The Dangerous Alphabet ~Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Gris Grimly
–published 2008
–32 pages, HarperCollins
–5/5 stars
“A piratical ghost story in thirteen ingenious but potentially disturbing rhyming couplets, originally conceived as a confection both to amuse and to entertain by Mr. Neil Gaiman, scrivener, and then doodled, elaborated upon, illustrated, and beaten soundly by Mr. Gris Grimly, etcher and illuminator, featuring two brave children, their diminutive but no less courageous gazelle, and a large number of extremely dangerous trolls, monsters, bugbears, creatures, and other such nastinesses, many of which have perfectly disgusting eating habits and ought not, under any circumstances, to be encouraged.” (from the introduction)
Being in many ways a Neil Gaiman completist I decided that it was high time I succumbed to temptation when I saw this book on the Halloween display in the children’s section of my local Barnes and Noble bookstore. Giving in to the call turned out to be a delightful way to close out the last weekend in September.
Whether intentional or not, The Dangerous Alphabet is at the very least the long overdue lovechild of Edward Gorey’s The Gashlycrumb Tinies and the little monsters of Mercer Mayer! It tells an adventure in rhyme using what turns out to be a dangerous alphabet indeed.
I have long been a fan of the art of Gris Grimly though I must admit to having too few of his illustrated books in my collection. It is by design that I compare his work to Gorey and Mayer. Both are artists whose work was a part of my formative years and viewing Grimly’s images recalls a feeling of nostalgia for those bygone days.
Neil Gaiman’s verse is eerily charming and Grimly does a fantastic job of adding so much more to the story with his illustrations. I cannot help but be happy when an illustrator fills the page with details that reward repeat viewings. There are stories within the story of Grimly’s art.
I have no doubt that both creators had tremendous fun in this joint project and the results speak for themselves (if you look closely in the back you’ll see that Neil Gaiman got to add a little illustration of his own!). Neil Gaiman once again proves that he is very, very good at this sort of thing. As with all children’s illustrated books the price is a little hefty, but I found it well worth picking up. It will be a fun part of my Halloween decorations for years to come and I look forward to reading it aloud to my newest niece other youngins as the years go by.
This has been a R.I.P. III Challenge read.
Having never read a Neil Gaiman book (gasp!) I checked this one out from the library a few weeks ago and found it really fun.
When my children were little, I became a collector of ABC books. This looks like a definite add for the collection. Your description: “A lovechild of Edward Gorey’s The Gashlycrumb Tinies and the little monsters of Mercer Mayer!” is pretty accurate.
It looks like there is a lot going on in those illustrations – they would be a fun study together for the reader and the listener – as you said, repeat viewings would be rewarding.
Thanks Carl, I am so pleased you led me to this book. (And of course, Neil Gaiman is da bomb!)
I bought this a good while ago, for the nephew, but I reckon he’s still a bit young, only two, so I’ll keep it for a while. Safe keeping, you understand 🙂
Fence: Safe keeping, exactly! I got ya… 😉
Qugrainne: Yes, you definitely need to add this to your ABC collection…do you have the Gorey book, Gashlycrumb Tinies? Wickedly fun book! And yes, Neil is da bomb!
Natasha: The horror! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed it. You simply must read more Gaiman!
Yes, I picked up the Gorey book in the store of the Chicago Art Institute a few years ago. That made it a double treat day! They have the greatest book room way in the back corner of the store. Have you been? I spend almost as much time there as I do in the museum.
I haven’t seen it up here yet, so when I’m in my bookstore next – and conveniently I am planning one by next weekend! – I will look for this if it’s not displayed. Great review and lovely pictures, Carl! Did you ever see Charles Adams’ work? He is a bit more bizarre/creepy – the Adams family tv show was inspired by some of his characters – it really is extraordinary work. I have to see if I can find – I gave the ‘Best of Charles Adams’ away when I moved to England, silly me! – now I wish I had it, but definitely some of his work would fit into the theme of this challenge!!
PS I love Edward Gorey too!
I must be really tired. His name is spelled Charles Addams, just like the tv show, based on some of his illustrations.
Susan: You’re not alone, I’m quite sleepy myself! I do like the work of Charles Addams, it is bizarre and creepy but very fun.
Qugrainne: I’ve only had the pleasure, and it was a pleasure, of visiting Chicago one time and I did not make it to the museum. I do want to go back there again someday.
I’ve read two Neil Gaiman’s now and enjoyed them both. I may have to check this one out from the library. It’s not often (sadly) that I get to read something or look through it in this case that has such nice illustrations!
Couldn’t agree with you more…this is one that I will cherish for a long time and will be part of my halloween decorations too 😉 You know I had never heard of Gris Grimly before this book?? Nuts, huh? It really does remind me of a new Gashlycrumb Tinies too.
I saw Chris’ review of this a while back and thought it looked cool then. Thanks for adding more pictures, it’s beautifully illustrated.
I never heard of Gris Grimly before, either, so I visited his website – which is very cool.
He has done The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which would be a perfect story for him, I would imagine. I was really thrilled to see he has a Christmas story about Santa Claus. I collect children’s xmas books, so I will definitely look for this one. He is also working on an Edgar Allen Poe due out in 2009 – I am excited to see what he does with that.
Thanks for all the leads, Carl!
Qugrainne: He already has one Edgar Allen Poe illustrated book out, it is very nice. I’m glad he’s set to do another. I need to check out more of his books and add some to my collection. I have a small collection of children’s Christmas books as well.
Rhinoa: You’re welcome, it is just too fun to not include some pics.
Chris: I remembered that you were a good Gaiman fan and snatched this one up right away!
Danielle: I hope you can track it down, it is definitely worth enjoying.
Before seeing the pictures you posted, I had no idea that the illustrations in this book were so gorgeous. I’m going to have to get myself a copy!
I can’t believe I haven’t bought this one yet! I love Gris Grimly too, and the art in this one looks so cool. It puts me in mind of Edward Gorey too.
I love the pictures with the Poppets, btw.
Those illustrations are magical. Thanks for sharing this wonderful book with us!
This looks like a really fun, creepy-yet-enchanting read. The illustrations were fantastic and add a whole layer of personality to the couplets. I’ll definitely be tracking this down. Thanks!
I can honestly say that my kids ABC book looked nothing like this 40 yrs ago LOL LOL
Deslily: Ah, but I bet they wish that is had!!! 🙂
Rachael: You have described it perfectly.
Stephanie: You’re welcome, I’m glad I finally got off my duff and picked it up!
Nymeth: I had to work those Poppets in again, it was time! I’m glad I’m not alone then in being a Gaiman fan and not having picked this up before now!
Peta: I’m glad it helped persuade you. I couldn’t imagine not sharing at least a few pics to give everyone the idea of just how great Grimly’s work is.
I picked this book up back when it came back and loved it. The art work is so much fun and of course I’m a Neil fan so I’m already partial to the prose as well. I’m really looking forward to The Graveyard book coming out soon. 🙂
I completely forgot to post about this one. May have to do it shortly! I love this book, so fun and the illustrations are brilliant. Definitely feels like it would have been a fun project.
This is a fantastic book, Grimly is a genius. I found his artwork at this gallery, too. Very cool. Check it out.
http://www.thegalleryzero.com.
I miss y’all! I felt so bad that I couldn’t join you for the challenge (and that I’d flaked on last spring’s), but I’d just given birth 12 days before, and I was nowhere near ready (read: sleep-deprived) to buckle down to reviewing anything.
Anyway, I’m glad I saw this alphabet book. I did sign up for an alphabet challenge for next year, and will happily add this to our collection. My oldest (age 3) is currently obsessed with letters.