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The Squickerwonkers #0
The Squickerwonkers
Meet Selma of the Rin-Run Royals, a clever little girl who is spoiled to the core. One day Selma stumbles upon a band of colorful marionettes, and gets more than she bargained for. The remarkable Squickerwonkers of the fabulous Squickershow are about to teach Selma that she’ll not always get her way.
Evangeline Lilly is best known for her work as an actress, but her foremost passion has always been writing. This book is her first published work. Beautifully illustrated by Johnny Fraser-Allen, this eccentric and visually stunning cautionary tale will appeal to adults and children alike.
Evangeline Lilly is best known for her work as an actress, but her foremost passion has always been writing. This book is her first published work. Beautifully illustrated by Johnny Fraser-Allen, this eccentric and visually stunning cautionary tale will appeal to adults and children alike.
42 pages, Hardcover
First published November 18, 2014
15 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Evangeline Lilly
7 books78 followersLilly was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and raised in British Columbia by her mother and her father, a produce manager. She graduated from W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where she played soccer and was vice-president of the student council.
While in college, Lilly worked as a waitress, a mechanic, and a flight attendant for Royal Airlines to pay for her tuition. She grew up Christian and her faith influenced her decision to take part in a three-week mission trip to the Philippines when she was 18. Her interest in humanitarian causes and global development led her to major in International Relations at the University of British Columbia.
Also see: http://thesquickerwonkers.com/
While in college, Lilly worked as a waitress, a mechanic, and a flight attendant for Royal Airlines to pay for her tuition. She grew up Christian and her faith influenced her decision to take part in a three-week mission trip to the Philippines when she was 18. Her interest in humanitarian causes and global development led her to major in International Relations at the University of British Columbia.
Also see: http://thesquickerwonkers.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 20, 2014
Since people wanted an actual review as opposed to my educated rant below, I am obliging:
That the text starts with a slant rhyme is telling. A "rhyming" book that relys on slant rhyme is a book that shouldn't be written in verse. To say the 10 action-less pages that introduce the Squickerwonkers throws off the pace is an understatement--it is the majority of the book and means the story itself is primarily action-less. In addition to the slant rhymes, there are awkward word choices and phrases throughout which would make for a difficult read aloud. All of this makes it evident that rhyme is more important than plot and character development in this story.
What little plot there is is confusing in that Selma (a protagonist brave enough to join the Squickerwonkers onstage) is labeled a brat for being angry that they popped her balloon--for no reason. What the heck?! Anyone would be angry about that! Maybe she was a brat but please give some believable evidence, sheesh.
What is this book? A cautionary tale that doesn't know what caution it's advising? A failed rhyming exercise? I'm not sure but I certainly wouldn't spend money to find out.
The only good things I can say about it is the illustrations do a good job of creating an uncanny atmosphere and that the book doesn't shy away from fear is admirable. However, the negatives GREATLY outweigh the positives. Now, back to my rant:
(from 9/14/14)
I wish someone would give celebrities who decide to write a children's book the memo that not all picture books need to rhyme. Actually, I wish someone would convince celebrities that they probably don't need to write a picture book. That writing a good picture book is difficult--very difficult. That they may not be able to do it without researching what makes a good picture book. That just like acting takes training and skill, so does writing. That just because something is for children doesn't mean it's easier to accomplish than something for adults. Picture books should be respected as a form of literature as important as--if not more so--books for adults and no one should be able to write and publish a children's book, regardless of the quality of that book, just because they're famous.
That the text starts with a slant rhyme is telling. A "rhyming" book that relys on slant rhyme is a book that shouldn't be written in verse. To say the 10 action-less pages that introduce the Squickerwonkers throws off the pace is an understatement--it is the majority of the book and means the story itself is primarily action-less. In addition to the slant rhymes, there are awkward word choices and phrases throughout which would make for a difficult read aloud. All of this makes it evident that rhyme is more important than plot and character development in this story.
What little plot there is is confusing in that Selma (a protagonist brave enough to join the Squickerwonkers onstage) is labeled a brat for being angry that they popped her balloon--for no reason. What the heck?! Anyone would be angry about that! Maybe she was a brat but please give some believable evidence, sheesh.
