatest stars, from comedians like Buster Keaton and Peter Sellers to "serious" actors like Marlon Brando and Max von Sydow, are pictured in everything from bustiers to ball gowns. Just as in real life, the cinematic motives for cross-dressing are complex, ranging from plot device (I Was a Male War Bride) and social commentary (Tootsie) to the simple sight gags of Laurel and Hardy. The book explores these and myriad other reasons actors are coaxed out of dress suits and into dresses. By turns provocative, serious, and silly, Ladies or Gentlemen is a delightful study of a seldom-explored facet of cinema history.

A Pictorial History of Male Cross-dressing in the Movies

Ladies Or Gentlemen

John Lithgow sings one of his most popular songs, "I Got Two Dogs," in this e-book edition. The clever rhyming text tells of the narrator's two dogs who could not be more different—one is big, one is small, one barks quietly, while one has a loud and enthusiastic bark—but he loves them both the same. The bold graphic art style adds humor by revealing that the narrator's view of the dogs isn't exactly the way others might see them.

I Got Two Dogs

Author of the New York Times Bestsellers The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Marsupial Sue

John Lithgow

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