★ "Blair serves us a gentler take on Where the Wild Things Are. . . . The artwork in this imaginative bedtime tale will captivate little ones with its peculiar, dreamlike details. It also sidesteps being scary, offering comfort in the wonders that the night can bring."
—Booklist, Starred Review
A is for Arsenic, written by Chris Woodyard–the author of The Victorian Book of the Dead–is a guide to the the basics of Victorian mourning and death with brilliantly gothic illustrations by Landis Blair. Each entry includes a pen and ink illustration along with 19th century anecdotes ranging from macabre stories to jokes from the Victorian press. (Plus sinister little poems in homage to Edward Gorey.)
A is For Arsenic covers topics including post-mortem photography, embalming, bodysnatching tips, what to wear when in mourning, and how long to mourn for someone who has left you money in their will. The book also debunks several Victorian mourning myths.
Please consider ordering from your local
independent bookstore.
"Blair offers viewers a fantastical nighttime adventure…Equal parts magical and soothing, the story could serve as a wonder- filled read-aloud or a calming bedtime tale."
—The Horn Book
