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Stitch Head #1
The Forgotten Creation
Stitch Head, made by Mad Professor Erasmus, is thrown into the adventure of an almost-lifetime when an evil entertainer comes to town and causes chaos. Features black-and-white gothic-inspired artwork.
Mad Professor Erasmus created Stitch Head when he was only 10 years old, and the two promised to be friends forever. But when Erasmus grew up, he just wanted to create more and more monsters, each one more grotesque than the last. And Stitch Head was forgotten. Fiercely loyal to his master, Stich Head took on the responsibility of caring for the mad professor’s creations. When an evil entertainer named Fulbert Freakfinder comes to town and promises to make Stitch Head famous, he is skeptical at first but gradually warms to the idea. Then he learns of Freakfinder’s true intentions—and is thrown into the adventure of an almost-lifetime!
Mad Professor Erasmus created Stitch Head when he was only 10 years old, and the two promised to be friends forever. But when Erasmus grew up, he just wanted to create more and more monsters, each one more grotesque than the last. And Stitch Head was forgotten. Fiercely loyal to his master, Stich Head took on the responsibility of caring for the mad professor’s creations. When an evil entertainer named Fulbert Freakfinder comes to town and promises to make Stitch Head famous, he is skeptical at first but gradually warms to the idea. Then he learns of Freakfinder’s true intentions—and is thrown into the adventure of an almost-lifetime!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
66 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Guy Bass
72 books48 followersGuy is an award-winning author whose children's books series include Stitch Head, Skeleton Keys, Dinkin Dings, Spynosaur, The Legend of Frog and Atomic! In 2010 Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things won the Blue Peter Award for Most Fun Book with Pictures.
Guy's has also written plays for both adults and children. He has previously been a theatre producer, illustrator, temp, gerbil whisperer and has acted his way out of several paper bags.
Guy spent his childhood reading comics and hoping one day to become a superhero. He spends his adulthood in more or less the same way.
Guy lives in London with his wife and no dog - yet.
Guy's has also written plays for both adults and children. He has previously been a theatre producer, illustrator, temp, gerbil whisperer and has acted his way out of several paper bags.
Guy spent his childhood reading comics and hoping one day to become a superhero. He spends his adulthood in more or less the same way.
Guy lives in London with his wife and no dog - yet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
July 3, 2022
This was a quick and very enjoyable middle grade read. Love the more spooky stories and with great illustrations inside. Definitely going to go back to my library and pick up the rest of the series they had.
October 19, 2015
Este libro es adorable, lo compré porque lo vi en la librería y me encantó la portada y el hecho de que este inspirado en la historia de Frankenstein.
Carapuntada es un personaje muy hermoso y leal a su creador. Vive triste porque este se ha olvidado de él ya que está obsesionado con seguir creando diferentes clases de monstruos en su castillo.
Es un libro para niños, sí, pero me gustó muchísimo, la mejor parte sin duda han sido las increíbles ilustraciones góticas hechas por Pete Williamson al estilo de las películas de Tim Burton. Lo leí en un par de horas y sin duda voy a continuar con la serie.
Carapuntada es un personaje muy hermoso y leal a su creador. Vive triste porque este se ha olvidado de él ya que está obsesionado con seguir creando diferentes clases de monstruos en su castillo.
Es un libro para niños, sí, pero me gustó muchísimo, la mejor parte sin duda han sido las increíbles ilustraciones góticas hechas por Pete Williamson al estilo de las películas de Tim Burton. Lo leí en un par de horas y sin duda voy a continuar con la serie.
November 5, 2025
I admired it more than I enjoyed it
Last Saturday, 1-Nov-2025, I saw the new animated film Stitch Head. Immediately afterward I bought the book The Forgotten Creation and read it. This review will combine my impressions of the book and the movie, which were similar.
The Forgotten Creation is the first book in Guy Bass's Stitch Head series. (The Forgotten Creation is also published under the title Stitch Head. Perhaps it has different titles in the UK and the USA? Just a guess...) The boylike thing on the cover is named Stitch Head, for obvious reasons, and is the forgotten creation referred to in the title. He was created years ago by Mad Professor Erasmus, who lives in Castle Grotteskew outside the town of Grubbers Nubbin. The professor promised to be his best friend, but promptly forgot all about him in his enthusiasm for his next creation.
The professor has continued creating monsters ever since. Like Stitch Head, each monster is the professor's "Greatest Creation" until he begins work on the next, typically a matter of minutes. Then the professor forgets the last monster. Castle Grotteskew is therefore packed with assorted monsters. Stitch Head took an empty room in the castle for himself and and looks after the monsters.
