I wonder if Walt McDougall’s Good Stories for Children column was an influence on Thomas Cox and Henry Tryon’s Fearsome Critters books. They both have monsters interacting with mundane affairs, and have a fondness for multiple limbs, seemingly mechanical parts like springs and wheels, and weird multisyllabic names like parodies of scientific nomenclature. Some additional, especially Fearsome Critter seeming monsters from the series:
This last one in particular seems indicative of a link. “Skeewink” is awfully close to “squonk”, and the creature is depicted as weeping.
Just discovered this series! And a possible link to Fearsome Critters too? AWESOME. It should be noted that Jimplecute is actually the name of a Fearsome Critter….
Discussion ¬