Old Misery

James

Russell

Poor Old Misery. She and her old cat Rutterkin ?ain't got two pennies to rub together.? And the one thing of value she does have ---a tree filled with good eating apples --- is regularly ransacked by humans and animals of all kinds who make off with armloads of apples! So one day when a surprise visitor grants her a wish Old Misery tells him ?There's but one wish for me mister and it's this here: whoever I catch stealing apples off my tree will get stuck to it until I decide to let them go!? At first it seems like her wish was a terrific idea as she catches all the apple thieves and sends them on their way for good. But then Old Misery decides to use her new power on another surprise visitor. And she learns what may be the most miserable lesson of all: be careful what you wish for!

Author James Sage has created a playful allegory about why misery exists in the world and always will. Award-winning Russell Ayto's two-color pen-and-ink illustrations do a superb job of evoking the eccentric and slightly macabre feel of the book perfectly complementing the original voice of the storytelling. The dark humor and a vintage feel will make this picture book a hit with fans of Edward Gorey and Lemony Snicket.>