At first glance, you might think Ross Horsley’s ‘My First Dictionary’ is just a harmless, colorful and educational aide for young children. You would, however, be very wrong.
With a devilishly sly and decidedly dark sense of humor, ‘My First Dictionary’ is a humorous and satirical book meant for adults that features pictures borrowed (and mischievously re-captioned) from the 1977 book 'The Giant Picture Dictionary for Boys and Girls.' With its definition of a pocketbook as "a small bag used for carrying money and Xanax" being just one prime example of its mischievous wit, Ross Horsley’s ‘My First Dictionary’ is a gift best given to your adult friends rather than their children.
Corrupting Children's Literature
‘My First Dictionary' is a Wickedly Funny Read
Trend Themes
1. Dark Humor in Children's Literature - An opportunity for authors and illustrators to create funny and satirical books that appeal to adults while drawing on childhood nostalgia.
2. Subversive Reimagining of Classic Content - An opportunity to take existing children's literature and give it a mischievous twist, adding an element of surprise and satire.
3. Targeting Niche Adult Markets - An opportunity to tap into the demand for unconventional adult humor by creating products that playfully subvert traditional children's content.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - Publishers can explore the creation and distribution of darkly humorous books that cater to adults seeking nostalgic and witty content.
2. Illustration - Illustrators can find opportunities to reimagine and repurpose classic children's illustrations, adding humor and satire for an adult audience.
3. Gifts and Novelty - The gift and novelty industry can market and sell products like 'My First Dictionary' as unique and humorous gifts for adults, catering to niche markets.