World of Weird is an anthology of true (but somewhat creepy) curiosities gathered and explained by the fictive Dr. McCreebor (Tom Adams) in a manner which will delight all ages. Due out 2nd Aug 2022 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 64 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is written as a book inside a book - as a journal found by a scientist of his Victorian ancestor's notes and drawings. It's got an engaging and graphically appealing layout and is full of interesting and weird tidbits from natural history, ephemera, and other oddities. Aimed at all ages, it's written in easy to understand language and it's fully illustrated, so kids 8+ will likely find it fascinating. The subjects are presented in a (mostly) age appropriate manner and there's nothing directly graphic or violent.There is a section with implements of torture which is a bit morbid and which will have most kids gleefully interested in bygone torture machines. (I certainly was at that age and even made a model of an iron maiden for a school project which horrified everyone).

The entries are gathered thematically into chapters: mechanical items, natural world, spiritualism in Victorian times, crime and punishment, magic, and death practices. The author has included a glossary, but the book lacks an index or bibliography.

The book is illustrated in an antique style with electronic line drawn images and clip-art graphics by "Celsius Pictor". The drawings are engaging and retro/antique looking. The type is high contrast and easy to read.

Four stars. This is the kind of book the majority of kids will find fascinating. It might be a bit much for sensitive readers. For that reason, I would encourage a thorough reading on the part of library acquisition committees before adding to their juvenile library collections. It's otherwise weird and quirky and I recommend it.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Macabre is an understatement for this book, but ever so fascinating. The layout and style of the book is both easy to navigate and beautifully displayed. The content is filled with some things I’ve known and others that were new. A delightful read for the morbid.

This is the sort of book I get excited about when I see it.

The author of this book collected odd, unique and sometimes gruesome items and presented them to the reader in a adventurous way.

This book is not for everyone, but it is fascinating and new.

Pretty gothic!

I am thinking about recommending this book to older kids or maybe not. Because the adult me cannot digest some facts and pictures.

I find the book really intriguing and thrilling to read. The illustrations are quite realistic. I just wish the cover illustrations to be much better than it is as the content has so much more to offer.

Perfect for Halloween read and perfect for the curious little minds, you can go for this book without thinking twice. Yes, I said it. The thrill is real.

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions, for the advance reading copy.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

This is a lovely little book, especially if you have a child who loves a touch of gruesome and weird. Framed as a found book by a Dr. McCreebor, with an introduction from his great-granddaughter, a Dr. Leila McCreebor, the text by Adams and illustrations by Pictor take the reader on a tour of the weird things and unusual practices that make up the world.
The items run a range – there is the rat king, perpetual motion and similar machines (including the famous one of a tiger mauling a British solider – there are masks, discussions of burial practice, magical items and so on. There is even a brief bit about historical figures.
Because it is a child’s book, think a child’s version of something like Atlas Obscura, the entries are not detailed as an adult book. However, for a children’s book with a fictional frame, they are pretty good.
The illustrations are wonderful. What I particularly like is the limited use of color, so that when a color is used, it stands out. The book isn’t just by the original McCreebor, there is also annotations by his granddaughter. I do wish there had been more of these, perhaps providing more historical information, but I love – LOVE – the fact that the authors used a female descendent as opposed to another male. It was a nice touch and made the book, the found manuscript frame, more inclusive.
While the book is creepy and does deal with items such as a Bloody Maiden and the Guillotine, the book is not overly graphic or overly scary.