THE RUNCIBLE SPOON

They dined on mince and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon...

This quote is from a classic poem for children, THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT, by Edward Lear.  Touring downtown Bloomington, Indiana yesterday with my parents, we spied an adorable restaurant by the name of Runcible Spoon.  I couldn't remember where I'd heard that phrase, so I googled it when we got back to their home and was reminded of the poem.  (Now if I could only figure out what Mr. Lear meant by "runcible"!!) 

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT by Edward Lear, illustrated by Jan Brett.  "Edward Lear's nonsense poem about two unlikely sweethearts--an elegant owl and a beautiful cat--has found a perfect match in artist Jan Brett. She traveled to the Caribbean (the land where the Bong-tree grows, perhaps?) to research her illustrations as well as the settings, costume details, plants, and fish native to the area. Readers can follow an illustrated subplot of two yellow fish who also fall in love under the pea-green boat. A charming treatment of a classic children's poem." -Amazon Review. (Ages 3 to 7)