The Dangerous Alphabet
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 148)
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Neil Gaiman fans of any age
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Read in June, 2008
The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Gris Grimly is a curious poetic journey through an alphabet with unsavory characters and letters of mischief. Two brave children and their courageous gazelle embark on an adventure where they encounter pirates, creatures of all sorts, and a not-to-be trusted alphabet.
“E’s for the Evil that lures and entices; F is for Fear and its many devices...”
Needless to say I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. When I found out he was working with...more
“E’s for the Evil that lures and entices; F is for Fear and its many devices...”
Needless to say I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. When I found out he was working with...more
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As these two children set out to follow their treasure map, they find a sinister world beneath the sewers. The young boy and their plucky gazelle must discard the map and fight past evil pirates and nere-do-wells to rescue his sister who has been snatched away.
Told very simply, in 13 rhyming couplets, coinciding (almost) with the alphabet, you are guided through an underground realm filled with traps and tricks around every corner. The beautiful illustrations give substance to the sparse pro...more
Told very simply, in 13 rhyming couplets, coinciding (almost) with the alphabet, you are guided through an underground realm filled with traps and tricks around every corner. The beautiful illustrations give substance to the sparse pro...more
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Riding in a bathtub, two children float through a creepy canal inhabited by trolls, monsters, skeletons, and other vile creatures in this bizarre ABC book. The intended audience for this tale is unclear, as the rhyming storyline is hard to follow, letters V and W are out of order for no apparent reason (although it is alluded to in the introduction), and many scenes are too graphic for young kids. Grimly's illustrations are well-done, to be sure, but too frightful for the average elementary scho...more
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Read in May, 2008
Being a collector of alphabet books, and an admirer of Neil Gaiman, how could I resist this combination? And some of the letters are quite well done--"G is for Good, as in hero, and and Morning;"--but as a whole the creation is too contrived, the story too silly, the "cleverness" just a bit too clever. The illustrations are Tim Burton-esque, and the "plot" ever so Lemony Snickett. It had such potential!
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Read in May, 2008
Another delightfully subversive children's book from Gaiman.
The illustrations are wonderful, but may be scary for some. My 6 1/2 year old daughter delighted in an image depicting children kept in a dungeon by monsters ("look at the blood!") - oops, Jack Thompson may want to ban the book now - but my 4 1/2 year old son just stared wide-eyed at the pages and may have been a bit spooked.
The illustrations are wonderful, but may be scary for some. My 6 1/2 year old daughter delighted in an image depicting children kept in a dungeon by monsters ("look at the blood!") - oops, Jack Thompson may want to ban the book now - but my 4 1/2 year old son just stared wide-eyed at the pages and may have been a bit spooked.
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
goth 4th graders and childish adults
I don't know what I expected, but this was WAY weirder. The alphabet switches up a letter at the end for effect - so not for those learning the alphabet and since it is a picture book with some really spooky freaky images it is not for young readers. Very much like Gashlycrumb Tinies, but just not as good. Good gift for your hard to shop for ghoulish friends.
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recommends it for:
Everyone
Gaiman, one of my favorite modern writers and Grisley, one of my favorite modern illustrators together on a children's book about the alphabet...
HOW COULD THIS NOT BY AWESOMENESS INCARNATE.
just sayin.
This is so much fun with so much going on in teh background and subtext of both the text and illustration...worth many, many reads and examinations.
HOW COULD THIS NOT BY AWESOMENESS INCARNATE.
just sayin.
This is so much fun with so much going on in teh background and subtext of both the text and illustration...worth many, many reads and examinations.
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Read in May, 2008
A fun, rhyming alphabet journey with danger at every turn, surprises in terms of letter associations and illustrations to be deliciously dark and fun. This is for an older group, both as an idea about how to create an alphabet book and a twist on what one usually expects. Clever and unique in a great pairing of author and illustrator.
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Read in May, 2008
Unclear who the intended audience is for this- the wordplay, fonts, and scary illustrations are far too advanced for a child just learning the alphabet. The illustrations are excellent though, sepia-toned and creepily amusing in a Tim Burtonesque way.
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Powell's Books (one of my fave bookstores, and if you're ever in Portland, it's a must) recommended this book. I'm intrigued, even if it is dark and dreary. But it's from the same author as Stardust, so maybe it'll be good?
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2 comments
Boys in 2-4th grades would love this. Even though it is an alphabet book, it is not for the preschool crowd. If Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp were in this book, I would have thought Tim Burton wrote it. It's like that.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Neil Gaiman fans, older kids, teens, adults
Probably not the best book if you are just learning to read.
However, if you are a bit older and like Neil Gaiman and/or things that go bump in the night...this is the alphabet book for you.
However, if you are a bit older and like Neil Gaiman and/or things that go bump in the night...this is the alphabet book for you.
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Read in March, 2008
Is okay. Kind of a Gashlycrumb Tinies for the contemporary child. It's an interesting mix for Grimly and Gaiman, but I can see them coming up with stronger work if needs be.
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Read in June, 2008
ABC Book that is out of the ordinary. Perfect all around, illustrations are spooky and fit the text perfectly. A fun example for older grades.
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Read in June, 2008
An alphabet book, but not for those young enough to still be learning the alphabet! Watch out for the last couple of letters...
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Read in June, 2008
The world is a scary place. Don't forget that kids.
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