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Baby's First Mythos
Spawned from the mind of horror king and Origins award winner C.J. Henderson, Baby's First Mythos is a lavishly illustrated tome that blasts your child's soul as it teaches them their ABC's - Mythos-style! A foreward by Dr. Robert M. Price, Ph.D., professor of both theology and philosopy, founder & editor in chief of Crypt of Cthulhu, executor of the Lin Carter estate, current head of Lovecraft's KLM club (the worlds first professional sci fi/horror club).
28 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
126 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Henderson
241 books57 followersThere is more than one author with this name
CJ Henderson is the creator of both the Jack Hagee hardboiled PI series and the Teddy London supernatural detective series. He is also the author of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies, several score novels, plus hundreds of short stories and thousands of non-fiction pieces. In the wonderful world of comics he has written everything from Batman and the Punisher to Archie and Cherry Poptart.
He also writes under the name Robert Morgan.
CJ Henderson is the creator of both the Jack Hagee hardboiled PI series and the Teddy London supernatural detective series. He is also the author of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies, several score novels, plus hundreds of short stories and thousands of non-fiction pieces. In the wonderful world of comics he has written everything from Batman and the Punisher to Archie and Cherry Poptart.
He also writes under the name Robert Morgan.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 19, 2010
So the other day a loved one and I were in a store and saw some religious Little Golden Books. As both of us are sort of irreverent by nature and far too fond of Lovecraftian humor, this turned into a conversation about how there really needed to be a My First Little Golden Book of Cthulhu.
Obviously some eldritch god was listening, because the next day I discovered Baby's First Mythos at my local gaming store. I cracked up while browsing it in the store, so I bought it, took it home, and cracked up some more as I read the rest of it. Now I know my alphabet from Azathoth to Zarnak, and my numbers too!
Baby's First Mythos is written in the style of a children's book, so it's not a particularly long or complex read. But it's an extremely entertaining one if you like your humor squamous and tentacled. Each entry is in the form of a little poem and is illustrated beautifully. The verses scan strangely in places, but that gives them an oddness that seems fitting for the subject matter.
A perfect gift for the Cthulhu fan in your life.
Edit: Just realized why I like that the meter is off-kilter on the poetry. It reminds me of Nanny Ashtoreth's version of This Little Piggy in Good Omens.
Obviously some eldritch god was listening, because the next day I discovered Baby's First Mythos at my local gaming store. I cracked up while browsing it in the store, so I bought it, took it home, and cracked up some more as I read the rest of it. Now I know my alphabet from Azathoth to Zarnak, and my numbers too!
Baby's First Mythos is written in the style of a children's book, so it's not a particularly long or complex read. But it's an extremely entertaining one if you like your humor squamous and tentacled. Each entry is in the form of a little poem and is illustrated beautifully. The verses scan strangely in places, but that gives them an oddness that seems fitting for the subject matter.
A perfect gift for the Cthulhu fan in your life.
Edit: Just realized why I like that the meter is off-kilter on the poetry. It reminds me of Nanny Ashtoreth's version of This Little Piggy in Good Omens.
June 25, 2016
Caveat Lector
Recitation of these passages has been known to drive impressionable children to the very brink of suicidal madness and despair, and beyond.
Baby's First Mythos is a child's first introduction into the world of Lovecraft. It is in the form of 'A is for Apple', except that 'A is for Azathoth' and 'L is for H.P. Lovecraft.' As is usual with the format, there's a page for each letter of the alphabet, and each contains an illustration and couple of lines about said thing.
Is this appropriate for kids? I don't know. I don't have any. But it's awesome, and the sort of thing you didn't know what missing from your life until you see it, which I feel is what matters.
March 3, 2017
A poor presentation of what might have been a decent idea. The poetry is inconsistent and disagrees with my take on Lovecraft. I can't catch any consistent meter, I believe this is due to failure rather than intent. The art is poor, but hey look, it's Cthulhu's butt! With so many talented cutesy Cthulhu artists on the net, it would be nice to see such a primer successfully realized.
