Gr 2-5 Then his oblivious parents depart for adventures, young Dillweed is left in the care of two servants who drink, party, and make him do constant chores. The narrator's wry tone makes it clear that the boy will not accept this situation forever, and his revenge is delightfully macabre. He unleashes a team of shadowy monsters who dispose of both butler and maid, and "Dillweed and Skorped," his dragon-ish pet, "were happy." The black humor turns even darker when the parents return and decide to get rid of the pet, then promptly meet the same fate as the servants. Readers leave boy and creature enjoying a cruise and living "happily ever after. Dillweed and Skorped, not the parents." The restrained satiric voice sets the tone, slyly preparing readers for Dillweed's revenge. Terse sentences and repeated refrains inject humor while leaving room for the playful ink and gouache illustrations, which recall Edward Gorey's work, to fill in the details. Pictures, not words, reveal the magic stone that Dillweed uses, for example, as well as the monsters he calls forth. One especially funny spread shows the luggage of the returning parents being carried in, just as a servant's coffin is being carried out. The mixture of humor and gruesomeness may offend some, but for fans of Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, or Hilaire Belloc, it's right on target.-"Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
His parents galavanting around the world, poor-little-rich-boy Dillweed is left with Perfidia and Umblud (a.k.a., the help); his only companion is his pet Skorped, a pointy, blue iguana-like creature. When Perf and Umb go too far by messing with Skorped, Dillweed unleashes some magical powers. Spiky ink and gouache illustrations accompany this Edward Gorey-esque tale.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!