An absolutely delightful book about a clock named Ticky, his very wise human, and life within the house where Ticky [and all the other clocks] live.

Filled with the absolutely delightful black & white illustrations of Edward Gorey, this is a fun story that will spark conversation and wonder from children to adults alike.

Well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Muriel Spark, Edward Gorey, and Publisher Spotlight/Transit Children's Editions for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who doesn’t love Gorey? He was such a beautiful and unique artist and has truly shaped art in such a beautiful way. He is perfect for any gothic lovers and is intermingled with adorable yet haunting words.

Think Lemony Snicket but with the art and sketching skills to go alongside the snarky commentary.

This is a delightful tale about a professor whose best friend is a reliable clock named Ticky. The professor and his friends want to laud Ticky but the humble clock rejects their laurels as not wanting to be above the other clocks. It’s a sweet tale about knowing your worth and being humble but more importantly a lovely look into a bygone era where clocks were wound. Edward Gorey’s art is, as usual, total perfection, especially with all the professors wearing tweed. This is a must buy for my shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this soon to be republished work.

Once there was a clock named Ticky. And it lived in the house of a professor. They were best friends. Ticky really was a very important clock but also very humble. Also quite happy and thrilled that his reliability would be greatly appreciated by his grandfather clock.

The professor has a group of professor friends who regularly visit the house. They also have a deep admiration and affection for Ticky and believe that he should be called Professor Ticky. But Ticky declines this great honor because he feels like it would drive a wedge between himself and the other clocks in the household.

As you can tell, this is a rather fantastical, quirky little tale with lovely illustrations by the magnificent Edward Gorey. It's quite short though you will want to spend time exploring Gorey's drawings. You could try to analyze hidden metaphors and meanings in the text such as elitism and a bit of snobbery on the part of the professors. Or just take it at face value as a fun little story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The very fine clock is a lovely story illustrated by the brilliant Edward Gorey. This picture book is a timeless story (no pun intended), with a moral about being humble and true to yourself. Paired with Gorey's illustrations, this book makes a welcome addition to any collection.

An interesting story about a very fine clock who refuses the title of professor. The story was a little dry.