This is a very crazy read…kind of like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but simpler and madder in a this-is-from-a-child’s-perspective kind of way. The title says it all actually, when a boy seeks for something to trade for his friend Nathan’s two goldfish. Nathan rejects everything that the boy offers until the latter sets his eyes upon his dad. Nathan agrees, and the fun begins.
At first I’m not sure if I like this or not, because it’s absurd—and that’s saying something because I’m all for the oddball stuff. I’m no stranger to Gaiman’s works, even the other books he penned for children (Coraline and The Graveyard Book). I think this is his first work where he actually explores the natural weirdness of a kid’s thoughts. I don’t know how he does this, but it’s like he wormed his way into a kid’s brain and sat there, jotting down all the ideas that float past him until he builds up a whole story.
If I were a child and I were to read this, I bet I’d really enjoy it. But what I really liked about it is that it may slightly strike a chord with anyone who’s been a part of a typical family—you know, if you experienced petty sibling fights and noticed how your parents are sometimes oblivious to the *universe* haha. It’s all weird and cute.
Once again, Dave McKean wows me with his artwork. He’s simply amazing. I loved how the fonts (or are the writings actually hand-written?) are done in a kid’s chicken scrawl of penmanship. It adds to the adorableness.