Mr. Maxwell's Mouse

Mr. Maxwell's Mouse by Frank Asch

Illustrated by Devin Asch

2004

     Mr. Maxwell, the cat, has just been promoted.  The elegant and well educated cat decides to celebrate by dining at his usual restaurant, the Paw and Claw.  Since this is a special occasion, Mr. Maxwell decides to be daring and instead of ordering bake mouse as it is his custom, he orders raw mouse.  His mouse arrives alive, laying atop a rye piece of bread.  From the instant he's presented as an entree, the mouse engages Mr. Maxwell in conversation.  The mouse is quite verbose and manages to delay his impending death and distract Mr. Maxwell long enough to trick him and replace himself with Mr. Maxwell's own tail.  As the cat cuts into his tail, chaos ensues and the mouse is able to free his fellow mice and run away from the restaurant.  Soon after the incident, while recuperating at the hospital, Mr. Maxwell receives a letter from the mouse: "I sincerely regret any distress I may have caused you. I'm sure you would have taken similar measures had you found yourself in my position."

     Mr. Maxwell's Mouse is deliciously creepy.  It's not for the squeamish.  I enjoyed the language, its pompous tone, and its dark and stylish illustrations.  It's macabre and entertaining.  What a great find.  

Dillweed's Revenge

Dillweed's Revenge: A Deadly Dose of Magic by Florence Parry Heide
Illustrated by Carson Ellis
2010

     Dillweed wants to go places and have adventures, just like his parents, but he never gets to go. His parents have left him behind once more. It's just Dillweed and his friend, a strange looking pet named Skorped.  He has to stay home with his butler and maid who treat him horribly.  They make Dillweed do all the chores and they take over the house as if it was their own.  One day, a package arrives for Dillweed, a strange looking footlocker.  He has kept it unopened under his bed, but when he's finally fed up with the abuse at home, he unlocks it and releases evil spirits.  When the maid tries to poison Skorped, the spirits have a hand in ensuring that the butler confuses the poison with whiskey and drinks it, dying instantly.  The maid also has an "accident" when the armoire falls on top of her and kills her.  "Dillweed and Skorped were happy." With the spirits still roaming his home, Dillweed's parents return home.  But when they show their dislike for Skorped and throw him out the window, Dillweed and Skorped "wished the parents would go away."  And..."they got their wish."  Dillweed and Skorped were finally able to travel and have adventures and they lived happily ever after. "Dillweed and Skorped, not the parents."
     Dillweed's Revenge: A Deadly Dose of Magic is a deliciously dark tale.  It reminds me of Dahl, Gorey and Belloc.  These types of dark tales are the ones that stuck with me years after reading them as a child. Ellis' illustrations are a perfect accompaniment.  Not for the really young ones, unless they are...brave.