Unfortunate Covers (#8)
It’s been a little bit since our last Unfortunate Cover, so take a look at past picks if you need your memory jogged: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7.
Our latest entry into the series is so unappealing, it almost doesn’t deserve comment. Almost! One of the schools where I work is putting on a used book sale later this month, and students have been encouraged to bring in donations. When I saw this one come in, I knew that it would repel readers far and wide:
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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
This is certainly unfortunate. If you’ve been looking for a way to inspire someone to not read Lewis Carroll’s classic, place this anywhere in their field of vision. But more offensive than the 2 for $1 “sticker” (that is actually part of the cover), more disturbing than the stiff, dated, oil painting of the main characters is the fact that Alice kinda looks like a 30 year old dude with a wig. Let’s take a closer look:
Let me know if I’m wrong about this one.
Filed under: Unfortunate Covers
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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Oh, these are not so bad. I have some that are REALLY unfortunate. Or rather, I had. Covers were really appalling in the 80s and 90s, and thankfully have improved a LOT. Thanks for the laugh!
There’s something very manly about this Alice. I noticed it right off.
Oh, no, you’re definitely right on this one. The mad hatter also looks extraordinarily creepy, and not in a good way.
Agree, this is wrong.
Also, I always thought the March Hare was kind of brownish. But he’s white on this cover. Which makes me confuse him with the White Rabbit!
Appears to be a poorly costumed/set designed, junior high self-done drama class production!
I want to put this up on my wall.
Possibly on my boyfriend’s side of the bedroom, out of jealousy at how much more easily he falls asleep than I do. This will fix that!