What is this book? A cautionary tale that doesn't know what caution it's advising? A failed rhyming exercise? I'm not sure but I certainly wouldn't spend money to find out.
The only good things I can say about it is the illustrations do a good job of creating an uncanny atmosphere and that the book doesn't shy away from fear is admirable. However, the negatives GREATLY outweigh the positives. Now, back to my rant:
(from 9/14/14)
I wish someone would give celebrities who decide to write a children's book the memo that not all picture books need to rhyme. Actually, I wish someone would convince celebrities that they probably don't need to write a picture book. That writing a good picture book is difficult--very difficult. That they may not be able to do it without researching what makes a good picture book. That just like acting takes training and skill, so does writing. That just because something is for children doesn't mean it's easier to accomplish than something for adults. Picture books should be respected as a form of literature as important as--if not more so--books for adults and no one should be able to write and publish a children's book, regardless of the quality of that book, just because they're famous.
October 16, 2015
No plot, no resolution and the rhymes have perhaps the worst cadence I've ever seen in a children's book.
June 13, 2022
Where does The Squickerwonkers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Somewhere in the middle.
What about Sylvester McCoy’s performance did you like?
McCoy's performance is charming, exuberant and delightfully over the top. I'm sure children of all ages will love it.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It's very short, so, yes.
Any additional comments?
Evangeline Lilly has written a sweet, little fairy story here which McCoy performs theatrically (and I mean that in a good way). It's a shame, then, that it has to compete to be heard in places with the multitude of background noises and music that have been layered on top of it. Turning the background noise down in the mix would improve this piece significantly.
Taken from my original review on Audible.co.uk
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray
Somewhere in the middle.
What about Sylvester McCoy’s performance did you like?
McCoy's performance is charming, exuberant and delightfully over the top. I'm sure children of all ages will love it.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It's very short, so, yes.
Any additional comments?
Evangeline Lilly has written a sweet, little fairy story here which McCoy performs theatrically (and I mean that in a good way). It's a shame, then, that it has to compete to be heard in places with the multitude of background noises and music that have been layered on top of it. Turning the background noise down in the mix would improve this piece significantly.
Taken from my original review on Audible.co.uk
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray
February 23, 2016
I only looked at the first couple of pages before I bought this book. The art is very pretty (and a little creepy), and since my kids love books about monsters I thought this would be a fun addition to our home library. It turned out to be much darker than I expected and my daughter (5yrs) didn't like it. I'm not sure I would go as far as saying she was scared, but she did ask me to bring it back to the store.
January 9, 2015
There are lots of works of horror out there that are better written and more developed than this one. Laundry list of limericks introduce characters to a non-existent plot. See my blog for my full review: https://challengingthebookworm.wordpr...
September 25, 2015
I was attracted to the name and the heavy pages and rich ink. The promised darkling tale appealed to me, and the characterization of the disturbing puppet show carries through on the book's threat. However, what is offered in the book is an introduction. You will have to buy the next book, if you are purchasing the first--not because there is a cliff-hanger of an ending, but rather that sensation of the story being left unfinished. The book leaves off with pages to spare; pages dedicated to sketches and what-not. I was left unsatisfied, and not in the kind of way where I am positively hungry for more.
It is perhaps my own failure to capture the right rhythm of speech, but some of the rhyming text was clunky and awkward.
Do read this one through first before if thinking of purchasing.
It is perhaps my own failure to capture the right rhythm of speech, but some of the rhyming text was clunky and awkward.
Do read this one through first before if thinking of purchasing.
February 11, 2015
Pictures are an interesting style, but a little off too. The writing was awkward to read and really not an interesting story.
July 7, 2014
The illustrations are FANTASTIC, and I love that Lilly has trusted children with something creepy. Neil Gaiman would be proud :)
December 6, 2015
Review da edição brasileira.
O livro infantil assustador com final traumatizante já é um gênero, não? E quando existe um circo/espetáculo/lona, ou marionete, ou personagens com botões (no caso, moedas) ao invés de olhos, já podemos ter quase certeza do que esperar.