If you're like me, you're thinking something like, "That isn't funny! It's just sad." And that was perhaps my biggest problem with both the film and the book. To me they felt so drenched in sadness as not to be very amusing.
A traveling circus (more of a Freak show, really) directed by Fulbert Freakfinder comes to Grubbers Nuggin. It's a sad, pitiful little show with little of interest. So when the people of Grubbers Nuggin tell Freakfinder that they are inured to frights by the monsters of Castle Grotteskew, he immediately senses a commercial opportunity. He visits the Castle and importunes Stitch Head to join his show. I will not spoil by telling you how the plot develops from there (it is somewhat different in the book and the movie), but Things Happen and are eventually resolved.
You would naturally hope for an uplifting resolution, but that's not what we get. In the end everything feels almost as sad as in the beginning.
I will say, though, that a lot is done right, both in the book and in the movie. I found a lot to admire in both. But -- you've probably had the experience of reading a book or watching a movie and thinking, "I liked that... That was well done..." yet somehow at the end finding that the appreciation was all intellectual, and that you didn't enjoy it very much. That's how I felt about Stitch Head. I will not be reading any more of the books.
Blog review.
Last Saturday, 1-Nov-2025, I saw the new animated film Stitch Head. Immediately afterward I bought the book The Forgotten Creation and read it. This review will combine my impressions of the book and the movie, which were similar.
The Forgotten Creation is the first book in Guy Bass's Stitch Head series. (The Forgotten Creation is also published under the title Stitch Head. Perhaps it has different titles in the UK and the USA? Just a guess...) The boylike thing on the cover is named Stitch Head, for obvious reasons, and is the forgotten creation referred to in the title. He was created years ago by Mad Professor Erasmus, who lives in Castle Grotteskew outside the town of Grubbers Nubbin. The professor promised to be his best friend, but promptly forgot all about him in his enthusiasm for his next creation.
The professor has continued creating monsters ever since. Like Stitch Head, each monster is the professor's "Greatest Creation" until he begins work on the next, typically a matter of minutes. Then the professor forgets the last monster. Castle Grotteskew is therefore packed with assorted monsters. Stitch Head took an empty room in the castle for himself and and looks after the monsters.
If you're like me, you're thinking something like, "That isn't funny! It's just sad." And that was perhaps my biggest problem with both the film and the book. To me they felt so drenched in sadness as not to be very amusing.
A traveling circus (more of a Freak show, really) directed by Fulbert Freakfinder comes to Grubbers Nuggin. It's a sad, pitiful little show with little of interest. So when the people of Grubbers Nuggin tell Freakfinder that they are inured to frights by the monsters of Castle Grotteskew, he immediately senses a commercial opportunity. He visits the Castle and importunes Stitch Head to join his show. I will not spoil by telling you how the plot develops from there (it is somewhat different in the book and the movie), but Things Happen and are eventually resolved.
You would naturally hope for an uplifting resolution, but that's not what we get. In the end everything feels almost as sad as in the beginning.
I will say, though, that a lot is done right, both in the book and in the movie. I found a lot to admire in both. But -- you've probably had the experience of reading a book or watching a movie and thinking, "I liked that... That was well done..." yet somehow at the end finding that the appreciation was all intellectual, and that you didn't enjoy it very much. That's how I felt about Stitch Head. I will not be reading any more of the books.
Blog review.
December 24, 2017
Záplaťák je super kniha. A jsem důkazem, že není jen pro děcka. Kniha je přímo úžasně zpracovaná a navíc obsahuje plno neskutečných hlášek. Příběh je sice velmi prostoduchý a konec tak trochu unáhlený (jak to tedy většinou u dětských knih bývá), avšak i přesto budu stále pět ódy na zpracování a super hlášky. Kdo chce vypnout a pobavit se, tak si přečtěte Záplaťáka!
January 7, 2024
Hilariously Hideous
What a fun first book to a series that I am definitely going to read more of. I adored the concept and characters and the illustrations were great. Can’t wait to see what Stitch Head and his new friends get up to in the next instalment.
What a fun first book to a series that I am definitely going to read more of. I adored the concept and characters and the illustrations were great. Can’t wait to see what Stitch Head and his new friends get up to in the next instalment.
March 23, 2013
This was a fun book about Stitch Head, a long-forgotten creation of a mad scientist. Stitch Head stays around the castle to make sure his master's creations don't go wild in the nearby town and bring punishment down on his master. After years of working behind the scenes, Stitch Head is pushed into a situation where the "no visitors" rule is thrown to the wind.
