I’ll be honest: I’m not sure whether Boris and Bella is meant for children or adults who refuse to grow up. The book’s dimensions and illustrations crib the children’s book format, but the delightfully macabre story is fit for children of all ages, if you know what I mean. Boris and Bella tells the story of two morbid neighbors who are at odds; you see, Boris is a bit of a neat freak and Bella is a bit of a slob. Things come to a head when their Halloween parties compete for guests. I have no wish to ruin the twist, but their final confrontation turns into an ending that will have romantics sighing wistfully. Carolyn Crimi and Gris Grimly have created something wonderful here. The story says just enough to keep you flipping the pages, but the gloriously ghoulish pictures make you want to stop and take in every line. Much like A Nightmare Before Christmas, which shares a very similar tone, I’m not sure if this book is meant to appeal more to kids growing up under the pale of Lydia Deetz or to adults living like a modern day Addams Family. Not that it matters, this is a book that should be enjoyed by everyone.

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