As ilustrações à la Molly Crabapple, em tons de pergaminho e cortiça, são ótimas e esquisitas. O texto é esquisitíssimo. Não posso falar sobre as palavras escritas por Evangeline - li a tradução. Não sei portanto quem é o responsável por versos livres tentando rimar entre si na última palavra (sem sucesso). Gostaria de ter o livro (que li emprestado) agora para ter um exemplo, mas apenas me lembro da leitura desengonçada. Desconfortável. A história também foi algo sem pé nem cabeça: uma extensa introdução a personagens pela graça da introdução a personagens - porque depois isso não foi reaproveitado na trama.
O livro infantil assustador com final traumatizante já é um gênero, não? E quando existe um circo/espetáculo/lona, ou marionete, ou personagens com botões (no caso, moedas) ao invés de olhos, já podemos ter quase certeza do que esperar.
As ilustrações à la Molly Crabapple, em tons de pergaminho e cortiça, são ótimas e esquisitas. O texto é esquisitíssimo. Não posso falar sobre as palavras escritas por Evangeline - li a tradução. Não sei portanto quem é o responsável por versos livres tentando rimar entre si na última palavra (sem sucesso). Gostaria de ter o livro (que li emprestado) agora para ter um exemplo, mas apenas me lembro da leitura desengonçada. Desconfortável. A história também foi algo sem pé nem cabeça: uma extensa introdução a personagens pela graça da introdução a personagens - porque depois isso não foi reaproveitado na trama.
September 24, 2015
This was disappointing because the message seems unfinished. I understand that the child is spoiled and there's some lesson to be learned, but what are we supposed to be figuring out? My little girl asked me what it was saying, and I didn't really know what to answer other than the little girl was spoiled and there's dangers in the world. It doesn't have a strong message like most children's books, and appears to be using good art as a means of trying to catch the buyer's attention. The art is very good. Also, the rhyming is strained and hard to read, not flowing as a children's book should be. There just isn't enough here to make this a good read, plus it should be stressed that for the reading age suggested, this is not a great bedtime story.
January 15, 2015
Yang membuat buku ini menarik adalah ilustrasi dan suara pembaca narasi. Alur cerita lemah, terlalu bertele-tele mengenalkan para Squicker. Penggambaran karakter Selma di tengah-tengah cerita malah menimbulkan pertanyaan. Spoiled Selma? Dia protes karena balon merahnya diletuskan, dan dia mendapat cap "spoiled". Kesannya ada hal-hal yang hanya berada dalam pemikiran penulis namun tidak tersampaikan ke pembaca. Setelah terjadi peristiwa klimaks tiba-tiba cerita selesai tanpa kejelasan lebih lanjut.
July 11, 2016
Not the best children's book I've ever read, but certainly not the worst. I only have it in audio (the version read by Sylvester McCoy), but I like what illustrations I've seen to date. The narration is excellent, and very entertaining, even though this first instalment of the series is a little light on plot.
September 17, 2015
My twins loved the drawings, but didn't care for the story. I thought about this and decided that I agree with them. The artwork is what I liked best. The story doesn't really have much of a message compared to other books of this genre, and the writing could be stronger. I read it a third time and decided that the writing sounds hurried. I suspect this is going to be a series, and the writer cut off part of the original end to make it suspense for the second book. If that is the case, it didn't feel inspired. Beautiful art illustrations though. I wish Goodreads had an option to rate the writer and artist separately when they are different persons.
October 16, 2015
I think my imagination is too limited for this story
December 6, 2016
A victim of bad marketing?*
I'm not going to bother reading this to my kids because well, it's pretty pointless. It starts with a girl wandering into a wagon near a fair. Her name isn't known until about halfway into the book. But who do we learn about before the main character? Nine other characters... characters that you never learn anything about other than their short writeup dumps. After a few more pages it ends. It just ends.
Let me give a quick rundown:
- Short recommendation by Richard Taylor, head of Weta workshop (think Lord of the Rings) {e.g. name dropping}**
- Dedication
- Foreword by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens (think Lord of the Rings) {e.g. name dropping}**
- A spread that, alone, would have had me buying the book. Creates an atmosphere similar to Coraline.
