I love phobias. I know that’s a strange thing to say, but I’ve
always had a fascination with them and their names and what that would mean for
people. I’ve got a t-shirt with a list of them on it, and I have an alphabet
picture book about phobias in the works (by which I mean it’s an idea that’s
been sitting there waiting to be written for years) and even a idea for a novel
based around them when I find the time.
So, in my love of picture books, and phobias, and
traditional stories and rhymes and their adaptations, I stumbled upon Emily Gravett’s Little Mouse’s Big Book of
Fears.
Genius!
At some point, this book was a blank book with different
phobias at the top of each page, a brief explanation of what the fear is of and
then the small line of “Use the space below to record your fears.” That was, until Little Mouse came along.
The book, as we see it now, is after Little Mouse has
scrapbooked and tried to chronicle his fears. It brilliantly ties together all
the things a mouse might be afraid of with his brief annotations along the way.
It’s when we hit the page about Aichmophobia (Fear of Knives) that we begin to
see glimpses of nursery rhymes being tied in. This page is a decoupage of memorabilia
of ‘The Amazing Flying Mousecrobats Circus’ of three blind mice that had to be
cancelled after Mrs Sabatier (a newspaper clipping tells us is the far) had had
enough and took to them with a carving knife.
Later, the combination of Ligrophobia (loud noises) and
Chronomentrophobia (clocks) are perfectly paired to tie in with Hickory Dickory
Dock. But my personal favourite is Whereamiophobia (getting lost… apparently)
and the map that has been stuck in… a ‘Visitors’ Map to the Isle of Fright’ –
with “detailed plans of things; places of interest; major and minor stuff;
measurements and map type bits.” I’d go into detail about the mouse shaped
island and all its attractions, but then you’d not get the surprise and delight
that I got. (My laughter summoning my partner from the other end of our house,
curious to know what I was finding so funny.)
Emily Gravett has developed a style that is her own and is
pure joy centred havoc. She understands book design and what fun can be had
with it on a whole other level. This one just happens to tickle my fancy on
every level.
Find it on Goodreads
"Use the space below to record your fears."
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