Fuse 8 n’ Kate: The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide, ill. Edward Gorey

“I’m Benjamin Buttoning over here!” When we’re not talking about crystal flutes and harmoniums, Kate and I discuss our very first Halloween-seasoned title on this week’s episode of Fuse 8 n’ Kate. I was charged with coming up with another potential classic for the Halloween season, and now I have located an illustrator who may honestly be called “the granddaddy of haunted books”. He didn’t do many picture books . . . for children. But occasionally he did one or two when someone else was doing the writing and today’s title, The Shrinking of Treehorn is an exemplary example. We talk about what it takes to name your kid “Treehorn”, what to do when you’re caught in a Jumanji-type situation, and why this book made me think of Jeffrey Dahmer.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

Man. I always like to have Kate read the original editions of the books we do, but now that I know that there was a 50th anniversary edition with a Lane Smith intro? Dang. Wish I’d seen that sooner.

No matter how you look at this page, a lot of lines were drawn. Whether it’s books or the rug, Gorey had some time on his hands.

To me, this is the scariest part of the entire story. Have you EVER seen Gorey draw a woman this way before? Also, her fingers? Nightmare fuel.

Anyone else want to point out that there is a friggin’ CAULDRON in that living room?

Not only is this a calendar from 1971 in this room, those cats? They’re the same cats from Gorey’s book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Compare!

Please note Kate’s theory that the bus driver and Treehorn’s father are one and the same person. I might actually be on board for this one.

I would like to politely request this sweaterdress/glasses/boot combo. Please to send to me.

The art in the principal’s office is utterly fabulous. It’s like, he doesn’t know anything about art, but he’s pretty sure the larger and more abstract a piece is, the better it is.

Here is the original Henry Bergh Award/ASPCA Medal that was bestowed that Tony let us know about:

Kate Recommends: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix

Betsy Recommends: My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf (the book, not the film)

Filed under: Fuse 8 n' Kate