James Flora’s fantastically illustrated books captivated kids throughout the 1960s and 70s, so much so that secondhand copies sell for exorbitant sums. Grandpa’s Ghost Stories has been the most sought-after of his children’s books, and Feral House is pleased to announce the first reprint since its original publication in 1978.

These ghoulish and amusing stories and wildly inventive illustrations will keep readers shivering. Perhaps better known for his brilliant and madcap illustrations that graced the covers of hundreds of jazz and classical record albums in the 1940s and 50s, Jim Flora also wrote and illustrated seventeen popular books for children. In this book, Grandpa comforts his grandson during a fierce thunderstorm by telling him stories about far scarier things, including a hungry werewolf and an evil witch who turns boys into spiders. The illustrations bring the tall tales to life with Flora’s incomparable humor and wit. Grandpa’s Ghost Stories is a spooky (and silly) delight for all ages.

This edition includes an introduction by writer, WFMU radio personality and cultural historian Irwin Chusid, who has published several books of Flora’s artworks and illustrations, and also runs JimFlora.com.

James Flora’s final children’s book picks up where Grandpa’s Ghost Stories left off; Grandpa is telling another hair-raising tale—and this time it’s about how Santa Claus saved him and grandma from becoming Christmas dinner for three horrible, no-good witches.

When Grandpa was a boy, the most terrible thing happened to him the day before Christmas. While taking a shortcut through the woods, he met three fearsome witches. One, with sharp teeth and hair like an unmowed lawn, pointed her finger at him, squealed “Sha-zam!” and turned him into a snake.  The second witch, who didn’t have any feet, turned him into a turkey buzzard. And the third witch-tall and warty-screamed, “Ta-pooty!” and changed him into a pig. What happens next? A twisty tale of pure imagination.

James Flora’s tall tales, including the Feral House release of Grandpa’s Ghost Stories, with his ingenious illustrations, are favorites of children and adults.  Grandpa’s adventures are perfect for adventurous readers and their parents.

James Flora is best known for his wild jazz, and classical album covers for Columbia Records (the late 1940s) and RCA Victor (1950s). He authored and illustrated 17 popular children’s books and flourished for decades as a magazine illustrator. Few realize, however, that Flora (1914-1998) was also a prolific fine artist with a devilish sense of humor and a flair for juxtaposing playfulness, absurdity, and violence.

***Also available: Grandpa’s Ghost Stories***

A whimsical story from the absurdist master of tale tales and illustration.

Minerva has a very hungry, invisible friend. What could go wrong?

Have you ever seen a See-Through Crumbpicker? Well, neither had Minerva! But, one day eating yummy cookies and dropping lots of crumbs because her front teeth were missing, Leopold the See-Through Crumbpicker brushed by her and ate up all the crumbs. He sounded nice, and he felt warm and furry — so even though she couldn’t see him, they became fast friends. What could go wrong?

Ideally suited for readers (and parents) ages 4 to 10 years old.

Author Bio: James Flora (1914-1998) was best known by adults for his wild jazz and classical album covers for Columbia Records (late 1940s) and RCA Victor (1950s). While children (and their caretakers) know that he authored and illustrated devilish sense of humor and a flair for juxtaposing playfulness, absurdity, and scariness into storybooks that kids and adults want to read over and over.

The naughtiest boy in the world has a secret…

A long time ago in India, a boy was born.  He didn’t look like any ordinary baby as he had bright blue skin and a birthmark near his shoulder that looked just like a flower. He was beautiful.  His parents named him Krishna.

It wasn’t just his blue skin that made him unique.  He was the naughtiest boy in the village! Chasing baby cows, stealing yummy butter, even a wee on the floor of a neighbor’s hut!

The most important thing to know about little Krishna is that he had a huge secret.  The biggest secret in all the universe.

Ideally suited for readers ages 4 to 7 years old. (And for their grown-ups of any age. The Extraordinary Adventures of Little Krishna is the FIRST original book written for Feral Kids, an imprint of Feral House Publishing.

Author Bio: Mahendra Singh is an artist and illustrator. His projects include illustrating the Melville House edition of The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll and contributions to Encyclopaedia of Hell and its sequel, The Conquest of Heaven by Martin Olson and published by Feral House.