- Title page
- 2 spreads of girl, alone in the wagon
- 5 spreads introducing the other characters
- 7 more spreads where something happens that is still worthy of being compared to Coraline
- Illustrated spread**
- A spread that is advertising the continuing story**
- Illustrated spread**
- A spread that is advertising the continuing story**
- About the author and illustrator
- 3 illustrated pages
- Short recommendation by Martin Baynton {e.g. name dropping}**
**Thank you, copy and paste!
After all that, I'm still torn how to rate this. I love the illustrations, that's what drew me to the book; I didn't even realize it was written by Evangeline Lilly until after I had borrowed it from the library! I love the immediate atmosphere that was created. I love the possibilities of where this book could go. But as a standalone, this book is shite. It introduces characters yet goes nowhere. Fast.
*What I wish is that this was a graphic novel, as opposed to a children's picture book. If that were the case, I'd probably wait until all of the volumes were printed in one book and I would just buy it. I think it definitely has potential.
I'm not going to bother reading this to my kids because well, it's pretty pointless. It starts with a girl wandering into a wagon near a fair. Her name isn't known until about halfway into the book. But who do we learn about before the main character? Nine other characters... characters that you never learn anything about other than their short writeup dumps. After a few more pages it ends. It just ends.
Let me give a quick rundown:
- Short recommendation by Richard Taylor, head of Weta workshop (think Lord of the Rings) {e.g. name dropping}**
- Dedication
- Foreword by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens (think Lord of the Rings) {e.g. name dropping}**
- A spread that, alone, would have had me buying the book. Creates an atmosphere similar to Coraline.
- Title page
- 2 spreads of girl, alone in the wagon
- 5 spreads introducing the other characters
- 7 more spreads where something happens that is still worthy of being compared to Coraline
- Illustrated spread**
- A spread that is advertising the continuing story**
- Illustrated spread**
- A spread that is advertising the continuing story**
- About the author and illustrator
- 3 illustrated pages
- Short recommendation by Martin Baynton {e.g. name dropping}**
**Thank you, copy and paste!
After all that, I'm still torn how to rate this. I love the illustrations, that's what drew me to the book; I didn't even realize it was written by Evangeline Lilly until after I had borrowed it from the library! I love the immediate atmosphere that was created. I love the possibilities of where this book could go. But as a standalone, this book is shite. It introduces characters yet goes nowhere. Fast.
*What I wish is that this was a graphic novel, as opposed to a children's picture book. If that were the case, I'd probably wait until all of the volumes were printed in one book and I would just buy it. I think it definitely has potential.
March 2, 2015
This book is about a little girl, Selma, the heir to the Rin-Run Royals, and how she comes upon a group of marionettes. She learns all about each one of the marionettes and then they ask her to join them on stage. Once on the stage they pop her balloon and she thinks that her grandpa will teach them a lesson for making her cry. When she tells her grandpa what happened, things change and something different happens than what Selma thinks will happen. Selma is a spoiled little girl who always gets her way until now. In the end her grandpa gives her to the marionettes to help teach her lesson and she is turned into one of them. The illustrations in the book are really well done, every time I look at it I notice something new in them. I'm not sure I would actually use this book in my classroom because it seems kind of dark. The moral of the story is good about teaching children that they may not always getting there way, but I feel like something is missing in the end to help relay that message to children.
November 6, 2015
Weird. Creepy. Didn't feel like a contemporary children's book. More like a Grimm story or, ya know, a current adult story. Middle grade at least. Anyway. Cool art, not sure I'd give it to my hypothetical kid.
February 16, 2015
Not sure how I feel about this one. There is a good lesson in the story but kind of scary. The illustrations were cool.
January 9, 2015
When I saw that Evangeline Lilly was writing a book, I got pretty excited. I loved her in Lost (my favorite TV show) and The Hobbit movies. The summary of The Squickerwonkers was full of delicious made up words, mischief, and marionettes. What’s not to like?