Stitch Head, for starters, is simply adorable. The illustrations in the book are perfect to set up the quirky atmosphere, and we have villains galore. This book reminds me so much of what I loved as a child: Odd monsters, freak shows, potions and creepy castles. Oh, and we have a monster called Creature, who has three arms. I freaking love it. This would be a great series for any boy to read. I think girls like me would really enjoy it as well - there is a girl who shows up near the end who is a butt-kicking type of gal. I have seen there are more books in the series, and I hope she is in them. I would love to read more of these to see what happens to Stitch Head next and to see if the fun continues.
Stitch Head, for starters, is simply adorable. The illustrations in the book are perfect to set up the quirky atmosphere, and we have villains galore. This book reminds me so much of what I loved as a child: Odd monsters, freak shows, potions and creepy castles. Oh, and we have a monster called Creature, who has three arms. I freaking love it. This would be a great series for any boy to read. I think girls like me would really enjoy it as well - there is a girl who shows up near the end who is a butt-kicking type of gal. I have seen there are more books in the series, and I hope she is in them. I would love to read more of these to see what happens to Stitch Head next and to see if the fun continues.
April 7, 2025
За има няма два часа отново бях дете харесващо страшни истории хаха,хареса ми, и прочита беше супер! Отвреме на време имаме нужда да бъдем деца,и тези книги ни връщат към детството. Продължавам с втора бррр 😜
May 30, 2020
In Castle Grotteskew something BIG is about to happen to someone SMALL. Join a mad professor’s forgotten creation as he steps out of the shadows into the adventure of an almost-lifetime...
I have absolutely loved reading this book with my son. Each chapter is full of adventure and comedy keeping the young mind entertained and wanting to find out what will happen next. You know you have found a good children’s author when your son asks for the next book in the series.
I have absolutely loved reading this book with my son. Each chapter is full of adventure and comedy keeping the young mind entertained and wanting to find out what will happen next. You know you have found a good children’s author when your son asks for the next book in the series.
March 29, 2017
Странният полуживот на Кърпена глава
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Преди няколко дни мярнах тази книжка на рафта в книжарницата и веднага я отгърнах. Детска книжка със странно заглавие! Значи не мога да я пропусна. :) „Кърпена глава“ („Фют“, 2017, с превод на Ирина Борисова Манушева) със сигурност е предназначена за хлапета малко под 10 години, но започва невероятно забавно. Днес най-после я захванах сериозно и не след дълго бях готов с ревюто. Е как иначе, нали става въпрос за Кривогреблово и местния луд професор, който от малък сътворява чудовища в замъка „Гротеск“. Ако всички по-възрастни сме започнали с детската класика, то за днешните хлапета има далеч повече като избор, защото съвременните детски писатели не си поплюват много-много, нито се ограничават, когато се решат да позабавляват децата ни. Но тук не става въпрос за „Дръндьо“ или някоя друга от популярните поредици. „Кърпена глава“ си има собствена индивидуалност и не прилича на нито една друга, макар историята силно да напомня на „Франкенщайн“ в детски вариант. Хлапетата на тази възраст обаче едва ли си лягат вечер с класиката на Мери Шели, тъй че тази смешна ужасийка има голям шанс да развихри въображението на доста деца. Сега да надникнем вътре…
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
(Цялото ревю е тук: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Преди няколко дни мярнах тази книжка на рафта в книжарницата и веднага я отгърнах. Детска книжка със странно заглавие! Значи не мога да я пропусна. :) „Кърпена глава“ („Фют“, 2017, с превод на Ирина Борисова Манушева) със сигурност е предназначена за хлапета малко под 10 години, но започва невероятно забавно. Днес най-после я захванах сериозно и не след дълго бях готов с ревюто. Е как иначе, нали става въпрос за Кривогреблово и местния луд професор, който от малък сътворява чудовища в замъка „Гротеск“. Ако всички по-възрастни сме започнали с детската класика, то за днешните хлапета има далеч повече като избор, защото съвременните детски писатели не си поплюват много-много, нито се ограничават, когато се решат да позабавляват децата ни. Но тук не става въпрос за „Дръндьо“ или някоя друга от популярните поредици. „Кърпена глава“ си има собствена индивидуалност и не прилича на нито една друга, макар историята силно да напомня на „Франкенщайн“ в детски вариант. Хлапетата на тази възраст обаче едва ли си лягат вечер с класиката на Мери Шели, тъй че тази смешна ужасийка има голям шанс да развихри въображението на доста деца. Сега да надникнем вътре…
(Продължава в блога: https://knijenpetar.wordpress.com/201...)
Read
August 20, 2017Review to come!
