The Gashlycrumb Tinies
Who would have imagined that a book about children being choked, strangled, smothered, drowned, poisoned, stabbed, immolated, and frozen could be funny? when Edward Gorey does it, as he did in The Gashltcrumb Tinies, it's downroght hilarious. This little hardbound book is an A-Z of unfortunate child deaths, told as a running poem. I read it to my 8-year-old, but not my 3-year-old. I don't think my 3-year-old will be ready for it when she's 8, either. She is the more sensitive of my two girls. $9.00 on Amazon
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If you haven't already,I would get a copy of the Amphigorey books. They are compilations of Edward Gorey's illustrations. They are beautiful coffe table books that I have had for years and look at over and over. Also there is a great biography about the artist called The World of Edward Gorey by Clifford Ross that contains color prints of his work and an interview with the artist.
Edward Gorey was a perpetual favorite of "Staff Picks" when I worked at B&N, but outside of bibliophiles Gorey doesn't seem to have gotten anywhere near the recogninition he deserves.
For PBS fans out there, the classic PBS "Mystery" opening was penned by Gorey as well.
Edward Gorey was Tim Burton before Tim Burton was Tim Burton.
The Tiger Lillies feel similarly, this album is definly worth a listen to.
http://www.tigerlillies.com/2003/index.php?main=recordings&pubId=5
My eight year old son LOVES this book. I gave it to him last year for Christmas. He carefully read it aloud to all of us on Christmas morning - much to the horror of the rest of my family.
I am going dress up as Susan Who Perished of Fits for Halloween this year. All black & white like the illustrations. My son would rather I dress up as Katie Who Was Struck by an Axe (the debate continues). And no, I don't normally dress up, but I am seeing DEVO perform on Halloween and I can't imagine showing up sans costume.
Lastly - saw I great production called Gorey Stories at the Sacred Fools theater in L.A. last fall. http://www.sacredfools.org/default2.htm
For all Gorey fans, if the show re-surfaces - see it!
I've heard that at Gorey's house there are dolls positioned around to mimic the book's scenarios...
I've had this book for years -- it is wonderful. The only thing I can think of to rival it is Shel Silverstein's Uncle Shelby's ABZ's.
N is for Neville, who died of ennui . . . .