The Gashlycrumb Tinies

What terrible tome would Morticia and Gomez have read to little Wednesday in order to ensure that she would have the most noxious nightmares? I believe they would’ve cracked open this gothic children’s classic, written and illustrated by the enigmatic Edward Gorey.

This book recites the alphabet, with each letter representing how a child died. Take, for instance, the representation of our second letter: “B is for Basil assaulted by bears.” What better way for a wicked whelp to learn her letters?

I both chuckled and winced while reading this book, especially with the paired black-and-white illustrations. It’s funny and… show more.

In this irreverent abecedarian, Gorey’s signature black and white etchings depict how unsuspecting children meet an absurd and macabre end. Each letter of the alphabet details a terrible fate. Each time I read it, I laugh out loud. 

My personal favorite remains “Z is for Zillah who drank too much Gin.” An innocent Zillah sits looking out at the viewer, glass in hand and an almost empty bottle of gin on the table while across from her sits a skeleton-headed baby doll in a white gown. This is an example of how Gorey satirizes nineteenth-century cautionary temperance texts in which… show more.

Edward Gorey is one of my biggest influences as an author/illustrator and perhaps the biggest source of inspiration behind my book.

The Gashlycrumb Tinies was my very first encounter with Edward Gorey and with the adult picture book genre. I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be writing and illustrating picture books if I hadn’t encountered this tiny book, in a gallery in Mexico City around 2006.

The Gashlycrumb Tinies is an alphabet book that tells the stories of 26 children and how each tragically dies.“ A is for Amy who fell down the stairs, B is for Basil… show more.