October 22, 2017
Много забавна и интересна
December 27, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ mersi dqdo koleda dogodina oshte edna kurpena glava pod elhata
January 2, 2024
‘Nobody understands the bond between a girl and the mediocre book she read when she was little’ well this is that book for me
April 24, 2024
This a book that cries out to be read aloud. I first read it to my son when he was about 7. This led to him devouring the rest of the series and those of the Skeleton Keys series, with Guy Bass becoming one of his favourite authors.
Since then I have read it annually to classes of Y3 pupils and they have all been hooked. Last year I taught a class who didn’t come to me with a love of books or reading. But once we had read Stitch Head, they just couldn’t get enough and couldn’t wait to hear what we would be reading next. As a reader and a teacher, what more could you ask for than to hear your class groan when you close the book and beg you to read “Just one more chapter!”
Since then I have read it annually to classes of Y3 pupils and they have all been hooked. Last year I taught a class who didn’t come to me with a love of books or reading. But once we had read Stitch Head, they just couldn’t get enough and couldn’t wait to hear what we would be reading next. As a reader and a teacher, what more could you ask for than to hear your class groan when you close the book and beg you to read “Just one more chapter!”
July 10, 2018
Merci à Stéphanie de la chaîne Pikitibouquine qui m'a fait découvrir ce livre !!
Déjà la couverture de ce livre attire de suite l'oeil et le personnage principal est tellement attachant qu'on a de suite envie de s'y plonger !
La mise en page est vraiment très originale, les illustrations en noir et blanc intègrent parfois du texte ce qui le rend encore plus vivant, tout comme les changements de typographie qui suivent certains bruitages du roman. Les chapitres sont très courts, titrés et assortis d'une petite citation des mémoires du savant fou Erasmus Erasmus.
Le rythme de ce roman est vraiment dynamique. Des rebondissements, des personnages (notamment P'tit cousu) assez fouillés et complexes, une figure de méchant bien crédible et une fin qui ouvre sur le second tome en douceur, à la manière d'une série épisodique.
Une très belle expérience de lecture si vous aimez l'étrange, le mignon et les créatures en tout genre. J'irai lire le tome 2 avec grand plaisir.
Déjà la couverture de ce livre attire de suite l'oeil et le personnage principal est tellement attachant qu'on a de suite envie de s'y plonger !
La mise en page est vraiment très originale, les illustrations en noir et blanc intègrent parfois du texte ce qui le rend encore plus vivant, tout comme les changements de typographie qui suivent certains bruitages du roman. Les chapitres sont très courts, titrés et assortis d'une petite citation des mémoires du savant fou Erasmus Erasmus.
Le rythme de ce roman est vraiment dynamique. Des rebondissements, des personnages (notamment P'tit cousu) assez fouillés et complexes, une figure de méchant bien crédible et une fin qui ouvre sur le second tome en douceur, à la manière d'une série épisodique.
Une très belle expérience de lecture si vous aimez l'étrange, le mignon et les créatures en tout genre. J'irai lire le tome 2 avec grand plaisir.
May 25, 2020
It is difficult to find books that young children will enjoy and that adults can appreciate too. I think this is one such book. A funny book, good story and moral woven into the telling of it. I would recommend for years 3 and
4 as an ideal, but could be enjoyed by younger and older.
4 as an ideal, but could be enjoyed by younger and older.
November 5, 2020
3.5⭐️
Cute little tale of Stitch Head, the Mad Scientist’s first live creation and the one he has forgotten over the years of dabbling with making monster after monster.
All stitch head wants is to be known by his master.
A sketchy dude called FreakFinder comes to town and manipulates Stitch Head and causes an angry mob to storm the Mad Scientist’s castle.
What will happen?
Cute little tale of Stitch Head, the Mad Scientist’s first live creation and the one he has forgotten over the years of dabbling with making monster after monster.
All stitch head wants is to be known by his master.
A sketchy dude called FreakFinder comes to town and manipulates Stitch Head and causes an angry mob to storm the Mad Scientist’s castle.
What will happen?
August 6, 2022
Bola som skeptická, ale je to celkom dobrá kniha, v ktorej monštrá nie sú moštrami, v ktorom je najväčšia drsňačka malé dievča a v ktorom sú navonok veľké veci úplne malé a naopak. Uvidíme, či laťku udržia aj ďalšie diely.
June 29, 2017
I'm pretty sure that most of my Y3 class will love this. Funny, bonkers and plenty of fab illustrations to break up the text. Great.
November 4, 2025
Сладурска хелоуинска история :)
July 9, 2018
Süße Geschichte über Monster und noch süßere Bilder.
