Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly's Classroom?

Description: "Ambience practically becomes its own character in this spellbinding, near infinite search." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

From an award-winning author and the masterful illustrator of The Midnight Fair comes a tale for anyone who has ever gotten lost in an unfamiliar place--or is drawn to gothic worlds.

When Miss Flytrap asks if anyone knows the way to Mr. Grimly's classroom, Grace's hand flies up--she can't help herself, even though she's a new kid in school and has no idea where to go. Nonetheless, with a book to deliver proudly in hand, Grace sets off on a long, strange journey through a very odd place, full of twists, turns, and creepy characters who give puzzling directions. Climbing dark, cobwebby staircases, feeling her way through a fogged-up playground, careening by zipline from the top of a treacherous tower right into a kitchen window--will she ever find Mr. Grimly's classroom? With equal parts suspense and humor, author Chris Priestley leads an unsettling school tour for the ages, while Mariachiara Di Giorgio's atmospheric, immersive illustrations beckon readers on with mesmerizing visual riddles.

Review Quotes: [An] uncanny picture book.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Though Priestley's older titles have reveled in terror, the tone of this book is far more questing and curious than scary, in the vein of Edward Gorey's work. Young readers will be rapt, poring over Grace's paths, determined to find clues in the cobwebby corners. . . . Ambience practically becomes its own character in this spellbinding, near infinite search.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The wonderfully offbeat book is a rare treasure, and every spread holds the unexpected. Immersive illustrations are delightfully detailed and slightly disconcerting, with dark watercolor tones adding an air of mystery. . . . Readers will pore over every page of this extraordinary adventure--and demand instant enrollment.
--Booklist (starred review)

This story for younger readers is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and humor, with superb art by award-winning Italian illustrator Mariachiara Di Giorgio (The Midnight Fair). Her richly detailed, painterly artwork demonstrates an impressive command of light and shadow, and her depiction of Grace's increasingly disheveled appearance is a perfect tonal match for the subtly hilarious elements of Priestley's story. Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly's Classroom? will be a hit with inquisitive readers who, like Grace, appreciate a little gothic creepiness with their daring adventures.
--BookPage (starred review)

Author Priestley crafts a gently humorous narrative centered on persistence, curiosity, and quiet bravery. . . . Di Giorgio's illustrations are the clear standout. Rendered in richly textured, watercolorlike spreads with layered detail, the light and shadow create an atmosphere that is eerie yet inviting rather than frightening. Each spread rewards careful attention. . . .
--School Library Journal

The art of this title enraptured me . . . thoroughly. . . . it's a great big metaphor for when kids get lost in spaces that should be familiar to them and suddenly aren't, but there's such a sense of fun and play on these pages. And so evocative too!
--Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production