Story of the Everything, the Nothing, and Other Strange Stories
Story of the Everything, the Nothing, and Other Strange Stories is Gyula Gábor Tóth’s unusual and whimsical collection of illustrated fables.
Made up of interactive, silly, and thought-provoking tales, the book includes entries like “Story of the Little Boy Whose Pajamas Wouldn’t Let Him Go to Sleep,” in which a child objects to pair after pair of pajamas because he fears that the animals, trucks, and airplanes on them will keep him awake. In the end, he falls asleep, exhausted by his own protests. Other stories play with absolutes, like the mind-dazzling entry “Story of the Everything,” which reveals, “There was everything. … All at once, you slept, ate, played, rested, and ran,” and “You were there as a baby… . As a three-year-old. As a ten-year-old and a hundred-year-old.” A prompt accompanying the story inquires, “What else do you think was there?”
The book’s humor is playful and effective, like a description in “The World’s Longest Story” of just how long the story is, consisting of twenty-nine “longs” in a row. Elsewhere, further contemplation inspired by the text is encouraged through questions like, “If your bedroom had a magic door, where would you want it to lead?” It’s a smart technique that builds engagement and ensures excitement.
The illustrations are detailed and captivating; many pages combine realistic depictions of animals with a more exaggerated cartoon style, a juxtaposition that suits the off-center narratives. “The Magic Door” is accompanied by an illustration of three cats in bathing suits, lounging on pool rafts—a visual non sequitur that expands the book’s scope, encouraging audience involvement and rewarding the imagination.
Story of the Everything, the Nothing, and Other Strange Stories is a charming and memorable collection of illustrated tales about people and animals in extraordinary situations.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