December 8, 2019
Cute, funny and a little bit mad. :D
I will give this my sisters to read, when they know the english language a bit better. :)
I will give this my sisters to read, when they know the english language a bit better. :)
November 2, 2023
Halloween read 🎃
Absolutely lovely wee book, with the most gorgeous illustrations throughout (why don't adult books have cool illustrations?).
Read it one sitting during my Halloween holiday as it's just so cute and easy to read.
Absolutely lovely wee book, with the most gorgeous illustrations throughout (why don't adult books have cool illustrations?).
Read it one sitting during my Halloween holiday as it's just so cute and easy to read.
January 11, 2023
good book
April 11, 2016
First Impression:
The cover is just the cutest. Stitch Head looks like such a sad little guy.
The illustrations inside are gorgeous! They are on every page and sometimes take up a full spread with text over the top. They add so much to the story.
Since this was a hard cover I loved the feel of it, so smooth and the pages a nice weight. It was fun to read as a book rather than on a kindle
The Story:
Really cute story and very funny. It has a few sad moments and Stitch Head is feeling very forgettable. The story has a great flow and I found myself really loving everything about it.
The Characters:
Stitch Head: He is just super cute but really sad, I felt for him. I would never forget such a great little guy.
"Creature": Hilarious! I adored him.
Arabella: She could probable kick my butt, I loved how hardcore she was, very angry but lovable
The Professor: Kind of in the background and definitely a mad man.
Fulbert Freakfinder: I will let you judge him for yourself.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great book for all ages. I enjoyed it a lot and hope my kids will want to read it.
This is a series I plan to continue with and can't wait to read the next book.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a really fun, quick read with lots of funny moments and beautiful illustrations.
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
The cover is just the cutest. Stitch Head looks like such a sad little guy.
The illustrations inside are gorgeous! They are on every page and sometimes take up a full spread with text over the top. They add so much to the story.
Since this was a hard cover I loved the feel of it, so smooth and the pages a nice weight. It was fun to read as a book rather than on a kindle
The Story:
Stitch Head was created by a Mad Professor who promised they would be friends forever but when the professor forgets about him and years past, Stitch Head chooses to be alone and help the other creations the professor makes.
A carnival guy comes to town looking for unique and scary monsters, things get crazy for Stitch Head and it’s up to him and his new friends to stop the bad guy from taking his professor.
Really cute story and very funny. It has a few sad moments and Stitch Head is feeling very forgettable. The story has a great flow and I found myself really loving everything about it.
The Characters:
Stitch Head: He is just super cute but really sad, I felt for him. I would never forget such a great little guy.
"Creature": Hilarious! I adored him.
Arabella: She could probable kick my butt, I loved how hardcore she was, very angry but lovable
The Professor: Kind of in the background and definitely a mad man.
Fulbert Freakfinder: I will let you judge him for yourself.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great book for all ages. I enjoyed it a lot and hope my kids will want to read it.
This is a series I plan to continue with and can't wait to read the next book.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a really fun, quick read with lots of funny moments and beautiful illustrations.
Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my review
Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
March 20, 2013
Stitch Head, written by Guy Bass and illustrated by Pete Williamson is a children's book very different from many others. The story follows Stitch Head, the creation of a mad scientist, that does his best to protect his creator while preventing his other creations from causing destruction or being noticed by those he protects. When a traveling circus that has lost its ability to scare and amaze comes to town, Stitch Head's almost-life is put in jeopardy, as is the well-being of the professor and every creature in Castle Grotteskew.
Stitch Head is a story that balances many different things masterfully. There are gruesome monsters, but they are not all that scary. There is some low level humor, but there is also a deeper story about friendship, trust, and looking beyond the surface to see the real person underneath the appearance. Stitch Head has devoted his almost-life to helping the professor, the scientist that created him, even though he has been forgotten in the never ending quest for the next great creation. He is tempted by the words and persistence of Fulbert Freakfinder, who promises him that he will be unforgettable as part of the traveling circus. However, the seemingly normal Freakfinder holds more monstrous qualities that the creatures you would expect to rampage and howl at the moon.
I highly recommend Stitch Head to readers around 7 and older. the story holds fun, humor, and a good story without a heavy handed moral or message. It is a layered story, with something for the advanced and emotionally thoughtful readers, as well as those that enjoy a simple joke about bodily noises and entertaining action. I think it would highly appeal to reluctant readers and those that often complain that reading is boring, because this book could just convince them otherwise.
Stitch Head is a story that balances many different things masterfully. There are gruesome monsters, but they are not all that scary. There is some low level humor, but there is also a deeper story about friendship, trust, and looking beyond the surface to see the real person underneath the appearance. Stitch Head has devoted his almost-life to helping the professor, the scientist that created him, even though he has been forgotten in the never ending quest for the next great creation. He is tempted by the words and persistence of Fulbert Freakfinder, who promises him that he will be unforgettable as part of the traveling circus. However, the seemingly normal Freakfinder holds more monstrous qualities that the creatures you would expect to rampage and howl at the moon.
