The Little Endless Storybook

Summary: The Little Endless Storybooks are just that, children's storybooks, illustrated with lovely watercolors by Jill Thompson, that feature the kid versions of the Endless first featured in Sandman #40. In The Little Endless Storybook, Delirium has gotten lost, and it's up to her companion and guardian, the dog Barnabas, to find her. He visits each of her siblings in turn, but she's nowhere to be found!

Review: Aww, this was cute. I didn't realize before I got it that it really was a kids' storybook, rather than what I think of as a more regular graphic novel. It's pitched to kids in its language as well, although I don't know how much sense it'd make to someone who isn't already familiar with the Endless from the regular Sandman canon - which is decidedly not kids' stuff. The pictures are gorgeous and full of detail (and color, since Delirium is a major player), with plenty for both kids and adults to look at.

Most of the fun in this series, I think, is in the miniaturized versions of the Endless, in how they interact with each other, and how their interactions compare to those of their adult forms. (I think Little Destruction is my favorite, although I always wished he got more screen time in the canon versions as well.) The first book gives each of the Endless their own chance to shine, but they don't really interact with each other, which is a shame. In any case, it's a cute, lighthearted read, that made me really want to go back and re-read the Sandman proper. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Probably only for Sandman fans, the Little Endless Storybooks are nonessential but definitely fun additions to the collection. ( )

Despite having the usual Vertigo "Recommended for mature readers" warning on the back, this is essentially a children's picture book, about Barnabas, puppy of Delirium, the craziest of the Endless. With Delirium missing, Barnabas must journey between the realms of the different Endless in an attempt to locate her. Basically the whole thing is an excuse to see Jill Thompson draw all the Endless in her manga-esque style. It works. I liked her Destruction the best. (Surprisingly, the whole thing feels like it fits into continuity just fine, after "Brief Lives" but before "The Kindly Ones." Is there actually a break there?) It does show up how underdeveloped the realms of all the other Endless are compared to Dream's, though; all the other Endless seem to hang out by themselves!

Neil Gaiman's The Sandman Spin-Offs: « Previous in sequence | Next in sequence »

"Once upon a time, in an ice-cream-colored realm, there lived a tiny princess named Delirium..."

And so starts the very endearing story of the youngest of Gaiman's The Endless who thought that she has "losted" her puppy Barnabas or as she is now calling him: "Mr. Losty MacLosty".

If you're a Deliriophile, this will rock your candy-colored inside-out boat made of popsicle sticks as you try out words that are "particularly crispy on the tongue, like twinkle and citrus."

Barnabas started searching for little Del and his search for her leads him to the realms of her siblings, who award him with vague advice and a charm from each of them.

The story is funny and appealing in itself, yet it incorporates enough insider jokes to gratify Sandman fans. Jill Thompson has managed to stay true to the feeling of the world of the Sandman comics, but at the same time produce a warm, cute fairy tale. A few pages at the end of the book are dedicated to explaining how the stories came about and relaying a few tidbits about the Little Endless dolls and figures.

Book Details:

Title The Little Endless Storybook
Author Jill Thompson; Neil Gaiman (Consultant)
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

If you're a Sandman fan, you have to read this. Illustrations and storytelling are excellent. Hurrah for talent like Ms. Thompson's! ( )

Adorable story and really cute art! ( )