The Strange Tales of the Alphabet Children - Matthew Rumbelow. Illustrations by Deborah Panesar.

 

A collection of lyrical stories about children that through their hobbies, interests or fears, often tend to meet a rather unfortunate end. 

Each child's first name, as the title of the book suggests, begins with a letter from the alphabet accompanied with unusual surnames. You'll meet a Leo Prickleton-Patch, a Clara Poppleton-Brown and a Yorick Sticklewick but to name a few. Each child/young adult have their passions or anxieties - rats, volcanoes and even Harry Potter - that will ultimately lead to a disaster or death! 

Easily read from A to Z, the reader can also throw conformity out of the window and randomly select a story to start. Either way, these tales won't disappoint. 

The author, whilst giving reverence to Edward Gorey's Gashlycrumb Tinies and Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, has created his own compilation of narratives that are a backstory to Gorey's children. However, they have been updated to reflect today's child - use of a smartphone, global warming, designer labels - yet still have that gothic air to them. 

Rumbelow's verses are clever and filled with so much imagery. His choice of lesser known or less used words has meant the need for a glossary. However, the use of these words such as profligate, abstemious or lagomorph, adds to the sumptuous story telling which has been written in rhyming verse too! 

The accompanying illustrations are outstanding and well thought out. Deborah Panesar has captured the essence of each child's perilous situation perfectly to enhance each story. Colors are subtle and have a slight old-world feel/look to them, which meant that it didn't quite tie in with the modern tales being told but it's a minor issue (and subjective). 

Overall, Matthew Rumbelow's debut into the world of children literature is off to a phenomenal start. Like an updated Aesop's Fables, the Strange Tales of the Alphabet Children is a collection of humorous, chilling often grisly exploits that end with a cautionary note. Had these children not died, surely they would have learnt their lesson? Thankfully, not all meet their maker, but they are left somewhat battered and bruised. And, whilst aimed at children, I'd hesitate to read them to a child with a sensitive nature as some of the stories are somewhat gruesome. Regardless, a highly recommended read.