I highly recommend Stitch Head to readers around 7 and older. the story holds fun, humor, and a good story without a heavy handed moral or message. It is a layered story, with something for the advanced and emotionally thoughtful readers, as well as those that enjoy a simple joke about bodily noises and entertaining action. I think it would highly appeal to reluctant readers and those that often complain that reading is boring, because this book could just convince them otherwise.
December 3, 2016
Tohle bylo zlaté.
August 21, 2018
Ако има такова нещо като веселяшки детски хорър, със супер сладки чудовища с безупречно викторианско възпитание, луди професори, можещи да помнят колкото златни рибки, и диви селяни, които освен за пушечно месо и разгневена тълпа с факли, за друго не стават – то историите за бейби Франкенщайн, наречен уместно Кърпена глава – са вашите нови спасители от сиви дни и безсънни нощи. Да, това са детски книжки, но както всяко добро четиво между редовете си съдържат много неща, достъпни само за претоварените и презадоволени от живота възрастни съзнания. Така де, вместо Чопра, Букай или който там е актуалният гуру за щастие и отговор на битовите неволи, едно раирано дребосъче също може да ви научи да вземате добри решения. И то в картинки.
Като казахме картинки – не, не очаквайте свежи шарени пейзачета, а по-скоро Тим Бъртън вакханалия, където все имате гнетящото чувство, че от някой ъгъл ще ви погледне трупясалата булка. Зловещо, но с онази мярка, идеална за обръгналите на ужасии деца, дето няколко реда зъби, някоя и друга отрязана глава и армии от разкапващи се зомбита няма да ги помръднат и на сантиметър от удобно хлътналия диван. Прелестният сюжет ни отвежда в малко забутано селце с голям замък на хълм, където вместо местният сатрап, живее един откачен учен, обсебен от слепването на разни трупни отпадъци в обща маса ходеща, х��пеща и човекоядяща гнусотия. За щастие първото лудогенийско другарче, събудено от електроди, забодени в някои тъмни и неупоменати места, се оказва малко самоуко алхимиче, забъркващо по цял ден отвари за намаляне на кръвожадност, успокояване на нервен глад за човешка кръв, и въобще усмиряващо хищническите инстинкти на току събудените зомбита, превръщайки огромни, обърнати с главата надолу октоподи с осемнайсет реда зъби в кротки събирачи на марки, или вампирофилски кръволоки с пет глави, дванайсет гребловидни лапи и чучур на тайно място, в благовъ��питани ценители на цейлонски чай.
Как точно всяка абоминация, измъкнала се като от див кошмар на Бенисио дел Торо, автоматично се превръща в символ на класическото английско възпитание от еднополов католически колеж – не става много ясно, но това са най-симпатичните, сладкодумни и доброжелателни чудовищенца, които ще искате на всяка цена да поканите на гости и да обсъдите напрежението в кралското семейство, цената на сандвичите с краставичка или актуалната големина на перлите за опера. Та в тази добра компания обаче се намесват злите човеци, които от страх, малодушие или проста киселящина все се стремят да затрият добрите караконджулчета, или да ги направят на циркаджийски експонати, таксидермични упражнения или просто на ситно прецедена каша за прасетата. Не се тревожете, добрите побеждават, и то по ужасно забавен, макар и с малко тъмничко чувство за хумор, начин, което не просто ще разкикоти, ами и ще възпита дребните, и не толкова дребните читатели на хорър приключенийцата в смисъла на разни хубавини като приятелството, саможертвата и зачитането на различността като ефект, а не дефект.
Книжки за различните, по душа и вид, по разбиране и по начин на живот, в мечтите и действителността – и то не глупаво-назидателни, или елементарно-предлагащи смелени на ситно послания за забавени от медийно облъчване съзнания, ами такива, каквито остават в ума задълго, и изникват като решения за толкова много проблемни ситуации и дилеми, причакващи ни в житие-битието. И, да, може би твърде сериозно вземам една колекция от страхотни текстове и илюстрации, но съкровището си е съкровище под всяка форма, и то има място в библиотеката ви, повярвайте – имате нужда от този лъч добрина.
