The Shrinking of Treehorn (50th Anniversary Edition)

Praise

“Heide’s hilariously deadpan text absolutely skewers adult preoccupation with their own roles and spheres. . . . Gorey’s iconic illustrations, which emphasize the mundanity of the setting, are as dry and funny as Heide’s text. With a new and cogent introduction by Lane Smith (‘Who would have thought the commonplace, the humdrum, could be giddier than a traditional ha-ha-funny children’s book?’) and additional material by Heide and her son David, this is a long-overdue and most welcome reissue.” —The Horn Book

Praise for the original edition of The Shrinking of Treehorn:

“Sheer fun.” —School Library Journal

“For any child who has often felt ignored by the adult world, here is a perfect gift to lift the spirits…will bring a chorus of delight from younger readers.” —Publishers Weekly


“It is always a pleasure to see that a new vehicle has been found for Edward Gorey’s distinctive drawings, and in this instance a fey, imaginative little tale that fits them to perfection….The Alice‐in‐Wonderland quality of shrinking and regrowth is deftly treated. Gorey’s drawings—old‐fashioned yet a little mod, Beardsleyesque yet Sunday‐School clean, popping out with a marvelous control of space and odd angles—enhance the feel of melancholy and magic. They conjure up memories of listing attics, fatal lozenges, curious sofas, Willowdale handcars and wuggly umps. Not to mention nursery friezes, pious infants, vinegar works and doubtful guests.”—The New York Times