How many of us now tottering on middle age grew up with the adventures of Caspar the Friendly Ghost and Wendy the Good Little Witch comic books?! Jill Thompson in her growing Scary Godmother oeuvre gives millennial youngsters (and their significant elders) an entirely enchanting bit of whimsy in a similar vein.

Thompson is an artist who has cleaned and broken her brushes as a comic book illustrator. Of course, this shows in her droll illustrations for her own books. If, however, you look long and caringly enough, you'll find wisps of Arthur Rackham, William Hogarth, Charles Addams, Edward Gorey and even Betty Boop in the entrancing brushstrokes illumined here.

The story is hilariously witty, adequately outright funny for the youngsters, but more than sufficiently jovial for the eldsters. And parents -- NO, it is not TOO SCARY for your wee ones! This particular volume even includes an explanation of those peculiar, SCARY THINGS under the bed. This is way too fun to be merely a children's picture book.

by Stephen Richmond
Rambles.NET
29 October 2005