| Quote: |
| There is nothing more important than seeing someone smile! And it is SUPER SPECIALEST MOST GRANDIVELY important when that someone is your very own sister! |
Incredibly it has been 10 years since the Little Endless Storybook was first published (it is due for a re-issue for those that missed it first time around). This is the long overdue follow-up that is also written and painted by Jill Thompson. It is not Jill’s first foray into the Sandman universe because, in addition to the other little Endless book, she has worked on the main series as well as her manga influenced books – The Dead Boy Detectives and At Death’s Door .
In this book, Delirium suddenly releases that she has never seen her sister Despair smile and immediately sets about organising a surprise party for her to which she has invited all her siblings. However she soon finds out that no matter how careful the planning it is not always a simple matter to make someone happy.
The book features cutesy versions of the Endless from the Sandman comic and is written in the style of a children’s story book. In fact it could be used as a book to read to young children as it is amazing how well the Endless transfer to the genre. The story is pitched just right to appeal to adults and children and the painted watercolour illustrations are beautiful to look at and full of detail. The genius move, of course, is to set the book in Delirium’s realm – as was the first book although Delirium herself is missing for most of it – this allows Jill free reign to create absurd scenes from one page to the next as Delirium and her realm shift constantly throughout the story.
A great book for adults and children alike – though I don’t know if I would let any little cherubs get their grubby mitts on my copy – and a good way to sow the seeds for the adult fairytale of the main Sandman series. While you are indoctrinating/educating the next generation, you might want to also have a look at some of Neil Gaiman’s own books written especially for children – and because they come from his book publisher rather than a comic publisher are more reasonable in price. I would recommend The Dangerous Alphabet and The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish for the very young and The Wolves in the Walls for children who can handle a darker story. A bonus with reading Neil’s stories to children is than they get introduced early to the beautiful artwork of people like Charles Vess and Dave McKean.
