The 13 Clocks (by James Thurber)

Prince Zorn of Zorna wishes to win the hand of Princess Saralinda. But her evil uncle, the Duke, who has stopped all the clocks in his castle, gives all her suitors impossible tasks to perform, and then kills them when they fail (or even when they say something that offends him). Prince Zorn does have the help of a magical creature called the Golux, but the Golux is often so confused that his help may not be all that helpful.

The New York Review of Books, as part of the estimable "Children's Collection" of reprints of forgotten classics, brings a treasure back to life with their hardcover reproduction of the original edition of THE 13 CLOCKS, with illustrations by Marc Simont, and a new forward by Neil Gaiman. This tongue-in-cheek fairytale is simply loaded with wit and wordplay, sophisticated enough to keep adults engaged while children enjoy the story. The high level of vocabulary and clever use of language make this work better as a read-aloud than a read-alone for elementary-age kids, an experience adults will enjoy as much as their children.

Thurber, and his New Yorker contemporary E.B. White wrote children's books that are just different from anything else in the field. Perhaps it's their combination of verbal sophistication and quirky humor, perhaps just the oddly skewed view of the world that working at Ross' magazine might entail. But whatever it is, it has enabled them to stand the test of time. The 13 Clocks may not be to every modern child's taste, but for those who enjoy a bit of clever humor and verbal playfulness, it will be a treat.

Author: James Thurber
Illustrator: Marc Simont
Publisher: New York Review of Books
Publication date: January 1, 1950
Number of pages: 124
Hardcover price: $14.95
Read Aloud: 8
Read Alone: 9