Billy Brown makes something grand

the long version

"Billy Brown Makes Something Grand" is an ***easy reader*** book that cost 69 cents (c)1961. Written in a poetic format, similar to Dr. Seuss, the 61 illustrated pages rarely exceed more than 5 lines of text. Billy Brown and his mama are the only two characters. Mama scolds Billy for his messy room and tells him she is going to sweep it all away with her broom. Billy laments that he is making something grand and after working feverishly with all his junk, he makes Ma a grand hat embellished with a bird cage, fish skeleton, Christmas lights, jack-in-the-box, candy cane, alarm clock, teddy bear, light bulb and a wealth of other odds and ends. A second story follows the same theme with Billy baking Ma a cake with so many ingredients that he has to stir it with Ma's broom. The surprises is that his creation is her Birthday cake. I remember this being one of my favorite books from my childhood as it was among the first that I learned to read by myself and it was humorous. I still own the book.