Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Editors Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly have packed so much top-notch talent into this flabbergastingly funny all-ages comic collection that you'll have a terrible time deciding what to read first. Just as with the previous Little Lit book, Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies, you'll find some of the most hilarious, intelligent, and diverse short comics around inside these pages: Maurice Sendak's omnivorous infant gobbles up everything in sight in "Cereal Baby Keller"; David Sedaris pairs up with Ian Falconer to define true cuteness; "Where's Waldo?" creator Martin Handford searches for old socks; Paul Auster (yes, that Paul Auster) and Jacques de Loustal's offering follows a man who's found he's disappeared; Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) brings back the beginning of his classic '40s strip, "Barnaby" (a favorite of Duke Ellington and Dorothy Parker, among others); and Spiegelman himself takes on "The Several Selves of Selby Sheldrake." And that's not even the half of it. This downright quirky collection will charm comic fans of all ages--and, no doubt, make fans out of those who weren't already. Even the endpapers are funny, thanks to Kaz of "Underworld." (All ages after 9 or so) --Paul Hughes


From Publishers Weekly
Once upon a time, picture books got parental approval and pulp comics were a sneaky pleasure. In this sequel to Little Lit, Spiegelman and Mouly create a hybrid of the two that may well appeal to oddballs of all ages. Charles Burns leads the charge with his high-impact cover image of an alien reading a boy's space comics. The alien has kewpie-doll eyes and a puppyish nose, but its sinewy muscles and lurid green skin pack a perverse threat. In the endpapers, which suggest a pulp-mag correspondence course, Underworld author Kaz offers "Strange Cartoon Lessons" cards ("Bad at drawing legs? Put your character behind a desk"). After these engaging diversions, the treasury trots out stories from the funny-ha-ha to the funny-strange, many dealing with secret identities. Spiegelman invents a boy whose moods materialize as clones; Jules Feiffer's anxiety-prone child gets "Trapped in a Comic Book"; and Jacques de Loustal and Paul Auster collaborate on a melancholy Kafka-esque noir tale. As the title promises, some of the material is disturbing. Maurice Sendak's punny "Cereal Baby Keller" reprises his violent sketch of a ravenous baby that eats its parents; Ian Falconer and David Sedaris team for a gruesome story of a monster that flips inside-out because "Real beauty is on the inside." More benign picks include an exhausting maze game by Lewis Trondheim, and Barbara McClintock's buoyant story of a shadow that breaks loose. A lengthy reprint of Crockett Johnson's Barnaby strip seems misplaced here, but its airy layout and square panels are a strong counterpoint to the condensed, offbeat material. This compendium, with its stellar group of comix and picture-book literati, revels in its dark side and suggests that "strange kids" are the mainstream. All ages. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grades 3-6--As they did in Little Lit: Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies (HarperCollins, 2000), Spiegelman and Mouly have drawn on the talents of major cartoonists and illustrators, who render their art in comic-book format to produce a collection of truly bizarre and intriguing tales. There are contributions from Maurice Sendak, Ian Falconer, Jules Feiffer, the late Crockett Johnson, and a host of others. The stories run the gamut from the mildly quirky-such as Barbara McClintock's fanciful tale of a shadow that takes off on its own-to darker, more disturbing selections such as Jacques de Loustal and Paul Auster's "The Day I Disappeared," in which a man separated from his physical being must rescue himself from drowning. The stories all possess a sharp intelligence and unique imagination, and the innovative use of an old format will entice both reluctant and enthusiastic readers to return again and again. Give this to kids who love Jon Scieszka's type of humor and are ready for the next step.Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 4-up. In this follow-up to their excellent Little Lit: Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies (2000), Spiegelman and Mouly offer another collection of wildly original graphic stories from well-known contributors. This volume emphasizes the surreal. There's Spiegelman's bizarre story of a boy whose multiple personalities appear when he picks his nose. And there's Maurice Sendak's "Baby Keller," an omnivorous man-child who eats everything, including his parents. Teens (and adults) will like the stylish, ironic seek-and-find that directs readers to search for "Hiccupping Ghost" and "Big Idea Stuck in a Tree"; other stories, such as Ian Falconer and David Sedaris' hilarious "Pretty Ugly," will delight younger children. A few entries, such as Crockett Johnson's tale, seem out of place among the other edgy choices. But whether the stories are elegant fantasies, grotesque horror, or gross-out humor, they will excite readers of many ages with their range of styles and visual possibilities. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
It's often bizarre, usually weird, occasionally creepy, and always fun. It's Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids, the second book in the quirky series that began with Folklore and Fairy Tale Funnies. With a roster of writers and illustrators that reads like a who's who of children's lit, this offbeat collection of stories and activities is as eye-catching as it is thought-provoking.

