SOLVED. Children's chapter book where the wallpaper has an alphabet and it comes alive [s]

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

the story starts with a child sick in bed (or perhaps sent to his/her bedroom for punishment?). S/he is looking at the wallpaper and it's the alphabet. It comes alive and I think sucks the kid into another world. I can't remember though. Basically I started reading a friend's copy then had to give it back and I never finished it. I've always wondered what happened.

[Rebecca]

Hmm. Any chance that you're remembering "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins? It's not exactly as you described, but somewhat close.

[Jen]

That's exactly what I was thinking, and because it's a novella, it might seem like a kids book.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Is that the one that was written by a woman in a similar situation as her character, where she was bedridden and had nothing to do? Something about being perceived as insane? I think I read that. I remember thinking it was good. Definitely not the book, though.

[Jen]

Yeah, that's the one.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

The Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman has kids traveling to an alternative Italy by holding a little notebook made of marbled paper. Not wallpaper, though.

The first one is City of Masks. Lucius has cancer, and is dying of it, but not in Talia.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Hmm, that sounds interesting.

[Kate]

Hi Kelly, I'm checking in to see if any of the books suggested fit your book, and to see if you had any additional details that can lead us to a solution.

Also, I'm delving into the books at the end of the Unsolved list. We have a guideline that says if there's no action for two years, we move it to the Abandoned folder.

So look on this as a last chance to gather some suggestions that will solve it.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

I forgot about this post. No, none fit but thanks for asking and thanks everyone for trying.

[Kris]

There's a Ray Bradbury short story called The Veldt..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Veld...

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Thank you Kris. I do like that story but it wasn't it. There was something about it that reminded me of the Phantom Tollbooth at the beginning.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Kelly Maybedog, are you still looking for this book?

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

I'm not sure how I missed your post. Yes, I am, but I've given up hope of ever finding it.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Kelly--if you come in once a month and bump this back up to the top of the queue you'll have a much better chance of getting it found. And don't despair, it can sometimes take a while to find a book. I've had them ID'ed after as much as 3 years, but that was with me faithfully bumping them up every 1 or 2 months.

[Teresa]

How about The Night They Stole the Alphabet ?

[Deborah]

This sounds promising!

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Teresa wrote: "How about The Night They Stole the Alphabet ?"

I think that's it!Oone of the reviewers described what I remember. It's not at either of the libraries I have access to, and US$44 is the cheapest I've found it (most copies are upwards of $150!) so it will be a while before I can read it and make sure, but let's consider this closed.

Thank you all so much for your help!

(Thank you Marisa, for your suggestion, too!)