The Most Tragickal Tale of Elderberg Spillikins

Mark Svendsen (text) and Derek Lamb (Illustrator), The Most Tragickal Tale of Elderberg Spillikins, Coorooman Press, 40 pp., RRP $39.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780645126440

 The Most Tragickal Tale of Elderberg Spillikins has come to be a commercial picture book for Young Adult readers by way of an unorthodox process. Originally created in the form of a handmade artists book, pages for 65 copies were handprinted on a platen press by the artist. Each time a copy was sold, it was individually bound, with a choice of aluminium or linen cloth cover.

In 2023, with permission from the artist, Derek Lamb, Coorooman Press scanned the original pages and redesigned the title to meet commercial publication requirements. The landscape format, selected to fit the long lines of text in Svendsen’s gothic style poem along with the linen patterned spine and marbled endpapers, as seen in classic works of literature are just some of the indicators that this is a very special and richly detailed picture book with much to teach.

Lonely, rejected Elderberg Spillikins, abandoned by his mother and never knowing his father lives in a cave-like hole under concrete, beside a path by the river. When, one day, he gazes longingly into a warm and well-lit home, he sees a beautiful, yet deathly ill young woman. Mistaking her gesture of friendship as an expression of love, Spillikins determines to make her his.

Written in a poetic style recalling Victorian melodramas, this tragic tale is a trove of literary devices and innovative language choices. Accompanied by fine letterpress artist, Derek Lamb’s typography and 1950’s style retro graphic elements, each page draws the reader deeper into the tale of a mistreated youth, and his cruel fate. While some young people may read and enjoy the text for pleasure, it is more likely to find its place as a powerful and engaging teaching tool, and teaching notes available on the Coorooman Press website at provide a great starting point for teachers of English, Arts and Humanities and Social Science. It’s also the best place to purchase a copy.

While there is nothing particularly inappropriate for younger readers, it is unlikely to draw a younger audience, and would be better suited for Secondary School picture book collections. It’s a true work of artistry!

Reviewed by Kay Oddone

 

 

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