This must be the staple picture book in the Addams family home. However niche it was, I believe it was an absolutely beautiful macabre, gothic and at most times, a wacky read. The black and white illustrations and white font truly set the tone, both captivating and building a lingering suspense for the reader to continue. What a stunning illustrative book that captures an atmospheric mix of Alice in Wonderland and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children! All I wish was that there were more letters in the alphabet, that is, for the author to give us even more of this wonderfully odd creation.

This is such a fun, creative, and creepy little book. I absolutely loved the art style and designs for all the creatures, and the rhymes were cute. It reminded me of spooky books I used to read as a kid, like Hist-Whist or In a Dark, Dark Room.

What a joyful book of macabre creatures! They're illustrated in all their strange, twisted glory, with rhymes that both children and adults can equally enjoy.

Ronald Porcelli's Alphabet of Oddities is a delightfully macabre trek through an unconventional ABCs illustrated poem. Instead of "A is for Apple", Porcelli gives us "A is for Adzooks that walk with no head". The book pairs whimsical, rhythmic prose akin to gothic Dr. Seuss with beautifully haunting, hand-drawn black-and-white illustrations of each cryptid. Procelli's creatures feel entirely fresh, born from a unique imagination rather than recycled folklore. While this book might be a bit too dark for actual children's bedtime stories, it was wonderfully soothing for my inner gothic child. It's easy to imagine Mortia and Gomez Addams reading these pages to their children every night.

While I read the eARC, I'm already looking forward to getting a physical copy for my coffee table - it's a gorgeous, darkly enchanting find!

My thanks to NetGalley and Familius for the complimentary copy! All opinions are my own!

Imagine Shell Silverstein and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark illustrations had a baby. That baby would be this book. Beautiful cover. Gloomily illustrated, and whimsically written. Scary babies, kids, and parents alike will enjoy this read.

Totally in love with this quirky little treasure of a book!!
It is the perfect mix of spooky and sweet, making it a total joy to flip through when you need a bit of a daydream.

Ronald Porcelli has a way of making the "odd" feel completely enchanting.
​The illustrations are absolutely darling and full of spooky personalities. Each letter brings a new, tiny surprise that feels like a secret shared between the author and the reader. It is short, sweet, cute and wonderfully weird in all the best ways.

If you are looking for a gift for a friend who loves the macabre or if you just want to treat your own inner child then this book is a must. It is a beautiful reminder that there is magic in the odd things of the world. I found myself smiling at every single entry.

Hoping someone takes up the author's work of "Varney the Vampire" as would love to see that in print 🤌🏼

*Thank you to NetGalley, Familius and the Author for the ARC*

Loved the journey and artwork through the obscure Alphabet. Makes you wish the Alphabet was longer! Will be keeping an eye out for more from this author and recommending to Patrons and friends.

Alphabet of Oddities by Ronald Porcelli is a picture book like no other. Delightfully strange, a little creepy, and completely unforgettable. Each letter of the alphabet introduces a new bizarre and horrifying creature, paired with illustrations that are as captivating as they are unsettling. The result is this perfect balance of eerie and endearing. Somehow managing to be terrifying, adorable, and sometimes genuinely funny all at once.

What I loved most is how it leans fully into the macabre without losing its sense of whimsy. It feels like a love letter to weird kids (and adults) who prefer their stories with a darker edge. I will definitely be buying a copy for my niece. Like her favorite aunt, she has a deep appreciation for all things macabre. A wonderfully weird little gem.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ronald Porcelli, and Familius for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Alphabet of Oddities is a gothic A‑to‑Z filled with creatures born from moonlit nightmares and Victorian ink. Porcelli, known for illustrating The Essential Poe: Tales of Horror and Mystery, leans fully into the uncanny. Each letter introduces a fantastical being drawn with equal parts whimsy and dread. It’s a playful yet unsettling collection, perfect for adults who love dark folklore, though likely too eerie for younger or more sensitive readers. This may make a wonderful gift for a friend who loves the macabre or to feed your inner child.

I extend my gratitude to Familius and NetGalley for the electronic advance review copy. The opinions expressed herein are genuinely my own.

A delightfully strange collection that revels in the bizarre, Alphabet of Oddities offers bite-sized glimpses into the uncanny with creativity and flair. Each entry feels like its own miniature world—some eerie, some darkly playful—but all threaded together by a fascination with the weird. Inventive, unsettling, and consistently engaging.

The Alphabet of Oddities is a macabre and beautifully illustrated art book featuring a creature for each letter of the alphabet along with a short 1 sentence rhyme about each oddity. I would have loved for each oddity to have a bit more written about them as the little descriptions were so much fun.

The illustrations are all done in black and white. Each one is masterful and I would love a full sized print of the Jamloon reading Kafka for my library. This is a must have coffee table book for lovers of everything that lives in the dark.

Thank you Familius Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. It is exactly the kind of piece I want on my shelf, especially for my little room of curiosities and oddities.

The illustrations are stunning and honestly one of the biggest highlights for me. They have such a rich, gothic feel and completely bring the book to life.

This is the kind of book that instantly becomes a conversation piece, something people will be drawn to and want to flip through the moment they see it.