Gremlins: A New Friend

by Michael Neal, Luis Domínguez (Illustrator)

Vintage children's book

Genres: Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although the actual movie Gremlins is one of those really weird dark comedy films that seems a bit of a guilty pleasure and a shake of the head due to its corniness I cannot imagine what the author was thinking when they chose to make this a children's book. Really did children back in 1984 watch this movie with their parents who then chose it would be cool for them to also get the movie in chopped up books?

In this particular book you have an almost comic-like, cartoonish, feel of the illustrations. This was rather disappointing for me since a lot of film-based books end up using colored photographs from the film to relate the two mediums of art together. And since of this particular comic-like illustration Gizmo ended up turning out to rather look more like a common marmoset with very bat-like ears.

The story itself easy to follow and can be read by older elementary students although the plot moves a bit slow. I also cannot say how many elementary age children may be interested in Billy having car problems, having to work and liking but not having the guts to ask out a coworker. All of these elements seem more appropriate rather for older children who wouldn't be picking up this particular small book.

Another thing that is concerning to me about this book is the fact that the rules of Mogwai care are so important in the movie but they are basically ignored and not even mentioned within this book. This is probably a good thing for at least two of the rules are broken almost right away but without seemingly any consequences, which is where the real fun of the movie starts.

Finally Billy decides to give his dog a piece of chocolate, which isn't a good thing for children to be reading about. Already with his stellar and indirect abuse of Gizmo, we can already see that Billy is not a sterling pet guardian while even though he appreciates his new pet/friend it is already cursed from the start the dark path that the film would go down.

All in all it was okay but it didn't embrace the true essence of the film and there was just way too much missing to make it children-friendly. As a result this is probably more for Gremlin fans but only if they don't mind bad writing.

[Scott Delgado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, if you want a book representation of the film, this is not it. This book feels like it should be the first in a series of short children's books that tell the whole story of the movie, but of course, the movie get a little darker and more violent than what most parents would want to read as a bedtime story to their kids. This is a VERY abbreviated tale that is basically, "Billy was given a new pet after a bad day of work. Annnnd everything worked out fine. The end. Sweet dreams!" What I like is the illustrations. They don't look a lot like the actual actors, but it has an old comic book style to it. So I would say this book is good for its illustrations, not for its telling of the story of the film "Gremlins."

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gizmo is a bad mother.... eeeiii!!!