Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

 

Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is released today in the US and UK, same covers this time. And, despite the cover implications, it's for ages 12 and up. I can see some parents being wary of this one due to the cover which has more adult dark romance tones--unfortunate pose of the model. But these are YA authors and YA tales according to the publicity. I haven't read it yet but I'll believe the authors more than the cover. This is one of those times I'd throw a concept at hubby John, saying, "YA. Nursery Rhymes. Dark versions. Make a cover." And he'd do it so well...after some back and forth and slight marital strife because art creation can be tense.

Book description:

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Table of Contents:

Table of Contents
1. Dedication
2. Copyright
3. Introduction by Georgia McBride
4. Foreword by Francisco X. Stork
5. As Blue as the Sky and Just as Old by Nina Berry
6. Sing a Song of Six-Pence by Sarwat Chadda
7. Clockwork by Leah Cypess
8. Blue by Sayantani DasGupta
9. Pieces of Eight by Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone
10. Wee Willie Winkie by Leigh Fallon
11. Come Out to Play by Angie Frazier
12. I Come Bearing Souls by Jessie Harrell
13. The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the First by Nancy Holder
14. Life in a Shoe by Heidi K. Kling
15. Interlude: Humpty Dumpty, a poem by Georgia McBride
16. Candlelight by Suzanne Lazear
17. One for Sorrow by Karen Mahoney
18. Those Who Whisper by Lisa Mantchev
19. Little Miss Muffet by Georgia McBride
20. Sea of Dew (short version) by C. Lee McKenzie
21. Tick Tock by Gretchen McNeil
22. A Pocket Full of Posy by Pamela san Hylckama Vlieg
23. The Well by K. M. Walton
24. The Wish by Suzanne Young
25. A Ribbon of Blue by Michelle Zink
26. Sea of Dew (extended version) by C. Lee McKenzie
27. The Lion and the Unicorn: Part the Second by Nancy Holder
28. Publisher Acknowledgments
29. Author Acknowledgments