Selma of the Rin-Run Royals is a clever, but very spoiled little girl who finds herself at a marionette show – The Squickerwonker show – full of interesting characters, including Greer the Greedy (a kleptomaniac who hides her treasure in her hair), Andy the Arrogant (a gorgeous man who’s dumb as a brick), and Gillis the Gluttonous (with “a body of doughnuts and pie.” Haha!). Selma throws a tantrum when one of the Squickerwonkers pops her balloon, and what follows is definitely not what Selma bargained for.
This is not a book for a very young child, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t wonderful. I’d recommend this to somewhat older children (maybe 6 and up or so), who’ll be able to understand what a horrible little girl Selma is. Younger children might get scared at the illustrations. It’s a book perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman. Personally, I love that the story is creepy and dark and I think kids will appreciate it too.
I enjoyed the story, but the illustrations were what sold me. They are imaginative, colorful (but colored in dark hues, like browns, reds, greens, and purples), detailed, and strange painted illustrations. The book is imaginative and wonderfully illustrated; it is certainly different from a lot of picture books these days, but in the best way. I’ll be looking forward to the sequel.
Selma of the Rin-Run Royals is a clever, but very spoiled little girl who finds herself at a marionette show – The Squickerwonker show – full of interesting characters, including Greer the Greedy (a kleptomaniac who hides her treasure in her hair), Andy the Arrogant (a gorgeous man who’s dumb as a brick), and Gillis the Gluttonous (with “a body of doughnuts and pie.” Haha!). Selma throws a tantrum when one of the Squickerwonkers pops her balloon, and what follows is definitely not what Selma bargained for.
This is not a book for a very young child, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t wonderful. I’d recommend this to somewhat older children (maybe 6 and up or so), who’ll be able to understand what a horrible little girl Selma is. Younger children might get scared at the illustrations. It’s a book perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman. Personally, I love that the story is creepy and dark and I think kids will appreciate it too.
I enjoyed the story, but the illustrations were what sold me. They are imaginative, colorful (but colored in dark hues, like browns, reds, greens, and purples), detailed, and strange painted illustrations. The book is imaginative and wonderfully illustrated; it is certainly different from a lot of picture books these days, but in the best way. I’ll be looking forward to the sequel.
September 26, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this. I'd bought my 4 year old nephew a subscription service to NerdBlock Jr. Boys this year for his birthday and this book arrived in this month's box. My sister, thinking it seemed a bit creepy, passed it off to me since I loved Evangeline Lilly in LOST (which is still the best TV show ever, IMO) and asked me to decide whether it was something he could enjoy. I have to agree that the art, while impressive, is quite "creepy" in nature. The blotchy coloring style of it has a similarity to the zombies in the Walking Dead comics. And though the story sort of reads in rhyme, and there's a "lesson" involved, the tale is mighty dark. [Spoiler: A curious little girl wanders where she maybe shouldn't, trusts a strange group of puppets, throws a hissy fit when they pop for balloon (for no reason at all), and then she becomes one of them, labeled "Spoiled" for her tirade.:End Spoiler] It reminded me of the darkness in Pinocchio (which also involves puppets) when all the boys become "jackasses" for doing things they had no business doing. In her dedication, Evangeline thanks her mother for reading this book some 20 years ago. It makes me wander if Pinocchio was her inspiration.
December 31, 2015
Found this in a thrift store and was surprised considering how fairly new this book is. I considered myself lucky to purchase it for a dime, and now I'm happy that's all I paid. This is not for a six year old girl as suggested in the age guidelines recommended. My daughter commented that she liked the other Where The Wild Things Are books better then this one, and that's when I realized it did seem like a version of those stories. I don't think this is the same author, but maybe the artist is the same. The story itself is not interesting, and is a repeat of so many other children's books or fables. Nothing new here unless a person is looking for something that might appeal to an older child who likes dark art in children's books. I mean older children who like dark art more than they like the story itself. The writing is uninspiring and not well thought out. The poetry is weak and clumsy.