December 13, 2009
This is the best children's book ever. I feel comforted by the fact that my child will be able to tell the old ones apart and maybe, just maybe, have some extra protection from things that go bump in the night.
Aside from that, the book illustrations are wonderfully done. They are both artful and magical. The pithy sayings under each drawing are memorable and worthy of a chuckle or a raised brow. I'm truly impressed with the artistry and love that obviously went into making this book a reality.
The only drawback is the binding; it is a little weak. However it has held up over many readings so maybe it feels more weak than it is
Aside from that, the book illustrations are wonderfully done. They are both artful and magical. The pithy sayings under each drawing are memorable and worthy of a chuckle or a raised brow. I'm truly impressed with the artistry and love that obviously went into making this book a reality.
The only drawback is the binding; it is a little weak. However it has held up over many readings so maybe it feels more weak than it is
October 10, 2009
So cute. So great.
I was dying to get it and now I'm dying over how much I love it.
I was dying to get it and now I'm dying over how much I love it.
May 13, 2017
This is one of those cheeky "looks like it's meant for kids but it's meant for adults" kind of books. Like, I would love to read this to my kid, but the art (which is fantastic) isn't something that I think they would enjoy and the poems are a little too inside jokey for kids to really get.
But it's fun! I would like to see a legit cutesy Lovecraftian book for kids, though.
(Holy smokes! I just realized that the illustrations were done by the Erica Henderson, she of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl fame! Sweet!)
But it's fun! I would like to see a legit cutesy Lovecraftian book for kids, though.
(Holy smokes! I just realized that the illustrations were done by the Erica Henderson, she of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl fame! Sweet!)
January 10, 2013
I guess maybe if I was familiar with the Lovecraft Cthulhu mythology I would have enjoyed it more, but still I get the gist of the joke and it's mildly entertaining. I see it mostly as a fun thing to leave lying around when other parents visit. I tried reading it to Tesla but she's not at all interested. There's no horses.
June 25, 2010
Truly, this was created to be my children's first book.
October 26, 2013
That's all the stars I had.
August 17, 2023
I know so little about Lovecraft that this is probably just not the book for me. I was 100% lost the whole entire time.
August 5, 2016
While I don't know if I would recommend it to a toddler, as someone who enjoys some classic horror literature, this was something I picked up to read to my new born daughter a few years back. In keeping with the idea that it was more important to expose her to books even when she could not read them or even comprehend the words, I picked up several books that would be bearable to me as a father and still give her a sense of being read to for her early development.
The book itself is very well done, containing enough rhyming stanzas and covering the normal kid friendly alphabet and counting to ten one would expect, but in a very not kid friendly, Lovecraftian manner. Matter of fact, the book does not make it in its count to 10, instead jumping from 9 to 0 because that is the "sum of all hope" in this "baby" version of Lovecraft's Mythos. So, it is obviously more adult in nature, a novelty work perhaps, but one that is imbued with some impeccable art and some clever wording to raise above the sense of just being a cash grab or another entry in the series of humorous "kids" books such as Go the F**k to Sleep or Goodnight iPad: A Parody for the Next Generation . While nothing is wrong with those parodies, this one has enough earnest seriousness to become squarely enjoyable for H.P. Lovecraft fans without becoming too specific so as to not be able to be humorously inappropriate to the Lovecraft neophyte.
Again, this book is not for everyone and I rate it 4 stars largely due to its excellent combination of art and gallows humor. If you have a taste for the bizarrely inappropriate or oddly childish, then this deserves your attention. If you want a book for an actual child, then I might start elsewhere...if you value the child's sleep and sanity.
