Cautionary Tales for Children

by Hilaire Belloc, B T B 1870-1917, B T B, et al.

Book Overview

For readers of any age, a witty and strikingly irreverent collection of moral guidance

Most notable among prolific English satirist Hilaire Belloc's writings are the sharp and clever admonishments he composed for children. Collected here and illustrated to wonderful haunting effect by Edward Gorey, these short, funny pieces offer moral instruction for all types of mischief makers--from a certain young Jim, "who ran away from his nurse...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0151007152
• ISBN13: 9780151007158
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Harcourt Inc.
• Length: 72 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.3" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Revisiting CAutionary Tales

This was one of the loved books of my childhood in the original edition, of course. I hadn't seen it for a very long time and was anxious to haev a copy for my younger grandchildren. Though old people can enjoy it as well. Now plesed to have it on my own shelves

Dark humor and delightful drawings

I got this to read to my nephews, and it did not disappoint when the time came to pick a story to read. I highly recommend this and the Gashlycrumb Tinies to anyone with children or nephews....

What you do comes back

I just gave this to a friends' one year old for her birthday. In the inscription I wrote that she ought to read and learn, as whatever she does in life will come back to haunt her. My friend thought the book hysterical. Her husband thinks we're both odd...

Completing the Edward Gorey library

JIM, who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion. It's small wonder that Edward Gorey chose to illustrate Belloc's verses, written nearly a century ago - in fact, they were such a clear and strong influence on his work, it's hard to believe he didn't write them himself. 'Cautionary Tales' is a literary work that was years ahead of its time, parodying the overtly-strict educational children's verses of the time with tales of children whose punishment is wholly disproportioned to their crime. Gorey's illustrations, published only after his death in 2000, complete the ghoulish verses with his trademark naïve and refined black and white crosshatching. Already in his seventies, Gorey has lost none of his charm and style and these illustrations are as nasty and sarcastic as anything he's done, perfectly complimenting the ironic text. 'Cautionary Tales' is the first work of Gorey's published after his death, and it's a perfect conclusion to his illustrious career, and one of his finest works. It's an essential to any fan of this great artist.