The Strange Tales of the Alphabet Children Interview

Photography by Daniel Hughes

Those close to me know how much I’ve longed to illustrate a children’s book as I’ve always seen it as something to accomplish on the freelance illustrators ‘bingo sheet’ as it were. So when I was approached by author Matthew Rumbelow in 2019 to illustrate his Edward Gorey inspired cautionary tales I was beyond over the moon!

Winnie Yummly-Scott

I remember studying Gorey’s Gashlycrumb Tinies when I was at University, and to meet someone else who had a love for the stories was something serendipitous.

The Alphabet Children is a collection of 26 rhyming tales, from A-Z, of 26 children who should have heeded more caution with some disastrous consequences to their unwise decisions! With Matthew’s linguistically intricate tales (I’ve learnt a lot of new words!) and my love for the more macabre side of children’s literature, it really felt like a great working partnership.

If you would love to hear more about the book and the illustrations, Matthew kindly interviewed myself which you can watch below.

And if you’re keen to purchase a copy you can find them for sale on Matthew’s website, Waterstones, or Amazon.

EDIT 24/6/21 - You can now purchase the dust jacket versions directly through my new web shop!