Into the WEIRD Book Yonder!

While standard tales of regular children behaving normally are popular staples of children's literature, every now and then I find myself wanting to read something a little...strange? Offbeat? Dare I say, WEIRD? While authors such as Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket and Jon Scieszka are known for their outlandish tales there are several other lesser known authors and titles that add some wild zaniness to the bookshelves.



Here is a short list of odd titles which are sure to leave you with a perplexed grin on your face.



Imogene's Antlers By David Small
When young Imogene wakes up one Thursday morning to find that she has grown a pair of antlers her mother finds the situation too weird to handle! But Imogene LOVES her antlers and all the wonderful things they bring into her life. Not your standard lesson in acceptance, Imogene's Antlers handles the "be yourself" theme in a unique way which will be sure to leave a smile on the faces of those reading and listening to David Small's beautifully illustrated tale.



You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum! By Andy Stanton
Mr. Gum lives in a messy disgusting house, where he ignores his unmade bed, his manners and various facets of personal hygiene. In spite of all this, Gum maintains the most beautiful garden in town which is most likely due to the fact that an angry fairy whacks him on the head with a frying pan when he fails to maintain flowery perfection.
When Jake, a massive dog messes up his garden, Gum gets one too many whacks to the head causing mayhem beyond compare. This quick read will tickle your funny bone and define Mr. Gum as a villain you love to despise!



Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians By Brandon Sanderson
Alcatraz Smedry, like Harry Potter before him, was orphaned under mysterious circumstances. Further more, Alcatraz can't help breaking anything he comes into contact with, leaving him bounced from foster home to foster home. On his thirteenth birthday Alcatraz is visited by a man claiming to be his grandfather. Grandpa Smedry claims Alcatraz's destructive tendencies are a "talent" of which everyone in the Smedry family has a unique ability (Grandpa's talent is arriving late, his cousin Sing Sing's talent is tripping and falling etc.). Alcatraz discovers he is heir to a family legacy which are in constant combat with evil librarians who control all the information in the world. The plot is as ridiculous as it sounds and just as much fun. Alcatraz narrates the story from the future where he is considered a hero by the general public. The tale ends with a cliffhanger which leads to several just as wild sequels.



The Willoughbys By Lois Lowry
While Lemony Snicket's Baudelaire family lamented in their status as orphans, Lois Lowry introduces us to a family of children who will do anything to BECOME orphans. The Willoughby children, Timothy, Jane, Barnaby A and Barnaby B (they are twins), romanticize the orphan tales and wish to be rid of their self centered parents once and for all. The Willoughby parents are likewise, clamouring to be rid of their rotten children.
With the addition of a good old fashioned nanny (minus a spoonful of sugar) and a whole bunch of nods to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Lois Lowry crafts an outlandish tale, which parodies "penny dreadfuls" of eras past. Though the characters are not conventionally likable, the story is as enjoyable as a nice cold glass of sour lemonade on a hot day.



-Posted by Miss Jessikah