December 2, 2014
The Squickerwonkers isn't something I'd normally pick up and it only really came onto my radar after reading interviews with the author Evangeline Lilly (of Lost and Hobbit fame). I found myself interested in some of the things she was talking about and wanted to check out her writing, but still unsure about picking up a "children's book", especially when I never realised how expensive these sort of books are.
And then I saw the audiobook – narrated by Sylvester McCoy (of classic Doctor Who fame) – was available free on Audible, and thought I'd try it anyway.
Overall, the story is good and tight, perhaps a bit darker than what we'd normally expect to have been written for children. Not being someone who has much contact with children should mean my opinion of whether it's "too dark" for children or not should be taken with at least a grain of salt, but perhaps an entire salt shaker is more appropriate. That said, I don't think it's darker than say, Alice in Wonderland.
I believe Evangeline Lilly intends The Squickerwonkers to be the first of an 18-volume series, all focusing a different "squickerwonker". This, being the first volume, feels more like a teaser-slash-introduction to the world. I don't think it's necessarily a mistake that the first book is about setting up and introducing the world and the beings that populate it, but for someone who likes to a lot of meat in her reading material, I felt I'd had been given an appetiser and then told I'd get the entrée next year.
So I do wonder if the series would be better served if all 18 stories had been written and then published collectively in the one volume. Of course, this would likely mean that instead of 18 books all with sumptuous, full-colour illustrations (not available in audiobooks, alas), you'd get one book with a couple of black-and-white illustrations for each of the 18 stories. But at least you'd feel like you'd gotten the full story.
Or maybe that's just more appealing to my sensibilities as a reader. I just wanted to know more about this world and it was a little frustrating that there wasn't more to read.
Sylvester McCoy's narration is fantastic and suits the style of Lilly's book to a T. It's engaging and a little creepy and a little twisted. The various characters he voices all sound unique and are quite simply a joy to listen to and be amused by. The production behind the audiobook is lavish and again well-suited to the style. However, I found it a little distracting and found that sometimes I'd be listening to the sound instead of the words and that I was missing chunks of the story.
Overall, I found The Squickerwonkers to be a decent enough story – I enjoyed the brief glimpse of the world Lilly gave us and would definitely have a look at future instalments. I'm not convinced it's really my favourite thing to read, but it is interesting and this first book definitely whets the appetite for more.
And then I saw the audiobook – narrated by Sylvester McCoy (of classic Doctor Who fame) – was available free on Audible, and thought I'd try it anyway.
Overall, the story is good and tight, perhaps a bit darker than what we'd normally expect to have been written for children. Not being someone who has much contact with children should mean my opinion of whether it's "too dark" for children or not should be taken with at least a grain of salt, but perhaps an entire salt shaker is more appropriate. That said, I don't think it's darker than say, Alice in Wonderland.
I believe Evangeline Lilly intends The Squickerwonkers to be the first of an 18-volume series, all focusing a different "squickerwonker". This, being the first volume, feels more like a teaser-slash-introduction to the world. I don't think it's necessarily a mistake that the first book is about setting up and introducing the world and the beings that populate it, but for someone who likes to a lot of meat in her reading material, I felt I'd had been given an appetiser and then told I'd get the entrée next year.
So I do wonder if the series would be better served if all 18 stories had been written and then published collectively in the one volume. Of course, this would likely mean that instead of 18 books all with sumptuous, full-colour illustrations (not available in audiobooks, alas), you'd get one book with a couple of black-and-white illustrations for each of the 18 stories. But at least you'd feel like you'd gotten the full story.
Or maybe that's just more appealing to my sensibilities as a reader. I just wanted to know more about this world and it was a little frustrating that there wasn't more to read.
Sylvester McCoy's narration is fantastic and suits the style of Lilly's book to a T. It's engaging and a little creepy and a little twisted. The various characters he voices all sound unique and are quite simply a joy to listen to and be amused by. The production behind the audiobook is lavish and again well-suited to the style. However, I found it a little distracting and found that sometimes I'd be listening to the sound instead of the words and that I was missing chunks of the story.
Overall, I found The Squickerwonkers to be a decent enough story – I enjoyed the brief glimpse of the world Lilly gave us and would definitely have a look at future instalments. I'm not convinced it's really my favourite thing to read, but it is interesting and this first book definitely whets the appetite for more.