The book itself is very well done, containing enough rhyming stanzas and covering the normal kid friendly alphabet and counting to ten one would expect, but in a very not kid friendly, Lovecraftian manner. Matter of fact, the book does not make it in its count to 10, instead jumping from 9 to 0 because that is the "sum of all hope" in this "baby" version of Lovecraft's Mythos. So, it is obviously more adult in nature, a novelty work perhaps, but one that is imbued with some impeccable art and some clever wording to raise above the sense of just being a cash grab or another entry in the series of humorous "kids" books such as Go the F**k to Sleep or Goodnight iPad: A Parody for the Next Generation . While nothing is wrong with those parodies, this one has enough earnest seriousness to become squarely enjoyable for H.P. Lovecraft fans without becoming too specific so as to not be able to be humorously inappropriate to the Lovecraft neophyte.
Again, this book is not for everyone and I rate it 4 stars largely due to its excellent combination of art and gallows humor. If you have a taste for the bizarrely inappropriate or oddly childish, then this deserves your attention. If you want a book for an actual child, then I might start elsewhere...if you value the child's sleep and sanity.
January 31, 2019
A terrifyingly hilarious take on Edward Gorey's classic macabre alphabet book parody The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Baby's First Mythos is a children's reader featuring Lovecraftian characters and locations. From Azathoth to Anton Zarnak, each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by a twisted little rhyme and creepy illustration. The Lovecraft mythos references are spot-on and will be appreciated by even the most fanatical fan of H.P.'s work, this short reader is sure to please the little Elder God in your household.
April 26, 2020
It was fun....too small but fun nonetheless.
June 13, 2013
Z-Man Games has reprinted the 2004 classic Baby's First Mythos by CJ and Erican Henderson. This is great news, as I had despaired of ever seeing a copy of the original. BTW, the picture shown on goodreads is from the first edition.
The premise is simple. CJ Henderson wrote an alphabet in verse and two counting rhymes, using mythos critters, and his daughter, Erica Henderson illustrated them. The rhymes are clever enough, if strained at times, but the drawings are simply wonderful. The introduction by Robert Price is amusing, as is the new (a tad long winded) afterword, by William Jones. However the art is what will make this book a collector's item for years to come. I don't know what Ms. Henderson has done in the intervening years but I would love to see some other samples of her work.
Fanatical collectors are hanging on to their first editions, but those of us who missed out now have a way to enjoy Baby's First Mythos (and no, it's not a kid's book at all!). If you liked Where the Deep Ones Are or The Littlest Shoggoth, you'll love this book.
NB: Ms. Henderson just successfully funded a reprint via Kickstarter. She intends to redo all of the original artwork. I hope all goes well, becuase I love the original.
The premise is simple. CJ Henderson wrote an alphabet in verse and two counting rhymes, using mythos critters, and his daughter, Erica Henderson illustrated them. The rhymes are clever enough, if strained at times, but the drawings are simply wonderful. The introduction by Robert Price is amusing, as is the new (a tad long winded) afterword, by William Jones. However the art is what will make this book a collector's item for years to come. I don't know what Ms. Henderson has done in the intervening years but I would love to see some other samples of her work.
Fanatical collectors are hanging on to their first editions, but those of us who missed out now have a way to enjoy Baby's First Mythos (and no, it's not a kid's book at all!). If you liked Where the Deep Ones Are or The Littlest Shoggoth, you'll love this book.
NB: Ms. Henderson just successfully funded a reprint via Kickstarter. She intends to redo all of the original artwork. I hope all goes well, becuase I love the original.
February 9, 2010
It's a little sad that the parts of this book I liked the most were the introduction and the end pages, which had little Cthulus sleeping on them. The actual book was uneven. The majority of the book is an alphabet using characters from Lovecraft; some of the rhyming stories were fantastic, others were ok.
Not a book I'm going to need to buy.
Not a book I'm going to need to buy.
July 21, 2011
Pulled this out to show some friends (hi Karl & Liz!) and reread it. Just a delight. In a tentacled, eldritch, Cthulhu themed sorta way. Plus, it makes me realize that Star Trek had more Lovecraft in it than I realized. Absolutely essential for anyone who needs a primer on the stranger eons.
September 21, 2008
fine concept, good art, mediocre rhymes.
January 9, 2016
Caveat Lector! Fun little board book with illustrations.
October 22, 2014
The stars are right...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews