The Shrinking of Treehorn - Paperback

by Florence Parry Heide (Author), Edward Gorey (Illustrator), Lane Smith (Foreword by)

"If you want to pretend you're shrinking, that's all right," said Treehorn's mother, "as long as you don't do it at the table."

No one around seems to appreciate what Treehorn's going through, when he starts shrinking after playing a strange board game. His parents are busy, his friends laugh at him, and he even gets sent to the Principal's office for shrinking. Or was it shirking?

Clearly, the adults in his life have no clue and can't help. In the end, Treehorn figures it out on his own, and all is well. . . . At least until he turns green.

This oddly offbeat, surreal, and funny story is illustrated with Edward Gorey's signature pen and ink drawings. It will appeal to any kid who feels they're not truly seen or heard by the grown-ups in their life. Works for adults, too.

This 50th Anniversary edition includes an appreciation from Caldecott Honoree Lane Smith, illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man.

An ALA Notable Children's Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year

Author Biography

Florence Parry Heide (1919 - 2011) was a prolific author of children's books, including The Shrinking of Treehorn and Princess Hyacinth. Heide wrote dozens of other books of prose and poetry and dedicated her career to works that encouraged the curiosity of young readers.

Lane Smith is the illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka. He wrote and illustrated include There Is a Tribe of Kids which won the Kate Greenaway medal in 2017, and Grandpa Green which was a 2012 Caldecott Honor book. His books have been awarded the New York Times Best Illustrated award five times.

Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000) remains one our most recognizable artists, and his distinctive pen-and-ink style has illustrated everything from the iconic alphabet book The Gashlycrumb Tinies to posters for the New York City Ballet to the opening credits of PBS's Mystery. Gorey, in his distinctive raccoon coat, was nearly as renowned as his illustration and he was a tireless lover of the ballet. His work endures, and he is still a celebrated illustrator today. Throughout his career, Gorey wrote more than 100 books, and he illustrated works for T.S. Eliot, Edward Lear, John Updike, Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, and Bram Stoker. He was a master of dark humor, a lover and supporter of the arts, and a caretaker for animals.