Marc Rosenthal offers an assortment of goofy jokes sure to tickle juvenile funny bones, while Paul Auster and Jacques De Loustal get serious with their tale about one man's experience when he steps -- quite literally -- outside himself. Francois Roca offers a picture of a cityscape in which at least 22 things seem oddly wrong or out of place, and for puzzle lovers, Lewis Trondheim has created the fittingly named "A-maze-ing Adventure," a story shaped like a maze that follows the travails of a squatty little character who finds himself trapped inside.

From Britain's preeminent cartoonist, Posy Simmonds, comes the story of a vengeful and mean-spirited Mr. Frost, who drives home that old adage about being careful what you wish for. Kim Deitch takes readers along to Katropolis, a world inhabited by cats and powered by dogs, while Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jules Feiffer tells the story of a boy trapped inside a comic book with a couple of battling superheroes. Caldecott-winning author Barbara McClintock follows the adventures of a runaway shadow, while Martin Handford, the author of Where's Waldo?, asks readers to examine a busy full-page picture to try to find 11 odd socks, 10 aliens, and 6 worms. There's also an ugly little girl who hates the fact that she's turned pretty; a baby that eats everything in sight...including his family; a Fairy Godfather with a temporary case of amnesia; and a house that decides to run away from home.

Strange Stories for Strange Kids may not be your typical fare, but it's never dull. These colorful pages, quirky characters, and twisted adventures will provide hours of stimulating fun to young minds of all ages. (Beth Amos)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The second groundbreaking anthology from the New York Times best-selling team of Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly is here! The everyday world is turned upside down and the ordinary becomes extraordinary in this collection of the strangest tales. From Art Spiegelman's "The Several Lives of Selby Sheldrake" to Maurice Sendak's "Cereal Baby Keller" to Jules Feiffer's "Trapped in a Comic Book," these stories are sure to entice any young reader. Also included are comics and features by Ian Falconer and David Sedaris, Paul Auster and Jacques de Loustal, Crockett Johnson, Richard MGuire, and Barbara McClintock, a puzzle by Lewis Trondheim, and make-your-own comic-book endpapers from Kaz, Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids continues the tradition of bring the pleasure of books and reading into the hands and minds of kids.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Once upon a time, picture books got parental approval and pulp comics were a sneaky pleasure. In this sequel to Little Lit, Spiegelman and Mouly create a hybrid of the two that may well appeal to oddballs of all ages. Charles Burns leads the charge with his high-impact cover image of an alien reading a boy's space comics. The alien has kewpie-doll eyes and a puppyish nose, but its sinewy muscles and lurid green skin pack a perverse threat. In the endpapers, which suggest a pulp-mag correspondence course, Underworld author Kaz offers "Strange Cartoon Lessons" cards ("Bad at drawing legs? Put your character behind a desk"). After these engaging diversions, the treasury trots out stories from the funny-ha-ha to the funny-strange, many dealing with secret identities. Spiegelman invents a boy whose moods materialize as clones; Jules Feiffer's anxiety-prone child gets "Trapped in a Comic Book"; and Jacques de Loustal and Paul Auster collaborate on a melancholy Kafka-esque noir tale. As the title promises, some of the material is disturbing. Maurice Sendak's punny "Cereal Baby Keller" reprises his violent sketch of a ravenous baby that eats its parents; Ian Falconer and David Sedaris team for a gruesome story of a monster that flips inside-out because "Real beauty is on the inside." More benign picks include an exhausting maze game by Lewis Trondheim, and Barbara McClintock's buoyant story of a shadow that breaks loose. A lengthy reprint of Crockett Johnson's Barnaby strip seems misplaced here, but its airy layout and square panels are a strong counterpoint to the condensed, offbeat material. This compendium, with its stellar group of comix and picture-book literati, revels in its dark side andsuggests that "strange kids" are the mainstream. All ages. (Nov.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Strange. Very strange, and disturbing at times. Yet this is the perfect recipe for encouraging older children (especially boys) to read. Younger children will be attracted to the comic-book style format but may be disappointed with the peculiar humor they encounter. Adults/parents will be curious to see what familiar artists have contributed. Crockett Johnson, Jules Feiffer, Maurice Sendak, Martin Handford and others offer a version of entertainment that differs from their usual fare. Some, like me, may be averse to adding this to their library collection simply because of the content and outlandish connotations portrayed. Ian Falconer and David Sedaris' contribution "Pretty Ugly" starts off pretty harmless, but when Anna VanOgre's face freezes into the scariest face of all, she turns herself inside out to become the adorable girl she used to be. In "Posy Simmonds Mr. Frost" we learn that our planet is getting warmer because of a hair dryer. The endpapers are just as unique. Strange Cartoon Lesson cards for budding cartoonists are intended to expand their level of creativity. Those familiar with the earlier Little Lit book, Folklore & Fairy Tale Funnies, may be disappointed with this later work, and its pulp-fiction appeal. It truly is not for everyone. 2001, HarperCollins, $19.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young AGES: 4 5 6 7 8

School Library Journal