The Shrinking of Treehorn - Softcover

Heide, Florence Parry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0823409759 ISBN 13: 9780823409754

Publisher: Holiday House, 1971

Synopsis

"If you want to pretend you're shrinking, that's all right," said Treehorn's mother, "as long as you don't do it at the table."

A small boy finds himself shrinking in this oddly offbeat, surreal, and funny story, illustrated with Edward Gorey's signature pen and ink drawings.

No one around seems to appreciate what Treehorn's going through--his parents are busy, his friends laugh at him, and he gets sent to the Principal's office for shrinking. Or was it shirking? Clearly, the adults in his life have no clue and can't help.

In the end, Treehorn figures it out on his own, and all is well. At least until he turns green.

A charming, imaginative classic that will appeal to any kid who feels they're not truly seen or heard by the grown-ups in their life. Works for adults, too.

An ALA Notable Children's Book
A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year

About this title

Review:

Treehorn is clearly shrinking, and his parents aren't the least bit interested. His mother is obsessed with whether or not her cake will rise. His father, at one point addressing a son who can barely see over the table, states blindly, "Nobody shrinks." Treehorn doesn't seem all that bothered that his clothes are hanging over his extremities; he just feels someone should know. But the adults he tries to notify brush off his claim as either a ploy for attention or downright bad behavior.

Treehorn's parents, his teacher, and his principal respond (or fail to respond) to his drastically diminishing stature in ways that will ring true to any kid who has tried to convince adults of the existence of fairies, the Loch Ness Monster, or things that go bump in the night. Edward Gorey's stark, intricately patterned black-and-white drawings are simultaneously quaint and creepy, setting the perfect stage for Treehorn's tale--a story for any child who has ever felt ignored by grown-ups (in other words, a story for all). (Ages 4 to 8)

About the Author:

Florence Parry Heide (1919 – 2011) was born in Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1939. The author of more than 100 children’s books, she and her husband made their home in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Edward Gorey (1925 – 2000) was born in Chicago and received his B.A. from Harvard. A master of dark humor, he said his formal art training had been "negligible."  He wrote more than 100 books including The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest, and Amphigorey. In addition to the Treehorn triology, he illustrated works from T.S. Eliot, Edward Lear, John Updike, Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, and Bram Stoker. He lived on Cape Cod and in New York City.

About this edition

• Publisher: Holiday House
• Publication date: 1971
• ISBN 10: 0823409759
• ISBN 13: 9780823409754
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Gorey Edward