Като казахме картинки – не, не очаквайте свежи шарени пейзачета, а по-скоро Тим Бъртън вакханалия, където все имате гнетящото чувство, че от някой ъгъл ще ви погледне трупясалата булка. Зловещо, но с онази мярка, идеална за обръгналите на ужасии деца, дето няколко реда зъби, някоя и друга отрязана глава и армии от разкапващи се зомбита няма да ги помръднат и на сантиметър от удобно хлътналия диван. Прелестният сюжет ни отвежда в малко забутано селце с голям замък на хълм, където вместо местният сатрап, живее един откачен учен, обсебен от слепването на разни трупни отпадъци в обща маса ходеща, х��пеща и човекоядяща гнусотия. За щастие първото лудогенийско другарче, събудено от електроди, забодени в някои тъмни и неупоменати места, се оказва малко самоуко алхимиче, забъркващо по цял ден отвари за намаляне на кръвожадност, успокояване на нервен глад за човешка кръв, и въобще усмиряващо хищническите инстинкти на току събудените зомбита, превръщайки огромни, обърнати с главата надолу октоподи с осемнайсет реда зъби в кротки събирачи на марки, или вампирофилски кръволоки с пет глави, дванайсет гребловидни лапи и чучур на тайно място, в благовъ��питани ценители на цейлонски чай.
Как точно всяка абоминация, измъкнала се като от див кошмар на Бенисио дел Торо, автоматично се превръща в символ на класическото английско възпитание от еднополов католически колеж – не става много ясно, но това са най-симпатичните, сладкодумни и доброжелателни чудовищенца, които ще искате на всяка цена да поканите на гости и да обсъдите напрежението в кралското семейство, цената на сандвичите с краставичка или актуалната големина на перлите за опера. Та в тази добра компания обаче се намесват злите човеци, които от страх, малодушие или проста киселящина все се стремят да затрият добрите караконджулчета, или да ги направят на циркаджийски експонати, таксидермични упражнения или просто на ситно прецедена каша за прасетата. Не се тревожете, добрите побеждават, и то по ужасно забавен, макар и с малко тъмничко чувство за хумор, начин, което не просто ще разкикоти, ами и ще възпита дребните, и не толкова дребните читатели на хорър приключенийцата в смисъла на разни хубавини като приятелството, саможертвата и зачитането на различността като ефект, а не дефект.
Книжки за различните, по душа и вид, по разбиране и по начин на живот, в мечтите и действителността – и то не глупаво-назидателни, или елементарно-предлагащи смелени на ситно послания за забавени от медийно облъчване съзнания, ами такива, каквито остават в ума задълго, и изникват като решения за толкова много проблемни ситуации и дилеми, причакващи ни в житие-битието. И, да, може би твърде сериозно вземам една колекция от страхотни текстове и илюстрации, но съкровището си е съкровище под всяка форма, и то има място в библиотеката ви, повярвайте – имате нужда от този лъч добрина.
November 20, 2019
Cheerful and Oddly Touching
Stitch Head was mad scientist Erasmus' very first Frankenstein-style creation. He and the boy scientist promised to be friends forever. But Erasmus grew up, went on to create more and bigger and wilder creatures, and forgot about Stitch Head. Now, Stitch Head wanders the Castle, uses his own skills to turn Erasmus' terrible creatures into calm and mild monsters, and pines for the old days and his creator/friend.
So, this is sort of like the thinking kid's monster story. There is a spooky castle, a mad scientist, terrifying (comical) creatures, conflict, drama, odd smells and threats galore. But, as a tale of lost friendships, new friendships, moving on from disappointment, becoming independent and rising to the occasion this book presents, subtly and lightly, many moments of real depth.
It's not just farts and drooling monsters; it's not some heavy-handed message book; it's not cutesy; it's never tone-deaf - it's just cheerful, sad, entertaining, involving, and way better than it should be. And it is one of the few books for this age group, at least that I've read lately, in which the illustrations have their own independent charm and nicely complement the narrative. The result is that the whole enterprise is imbued with real cheer and good humor.
And as an added bonus, the characters include a totally kick-butt heroine who arrives half way through, a sneaky villain, a charmingly inept and yet insightful creature sidekick, and some real dramatic suspense. There are also a bunch of sly jokes for the adult reader to help keep mom or dad entertained if they read this along with the kids.
So, well worth a look as a slightly advanced chapter book type read.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to the author or the publisher of this book.
Stitch Head was mad scientist Erasmus' very first Frankenstein-style creation. He and the boy scientist promised to be friends forever. But Erasmus grew up, went on to create more and bigger and wilder creatures, and forgot about Stitch Head. Now, Stitch Head wanders the Castle, uses his own skills to turn Erasmus' terrible creatures into calm and mild monsters, and pines for the old days and his creator/friend.