July 18, 2017
I think that what Evangeline Lilly suffers from in these comments is few people being able to get past the fact that she's a actor - whether to her advantage or disadvantage. Where one person went into the book HOPING to love it because they love her as an actor, the next person went into the read EXPECTING to hate it, because they are irritated that actors can sometimes sell more books than stronger authors. I happen to read the book with no knowledge that I was reading an actor's storybook and found it to be one of the strongest children's poems I've read in my YEARS. It is, undeniably, light on plot (we'd all like to know what happens to Selma...but then, I think that was the point of her cliff-hanger ending), but the cheeky, playful rhymes make it terribly entertaining nonetheless. I was so pleased to read a children's poem that was clearly story driven and not rhyme driven. Reading this book aloud is delightful (I think the people who are critical of the rhyme are just not great at or used to reading lymeric). As introductory book, The Squickerwonkers has really strong world and character development. As everyone has noted, the illustrations help the world come to life in the most magical way (they're WONDERFUL!).
The good news is, I think despite the anvil of her mainstay career, her rating winds up coming out about at the right place: it's not the best book I've read this year, but I do enjoy reading it over and over with my five-year-old, which says a lot. He loves the spookiness and naughtiness of it and my eight-year-old loves to read the story to herself, immersing herself in the world (which she really wants MORE of...Evangeline, where's the second book??).
The good news is, I think despite the anvil of her mainstay career, her rating winds up coming out about at the right place: it's not the best book I've read this year, but I do enjoy reading it over and over with my five-year-old, which says a lot. He loves the spookiness and naughtiness of it and my eight-year-old loves to read the story to herself, immersing herself in the world (which she really wants MORE of...Evangeline, where's the second book??).
March 2, 2015
The book is written very well and although a bit dark, it contains a very good lesson to be learned. The illustrations are equally well done. Johnny Fraser-Allen does a remarkable job bringing the Squickerwonkers to life. Each page has an enormous amount of detail. Every time I read the book I find something I didn't notice was there before.
The tale begins with little Selma of the Rin-Run Royals. Selma enters an enchanted wagon and drops a coin into the machine. The coin brings to life nine marionettes known as the Squickerwonkers who we get to know one by one. We also learn that Selma is spoiled rotten, after the Squickerwonkers make her cry. Her Gramp appears and just when you think he's about to save the day, the story turns another way (Looks like the rhyming rubbed off on me...). You'll have to read the book to find out what happens next and I really recommend that you do.
I'm eagerly awaiting a follow up book. The only negative thing I can say about it is it's too short. It took me longer to write this review than it did to read it three times over. I can't wait to read about what happens next to Selma and The Squickerwonkers.
You can read my full review here: http://oriemg.blogspot.com/2015/01/re...
The tale begins with little Selma of the Rin-Run Royals. Selma enters an enchanted wagon and drops a coin into the machine. The coin brings to life nine marionettes known as the Squickerwonkers who we get to know one by one. We also learn that Selma is spoiled rotten, after the Squickerwonkers make her cry. Her Gramp appears and just when you think he's about to save the day, the story turns another way (Looks like the rhyming rubbed off on me...). You'll have to read the book to find out what happens next and I really recommend that you do.
I'm eagerly awaiting a follow up book. The only negative thing I can say about it is it's too short. It took me longer to write this review than it did to read it three times over. I can't wait to read about what happens next to Selma and The Squickerwonkers.
You can read my full review here: http://oriemg.blogspot.com/2015/01/re...
November 22, 2014
I actually thought this was a really neat children's book - but I'm a bit biased because I saw Evangeline read it out loud. She had this quirky music playing that added to the whole experience (apparently the audio book also has the same music). She said that she is planning on writing adult novels too, which I'm very excited about. Stoked to read more of her work in the future!
