G is for Gashlycrumb Tinies

Copyright, Edward Gorey, The Gashlycrumb Tinies.

How I love the Gashlycrumb Tinies!

Wikipedia’s entry states that this mock alphabet has been described as a “sarcastic rebellion against a view of childhood that is sunny, idyllic and instructive.” *

All Edward Gorey’s works appeal to me in general, but this specifically touches me, because I, too, run after children screaming about ridiculous dangers that I’m imagining as they go about their business of exploring the world around them.

If you’ve never heard of these, or if you are a long-time fan in need of a refresher, please look this up in your search engine of choice.

I especially enjoy using this as my letter “G” because I’ve been thinking about it since I heard of the A to Z challenge in the first place. Most people, when they hear the words “A is for…” they immediately answer “Apple”, because that is what all the flashcards and books shown to us in school say. I think of apple second, because although that is my first influence, I more often remember a later, yet stronger, influence in “A is for Amy who fell down the stairs”.

Go see what ‘G’ is for… I’ll wait here.

* “The Post-Modern Alphabet: Extending the limits of the Contemporary Alphabet Book, from Seuss to Gorey” – Project MUSE.