So, this is sort of like the thinking kid's monster story. There is a spooky castle, a mad scientist, terrifying (comical) creatures, conflict, drama, odd smells and threats galore. But, as a tale of lost friendships, new friendships, moving on from disappointment, becoming independent and rising to the occasion this book presents, subtly and lightly, many moments of real depth.
It's not just farts and drooling monsters; it's not some heavy-handed message book; it's not cutesy; it's never tone-deaf - it's just cheerful, sad, entertaining, involving, and way better than it should be. And it is one of the few books for this age group, at least that I've read lately, in which the illustrations have their own independent charm and nicely complement the narrative. The result is that the whole enterprise is imbued with real cheer and good humor.
And as an added bonus, the characters include a totally kick-butt heroine who arrives half way through, a sneaky villain, a charmingly inept and yet insightful creature sidekick, and some real dramatic suspense. There are also a bunch of sly jokes for the adult reader to help keep mom or dad entertained if they read this along with the kids.
So, well worth a look as a slightly advanced chapter book type read.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to the author or the publisher of this book.
March 2, 2020
Choice Book #2 Quarter 3
Stitch Head is a fiction book written by Guy Bass
Stitch Head takes place in Castle Grotteskew, Grubbers Nubbin'.
The main character is Stitch Head. Stitch Head is the Professor's very first creation that was almost-alive. He is extremely shy, caring,responsible, polite, and doesn't want to be noticed. He hates the outside world and is terrified of humans. He spends most of his time taking care of the new, hostile creations the professor makes. I think Stitch Head is a dynamic character because at the beginning of the book he kept to himself and wasn’t very optimistic and by the end of the book he had 2 “bestest” friends and he was actually happy with his life.
The main conflict Stitch Head was struggling with was he had to keep the professor’s creation from destroying Castle Grotteskew and the town, Grubbers Nubbin’. Fulbert Freakfinder is a traveling freak carnival leader who came to town looking for an audience then ended up staying to find more “freaks”. Freakfinder sets to town to Castle Grotteskew to burn and kill the monsters but that doesn’t happen. It would either be person vs person or person vs self. It would be person vs person because Stitch Head is trying to defeat Freakfinder and keep his master and the Castle safe. It would also be person vs self because Stitch Head is trying to open up, let Creature, his best friend, in and stop being so sad and be unforgettable for once.
The author believes you can overcome your issue to a certain extent.
1. Stitch Head believes he is forgettable then comes to realize that is the opposite
2. He used to hate going outside then it didn’t bother him anymore
3. He was terrified of humans then a human girl became one of his close bestfriends
I enjoyed Stitch Head because it reminded me of Frankenstein. My favorite part of the book was the ending, when Arabella, the human girl, Creature, and him were bestfriends and save Castle Grotteskew. I feel like the book was complete. I’ve never really read any other books like it but I like it was really good. Not going to lie, I cried twice reading this book because Stitch Head was so okay with being forgotten by the professor.
Stitch Head is a fiction book written by Guy Bass
Stitch Head takes place in Castle Grotteskew, Grubbers Nubbin'.
The main character is Stitch Head. Stitch Head is the Professor's very first creation that was almost-alive. He is extremely shy, caring,responsible, polite, and doesn't want to be noticed. He hates the outside world and is terrified of humans. He spends most of his time taking care of the new, hostile creations the professor makes. I think Stitch Head is a dynamic character because at the beginning of the book he kept to himself and wasn’t very optimistic and by the end of the book he had 2 “bestest” friends and he was actually happy with his life.
The main conflict Stitch Head was struggling with was he had to keep the professor’s creation from destroying Castle Grotteskew and the town, Grubbers Nubbin’. Fulbert Freakfinder is a traveling freak carnival leader who came to town looking for an audience then ended up staying to find more “freaks”. Freakfinder sets to town to Castle Grotteskew to burn and kill the monsters but that doesn’t happen. It would either be person vs person or person vs self. It would be person vs person because Stitch Head is trying to defeat Freakfinder and keep his master and the Castle safe. It would also be person vs self because Stitch Head is trying to open up, let Creature, his best friend, in and stop being so sad and be unforgettable for once.
The author believes you can overcome your issue to a certain extent.
1. Stitch Head believes he is forgettable then comes to realize that is the opposite
2. He used to hate going outside then it didn’t bother him anymore
3. He was terrified of humans then a human girl became one of his close bestfriends
I enjoyed Stitch Head because it reminded me of Frankenstein. My favorite part of the book was the ending, when Arabella, the human girl, Creature, and him were bestfriends and save Castle Grotteskew. I feel like the book was complete. I’ve never really read any other books like it but I like it was really good. Not going to lie, I cried twice reading this book because Stitch Head was so okay with being forgotten by the professor.
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