During his life Edward Gorey was the artist for many children’s books written by other authors. He also wrote and illustrated his own. He won awards designing costumes for plays, but he preferred to spend most of his time quietly at home snuggling up to his cats.

It’s appropriate then, for children to read a picture book about this artist who inspired other famous artists. As Edward Imagined: A Story of Edward Gorey in Three Acts is written by Matthew Burgess and Marc Majewski.

From his early life, Edward was an avid reader and wholly individual. As a child he wrote stories and painted his toenails green. As an adult he wore lots of clinking rings on his fingers and attended nearly every performance of the New York City Ballet for 20 years. Later in life, he lived by the sea and wrote plays for local theaters.

As Edward Imagined is playful and colorful, much like the artist himself. It’s a great introduction to young readers about the man whose work continues to charm.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.