William Rossa Cole (November 20, 1919 – August 2, 2000) was an American editor, anthologist, columnist, author, and writer of light verse. He produced around 75 books, most of them anthologies.

Cole was born William Harrison Cole ^[1] on November 20, 1919 to William Harrison Cole and Margaret O'Donovan-Rossa of Staten Island, New York. He was the brother of Rossa Cole. ^[2] His grandfather was the Irish Fenian leader Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa. ^{[2] [3]}

Cole worked in a deli and a bookstore in the 1930s. After military service in the infantry in World War II from 1940 to 1945 (during which he earned a Purple Heart), he took various jobs in the publishing industry, serving as publicity director at Alfred A. Knopf from 1946 to 1958, publicity director and editor at Simon & Schuster from 1958 to 1961, and, with Viking Press, co-publisher of William Cole Books. ^[4]

He was also a prolific writer and anthologist, editing and writing over 75 books. Many of his books were honored by the American Library Association, including I Went to the Animal Fair: A Book of Animal Poems (named a notable book of 1958, and on the List of Notable Children's Books of 1940–1959), Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls: Poems (named a notable book of 1964), and The Birds and Beasts Were There: Animal Poems (honored in 1965). ^[2]

Cole's whimsical poetry often appeared in Light Quarterly and was widely anthologized, as in The Oxford Book of American Light Verse and various collections by Willard R. Espy.

Reviewing eleven collections of poetry for children, Selden Rodman (aided by his own three children) found Cole's Oh, How Silly! and Jack Prelutsky's Toucans Two the only two among them that were "literate and consistently readable". The former was a "really masterful collaboration" by Cole and its illustrator, Tomi Ungerer. ^[5]

Cole wrote the regular column "Trade Winds" in Saturday Review from 1974 to 1979; a book review column for Endless Vacation, from around 1990 to 2000; and contributed to Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, The New York Times Book Review, and The New Yorker. ^[4]

Cole died in his Manhattan home, aged 80, on August 2, 2000. ^{[n 1]} He was memorialized in a poem by Seamus Heaney, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. ^[3]

Cole was married twice: to Peggy Bennett in 1947 and to Galen Williams in 1967. Both marriages ended in divorce. He was survived by two daughters and two sons. ^[2]

Bibliography

Second and later editions are listed only if retitled.

