Author Description

Inspired by the books of Edward Gorey, Tolliver Toad is a grimly humorous picture book about a toad trying to cross a busy street during mating season. Written as a villanelle – a poetic style from the Victorian era which relies on repetition to build suspense and a sense of obsession. Illustrated in dark swaths of black ink with only a hint of green where it matters. Something along the lines of "the grass is always greener on the other side." For kids, it's a cautionary tale about looking both ways before crossing the road. For teens and adults, it's a parable about becoming obsessed with sex. For everyone, it's a story about human impact on the environment.