Adventures of Gremlin

In this fairly far-fetched fairy tale, a plucky little girl named Gremlin and her brother, Zeppelin, leave their childhood home a woodsman's cottage, of course in the kingdom of Etaoin and set out to see the world. Clambering through an enchanted forest and navigating pirate-infested seas en route to the Royal Palace (where a drastic change of circumstance awaits), they encounter a host of quirky characters beyond anything the Brothers Grimm ever imagined. Yes, there are knights (good and evil), a giant and the requisite fairy godmother. But there's also an inn full of doom-and-gloom beatniks, a peevish wombat, a poet whose limericks probe the meaning of life and a flightless parrot who spouts Latin. Anything but a fainthearted waif, Gremlin takes surprises and setbacks in stride, retaining her innocence and good humour all the while. DuPre Jones's witty, clever and decidedly grown-up text full of puns, double entendres, literary references and sly characterisations of human foibles coupled with pen-and-ink illustrations by renowned artist Edward Gorey makes The Adventures of Gremlin a devilishly fun read for adults, as well as a welcome update to the Gorey illustration canon.