• William Cole, ed. The Fireside Book of Humorous Poetry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1950. OCLC  11859285.
• Marvin Rosenberg and William Cole, eds. The Best Cartoons from "Punch": Collected for Americans from England's Famous Humorous Weekly. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1952. OCLC  988110372.
• William Cole and Bruce Rogers, eds. The Best Humor from "Punch", illustrated by Sprod. Cleveland: World Publishing, 1953. OCLC  1147729974. (British edition: The Best Humour from "Punch".)
• Marvin Rosenberg and William Cole, eds. America Laughs at "Punch": Collected by Americans – for Americans from England's Famous Humorous Weekly. London: Thames & Hudson, 1953. OCLC  6888850.
• William Cole and Douglas McKee, eds. French Cartoons: Riotous, Ribald, and Racy. New York: Dell, 1955. OCLC  1114266000.
• William Cole, ed. Humorous Poetry for Children, illustrated by Ervine Metzl. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1955. OCLC  987966311.
• William Cole and Douglas McKee, eds. More French Cartoons. New York: Dell, 1955. OCLC  7155485.
• William Cole and Florett Robinson, eds. Women Are Wonderful! A History in Cartoons of a Hundred Years with America's Most Controversial Figure. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1956. OCLC  1065263.
• William Cole, ed. Story Poems, New and Old, illustrated by Walter Buehr. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1957. OCLC  1153616109.
• William Cole, ed. I Went to the Animal Fair: A Book of Animal Poems, illustrated by Colette Rosselli. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1958. OCLC  563895.
• William Cole, ed. Poems of Magic and Spells, illustrated by Peggy Bacon. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1960. OCLC  1295313.
• William Cole and Julia Colmore, eds. The Poetry-Drawing Book. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1960. OCLC  11111884.
• William Cole, ed. Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, arranged by Norman Monath and illustrated by Edward Ardizzone. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1961. OCLC  30996984.
• William Cole and Julia Colmore, eds. New York in Photographs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1961. OCLC  2639394.
• William Cole, ed. Poems for Seasons and Celebrations, illustrated by Johannes Troyer. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1961. OCLC  1256533707.
• William Cole and Douglas McKee, eds. Touché: French Cartoons. New York: Dell, 1961. OCLC  12157175.
• William Cole and Julia Colmore, eds. The Second Poetry-Drawing Book. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1962. OCLC  9051619.
• William Cole and Douglas McKee, eds. You Damn Men Are All Alike: French Cartoons. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett, 1962. OCLC  14814968.
• William Cole, ed. The Birds and the Beasts Were There: Animal Poems, illustrated by Helen Siegl. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1963. OCLC  497167.
• William Cole, ed. A Cat-Hater's Handbook; or, The Ailurophobe's Delight, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Dial, 1963. OCLC  1155514346. London: W.H. Allen, 1963. OCLC  946505631.
• William Cole, ed. Erotic Poetry: The Lyrics, Ballads, Idyls, and Epics of Love, Classical to Contemporary, illustrated by Warren Chappell. Foreword by Stephen Spender. New York: Random House, 1963. OCLC  335619.
• William Cole. Frances Face-Maker: A Going-to-Bed Book, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer, World Publishing, 1963. OCLC  304631.
• William Cole, ed. The Most of A. J. Liebling. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1963. OCLC  237051.
• William Cole, ed. Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1964. OCLC  249187447.
• William Cole, ed. A Big Bowl of "Punch": A Heady Potpourri of Cartoons, Prose, and Verse from England's Famous Humorous Weekly. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1964. OCLC  1147725811.
• William Cole, ed. A Book of Love Poems, illustrated by Lars Bo. Viking, 1965. OCLC  517874.
• William Cole. What's Good for a Six-Year-Old?, illustrated by Ingrid Fetz. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965. OCLC  857033.
• William Cole, ed. Oh, What Nonsense!, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. New York: Viking, 1966. OCLC  304633.
• William Cole. Uncoupled Couplets: A Game of Rhymes. New York: Taplinger, 1966. OCLC  901987.
• William Cole and Mike Thaler, eds. The Classic Cartoons. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1966. OCLC  767556876.
• William Cole. What's Good for a Four-Year-Old?, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1967. OCLC  660849.
• William Cole, ed. Limerick Giggles, Joke Giggles, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1967. OCLC  8813910. (A Case of the Giggles, vol. 1.)
• William Cole, ed. Rhyme Giggles, Nonsense Giggles, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1967. OCLC  656841278. (A Case of the Giggles, vol. 2.)
• William Cole, ed. Eight Lines and Under: An Anthology of Short, Short Poems. New York: Macmillan, 1967. OCLC  817202.
• William Cole, ed. W. S. Gilbert, Poems, illustrated by W. S. Gilbert. New York: Crowell, 1967. OCLC  1294310.
• William Cole, ed. Poems Selected for Young People, by D. H. Lawrence, illustrated by Ellen Raskin. New York: Viking, 1967. OCLC  1296975818.
• William Cole, ed. Man's Funniest Friend: The Dog in Stories, Reminiscences, Poems and Cartoons. Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing, 1967. OCLC  712502.
• William Cole, ed. The Sea, Ships, and Sailors: Poems, Songs, and Shanties, illustrated by Robin Jacques. New York: Viking, 1967. OCLC  855283.
