Review: Tentacle Head

"Everything is ceremony in the wild garden of childhood." — Pablo Neruda

The thing I loved the most about this book, beyond Sarah Allen Reed’s kick-ass illustrations, was the fact that it 100% reminded me of my childhood. 

I really had no idea what to expect from this book when the publisher first reached out to me requesting a review, but, and call me crazy, I fucking loved it!

Yes, it's kind of weird, but I've always had an off-beat sort of personality, so I found it oddly hilarious and in addition felt that it perfectly encapsulates the existential dread of adolescence. Making Tentacle Head the perfect (anti)hero for our times. He is perplexed, bewildered and astonished by most of what goes on around him, much like the rest of us.

The books whimsical illustrations, done in a style common to all children’s books, greatly add to the overall fun of the experience and the world Claypool has created will instantly transport you back to a time when you were a budding little dunderhead, flipping through a captivating, picture-filled publication, taking in the material with wide-eyed amusement.

Best of all, you'll feel slightly less alienated after reading this book. As the message Claypool has managed to articulate is a resounding message of unification and a reminder that we're all (still) in this shit together, (so try to relax asshole).

If you’re a fan of the Far Side, or anything else idiosyncratic, and quirky, then this book is for you. (Fair warning though: it’s a book for adults! Don’t mistakenly buy this for your six year and then send them to school with it. No child should read this. Except maybe the cool ones). Although, I will say the book could have been a bit more rude for my liking (ha!) otherwise, bravo.