Help me find a creepy book from my childhood.
February 28, 2008 1:46 PM Subscribe
When I was in third grade, there was a book at the library that I would go and find every couple of months. Having since, you know, grown old, I can't remember what it was called.
I remember surprisingly little about the book except how it made me feel (a little creeped out by the weirdness, but in a good way - a feeling I have pursued all my life since then). Here's what I do know:
- It was a large book (it seemed huge when I was a kid), but thin.
- The front and back covers both had a title on them, and they were different titles, and both were very long. I wish I could remember what one of them was. They were weird, nonsensical titles something in the vein of "The Magic Mixed-Up Upside-Down Dollhouse Army Nature Spaceship Book." Neither cover had pictures, just the titles in a blocky, retro font.
- Half of the pages inside the book were right side up. Half were upside down. Just like the covers.
- Every page had its own title. Each was a separate feature.
- I can't believe I remember so little about this book - I think it was so weird to me as a kid, so different from any other book, that I didn't know what to make of it. But mostly it was full of delightful, clever lies for children. There was one page where there was a picture of a moth, and the book insisted that moths could talk. They just don't want to. The book said that if you didn't believe it, you should go ask a moth if it could talk. It won't answer - thereby proving that they can but don't want to.
One hundred svolix points to anyone who knows what it is. Yes, you read that right. (They're redeemable for appreciation and good vibes from a stranger on the Internet.)
I remember surprisingly little about the book except how it made me feel (a little creeped out by the weirdness, but in a good way - a feeling I have pursued all my life since then). Here's what I do know:
- It was a large book (it seemed huge when I was a kid), but thin.
- The front and back covers both had a title on them, and they were different titles, and both were very long. I wish I could remember what one of them was. They were weird, nonsensical titles something in the vein of "The Magic Mixed-Up Upside-Down Dollhouse Army Nature Spaceship Book." Neither cover had pictures, just the titles in a blocky, retro font.
- Half of the pages inside the book were right side up. Half were upside down. Just like the covers.
- Every page had its own title. Each was a separate feature.
- I can't believe I remember so little about this book - I think it was so weird to me as a kid, so different from any other book, that I didn't know what to make of it. But mostly it was full of delightful, clever lies for children. There was one page where there was a picture of a moth, and the book insisted that moths could talk. They just don't want to. The book said that if you didn't believe it, you should go ask a moth if it could talk. It won't answer - thereby proving that they can but don't want to.
One hundred svolix points to anyone who knows what it is. Yes, you read that right. (They're redeemable for appreciation and good vibes from a stranger on the Internet.)
I had this book.... let me dig around and see if I can figure it out.
posted by jessamyn at 2:25 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by jessamyn at 2:25 PM on February 28, 2008
Best answer: The Animated Thumbtack Railroad Dollhouse and All-Around Surprise Book! by Louis Phillips and Lynn Braswell.
posted by jessamyn at 2:27 PM on February 28, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 2:27 PM on February 28, 2008 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh my god! Two hundred svolix points to you.
posted by svolix at 2:29 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by svolix at 2:29 PM on February 28, 2008
Reiterating the website mention on the greeklish.org blog link from jessamyn, if you are going to search the web for books from your childhood, you owe it to yourself to discover AbeBooks. It has the best selection of great children's books at fantastic prices.
posted by A-Train at 4:18 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by A-Train at 4:18 PM on February 28, 2008
Response by poster: I went there and ordered a copy as soon as jessamyn posted her answer, in fact. Glad to hear a positive recommendation.
posted by svolix at 4:26 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by svolix at 4:26 PM on February 28, 2008
On a whim I bought one too. Bet it's going to be fun.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:45 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:45 PM on February 28, 2008
I had this book when I was a kid. Read it multiple times. Immensely enjoyable. Have fun!
posted by shucksitsjeremy at 11:39 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by shucksitsjeremy at 11:39 PM on February 28, 2008
I didn't see anything behind your link, nougat, but I ordered a copy from ABE Books for about $4 just today because my sister claims she CAN NOT REMEMBER this amazing book and now I must send her a copy.
posted by jessamyn at 1:18 PM on February 29, 2008
posted by jessamyn at 1:18 PM on February 29, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by iconomy at 2:01 PM on February 28, 2008