• William Cole, ed. Poems of Thomas Hood, illustrated by Sam Fischer. New York: Crowell, 1968. OCLC  1161265.
• William Cole, ed. A Book of Nature Poems, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker. New York: Viking, 1969. ISBN  0670180076.
• William Cole, ed. Pith and Vinegar: An Anthology of Short Humorous Poetry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1969. ISBN  0671203622.
• William Cole, ed. The Punch Line: Presenting Today's Top Twenty-five Cartoon Artists from England's Famous Humor Magazine. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1969. ISBN  0671203738.
• William Cole, ed. Rough Men, Tough Men: Poems of Action and Adventure, illustrated by Enrico Arno. New York: Viking, 1969. ISBN  0670608637.
• William Cole, ed. What's Good for a Five-Year-Old?, illustrated by Edward Sorel. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1969. OCLC  1412.
• William Cole. Aunt Bella's Umbrella, illustrated by Jacqueline Chwast. New York: Doubleday, 1970. OCLC  735665.
• William Cole, ed. The Book of Giggles, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. New York: World Publishing, 1970. OCLC  112541.
• William Cole, ed. Oh, How Silly! Poems, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. New York: Viking, 1970. ISBN  0670520950.
• William Cole. That Pest, Jonathan, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. New York: Harper & Row, 1970. OCLC  71089.
• William Cole, ed. The Poet's Tales: A New Book of Story Poems, illustrated by Charles Keeping. New York: World Publishing, 1971. OCLC  226518.
• William Cole, ed. Poetry Brief: An Anthology of Short, Short Poems. New York: Macmillan, 1971. OCLC  156489.
• William Cole, ed. ... And Be Merry! A Feast of Light Verse and a Soupçon of Prose about the Joy of Eating. New York: Grossman, 1972. ISBN  0670122807.
• William Cole, ed. Oh, That's Ridiculous! Poems, illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. New York: Viking, 1972. ISBN  0670521078.
• William Cole, ed. Pick Me Up: A Book of Short, Short Poems. New York: Macmillan, 1972. OCLC  293196.
• William Cole, ed. Poems from Ireland, illustrated by William Stobbs. New York: Crowell, 1972. ISBN  0690638981.
• William Cole, ed. A Book of Animal Poems, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker. New York: Viking, 1973. ISBN  0670179078.
• William Cole, ed. Half Serious: An Anthology of Short, Short Poems. London: Eyre Methuen, 1973. ISBN  0413296709.
• William Cole, ed. Poems: One Line and Longer. New York: Grossman, 1973. ISBN  0670562386.
• William Cole. What's Good for a Three-Year-Old?, illustrated by Lillian Hoban. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1974. ISBN  003007441X.
• William Cole. Knock Knocks: The Most Ever, illustrated by Mike Thaler. New York: F. Watts, 1976. ISBN  0531024288, ISBN  0531011429.
• William Cole. The Square Bear and Other Riddle Rhymers. New York: Scholastic, 1976. OCLC  5242137.
• William Cole, ed. A Boy Named Mary Jane, and Other Silly Verse, illustrated by George MacClain. New York: F. Watts, 1977. ISBN  0531011445, ISBN  0531003949.
• William Cole. Knock Knocks You've Never Heard Before, illustrated by Mike Thaler, New York: F. Watts, 1977. ISBN  053100385X.
• William Cole, ed. An Arkful of Animals, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1978. ISBN  039527205X, ISBN  0395616182.
• William Cole. Give Up? Cartoon Riddle Rhymers, illustrated by Mike Thaler, New York: F. Watts, 1978. ISBN  0531022498.
• William Cole, ed. I'm Mad at You!, illustrated by George MacClain. New York: Collins, 1978. ISBN  0529053632, ISBN  0001955349.
• William Cole, ed. Oh, Such Foolishness!, illustrated by Tomie dePaola, Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1978. ISBN  0397318073.
• William Cole, ed. Backwords, illustrated by Mike Thaler. New York: Random House, 1980. ISBN  0394620402.
• William Cole. Dinosaurs and Beasts of Yore: Poems, illustrated by Susanna Natti. Cleveland, Ohio: Collins, 1979. ISBN  0529055112, ISBN  0001955357.
• William Cole, ed. The Poetry of Horses, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. New York: Scribner, 1979. ISBN  0684163306.
• William Cole, ed. Good Dog Poems, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. New York: Scribner, 1981. ISBN  0684167093.
• William Cole, ed. New Knock Knocks, illustrated by Mike Thaler. London: Granada, 1981. ISBN  0583304915.
• William Cole, ed. Poem Stew, illustrated by Karen Ann Weinhaus. New York: Lippincott, 1981. ISBN  0397319630, ISBN  0397319649, ISBN  0064401367, ISBN  0808531999.
• William Cole, ed. Monster Knock Knocks, illustrated by Mike Thaler. Pocket Books, 1982. ISBN  0671442546, ISBN  0671508105, ISBN  0671633961, ISBN  0671706535.
• William Cole and Louis Phillips, eds. Sex: "The Most Fun You Can Have without Laughing" ... and Other Quotations. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. ISBN  0312051522.
• William Cole, ed. A Zooful of Animals, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. ISBN  0395522781, ISBN  0395778735.
• William Cole, ed. Bah Humbug!: Grumping through the Season. New York: St. Martin's, 1992. ISBN  0312082797.
• William Cole and Louis Phillips, eds. Oh, What an Awful Thing to Say!: Needles, Skewers, Pricks, and Outright Nastiness. New York: St. Martin's, 1992. ISBN  0312070489.
• William Cole and Louis Phillips, eds. The Bedside Book of Insults. London: John Murray, 1992. ISBN  0719551536. (British edition of Oh, What an Awful Thing to Say!)
• William Cole, ed. New York: A Literary Companion. Wainscott, New York: Pushcart, 1992. ISBN  0916366596.
• William Cole, ed. Have I Got Dogs!, illustrated by Margot Apple. New York: Viking, 1993. ISBN  0670830704.

Notes

References

External links

• William Cole at Library of Congress, with 84 library catalog records