Also, there were a bunch of kids at the reading, and they did NOT find it too creepy or dark. They seemed to enjoy it, and asked a bunch of questions at the end :)
Also, there were a bunch of kids at the reading, and they did NOT find it too creepy or dark. They seemed to enjoy it, and asked a bunch of questions at the end :)
February 27, 2017
A arte é realmente maravilhosa e, por algum motivo, eu imagino o Neil Gaiman lendo isso pro filhinho dele porque é muito fantasioso, uma história curtinha com lição de moral para crianças que pais incrivelmente legais leriam pros pequeninos :)
July 25, 2018
This Vol 1 stopped abruptly and I'm supposing it finishes when Vol 2 finally comes out.
September 4, 2020
That was so dark lmao I love it
It was a really fun dark, actually. The pictures were great and really added to the atmosphere. I'd agree with other people that maybe the Moral Of The Story isn't super clear and it felt like more of a set up for the rest of the series than a standalone book, but frankly I didn't care. Maybe I would if I was actually planning to read it to children but on my own? I had fun. I could see it being turned into a movie. For The Vibes more than for the plot, but still.
It was a really fun dark, actually. The pictures were great and really added to the atmosphere. I'd agree with other people that maybe the Moral Of The Story isn't super clear and it felt like more of a set up for the rest of the series than a standalone book, but frankly I didn't care. Maybe I would if I was actually planning to read it to children but on my own? I had fun. I could see it being turned into a movie. For The Vibes more than for the plot, but still.
January 30, 2023
I absolutely love Evangeline Lilly. Lost is my favorite show ever. So of course I looked up all of the actors. When I found Evangeline Lilly's website there was a blog there and one of the categories was "Writing". I thought that what I read was great. I have a blog post that I did while ago when I first found her blog. You can check that out here (http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot...) I was so excited when I read that she had a book coming out and I knew that I had to get it when it did. I think that I waited over a year before I was finally able to get my hands on this book. I was so excited when I did that I read it that night.
I thought that it was wonderful. It was more of a dark, cautionary children's tale. I liked that Evangeline Lilly wasn't afraid to approach a children's story in a darker way than a lot of children's authors today do. I thought that the writing was lyrical and poetic. Even though it was a cautionary tale it was fun to read just for the use of language alone. I like reading it out loud to hear how the poetic, lyrical lines sound. On top of that, the artwork was gorgeous and I could just look at the illustrations and be happy with the book. Put the two together and you have a magical, wonderful children's book that will become a permanent part of my library. And I will mot definitely be collecting all of the books that will be in this series. I adore this book. Evangeline Lilly has said that she wants to give adult writing a try and I'm very excited for when we get to read that.
I give The Squickerwonkers 5 stars!!
Review on http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot...
I thought that it was wonderful. It was more of a dark, cautionary children's tale. I liked that Evangeline Lilly wasn't afraid to approach a children's story in a darker way than a lot of children's authors today do. I thought that the writing was lyrical and poetic. Even though it was a cautionary tale it was fun to read just for the use of language alone. I like reading it out loud to hear how the poetic, lyrical lines sound. On top of that, the artwork was gorgeous and I could just look at the illustrations and be happy with the book. Put the two together and you have a magical, wonderful children's book that will become a permanent part of my library. And I will mot definitely be collecting all of the books that will be in this series. I adore this book. Evangeline Lilly has said that she wants to give adult writing a try and I'm very excited for when we get to read that.
I give The Squickerwonkers 5 stars!!
Review on http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot...
July 1, 2015
I bought this to give it to my 4, or 5 or maybe 6 year old niece, not sure how old she is now, as a present and Umm… okey, that was a lie. I bought this book for myself, I thought it’d be a kids story, but I was like “I don’t care, I love Lost and Evangeline Lilly is awesome.” So, I got it, and it isn’t as kids story-y as I expected. I loved it. It is very, very dark, I got the iTunes version that comes with a narration and soundtrack, it made it even darker, which is a good thing. Very similar to the worlds of Tim Burton and Guillermo Del Toro. Creepy world, creepy characters, both interesting. The illustrations are great and fun for the eyes.
It is very enjoyable, even though it felt simply as an introduction to the world, I look forward to read what lies ahead.
It is very enjoyable, even though it felt simply as an introduction to the world, I look forward to read what lies ahead.
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