The village of Grubbers Nubbin knows that there are strange things going on in the Castle Grotteskew. The mad professor's experiments and strange monstrous creatures he creates are common knowledge, and the people stay away from there.

When Fulbert Freakfinder's Travelling Carnival of Unnatural Wonders comes to town, and Fulbert hears of the goings on and monsters that are up at the castle, Fulbert becomes obsessed with gaining admittance to see. Nothing can stop him! Until he meets up with an unlikely opponent - Stitch Head.

Stitch Head is the professor's first creation. A small, rag doll type of creature whose head is held together by stitches and has two different eyes. He may be small but he is determined to protect the professor, the castle and the creatures that live inside.

A story about determination, want of recognition and friendship; black and white illustrations throughout the book and a cast of strange and unusual characters makes this book a delightful read. It is the first in a short series, so now I will keep my eye out for others. ( )

Background: Stitch Head is a creation of the mad professor, he has been forgotten in a large castle, only sticking around to fix the mad professor's monstrous creations. He has accepted the fact that the professor forgot about him, until a carnival comes to town and has interest in the castle and it's creations, might Stitch Head have a chance to be Unforgettable? He may try.

Review: I loved the pictures throughout this book, they were very cute but also dark and odd. Stitch Head is really the tale of friendship and believing in oneself. I liked it very much. I did not have any real problem with the plot or the images, but I just liked it, it was not one of the best middle grade books I have read lately. It was very easy to read with lots of pictures and side-notes to the reader. I think this would be a great read for boys, but girls will love it too, the creatures are entertaining and fun to look at. ( )

Inhalt
Auf der Burg zu Grottenow werden durch den verrückten Professor Erasmus allerlei bizarre Geschöpfe erschaffen. Eines davon ist Stichkopf, der es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat im verborgenen zu leben und die zeitweise doch sehr schrecklichen Eigenschaften der neuerschaffenen Geschöpfe durch Heiltränke in gute Eigenschaften zu verwandeln.
Allerdings meidet er sowohl den Professor als auch die Geschöpfe. Eigentlich weiß keiner, dass es Stichkopf gibt - bis er eines Tages durch das neueste Geschöpf versehentlich K.O. geschlagen wird und dieses ihm nicht mehr von der Seite weichen möchte, da es in Stichkopf seinen besten Freund sieht.
Doch durch vergangene Erfahrungen meidet Stichkopf jeglichen Kontakt zu anderen Personen/Geschöpfen und möchte auch weiterhin alleine sein.
Währenddessen zieht Schadalbert Scheusalfinder mit seinem Wanderzirkus, der eigentlich Scheusale beinhalten soll, die allerdings alles andere als scheußlich sind, durch den kleinen Ort Rafferskaff am Fuße des Berges, auf der die Burg zu Grottenow steht.
Schnell erfährt er von Professor Erasmus und heckt einen scheußlichen Plan aus.

Meine Meinung
Ein tolles Buch! Schon das Cover hat dazu geführt,dass mir der kleine Stichkopf ganz schnell ans Herz gewachsen ist und seine Lebensgeschichte, die einen wichtigen Punkt in der Handlung des gesamten Buches darstellt, hat mein Herz weich werden lassen.
Der Schreibstil des Autors ist flüssig und sehr angenehm zu lesen. Kinder werden keine Probleme damit haben.
Sehr schön fand ich u.a. auch die Wortkreationen des Monsters, das Stichkopf K.O. schlägt und ihm danach auf Schritt und Tritt folgt. Auch die Kapitelanfänge sind interessant gemacht - jedes Kapitel fängt mit einer Überschrift an, welche die Handlung erahnen lässt und zusätzlich finden sich auch immer ein paar gereimte Zeilen, die zum gesamten Buch passen.
Obgleich das Buch schon durch das Cover eher eine dunkle Stimmung mit sich bringt und durch die vielen Monster auf der Burg auch alles andere als lustig zu sein scheint, schwingt eine gewisse Komik auch immer mit. Doch nicht nur dunkel und komisch ist dieses Buch - es macht wie schon erwähnt das Herz weich und als ich das Buch beendet hatte, schwang ein klein wenig Wehmut mit, weil ich die Burg zu Grottenow verlassen musste.

Fazit
Ein berührendes Buch über Freundschaft und darüber, was Freunde alles füreinander auf sich nehmen. ( )

Stitch Head by Guy Bass is an illustrated novel about Professor Erasmus's first creation. Stitch Head, created before Erasmus was a mad scientist, has been doing his best for decades to keep his creator's creations under control.

Now, though, Stitch Head is being wooed by a shady ringmaster looking for a new headliner for his traveling circus. He does his best to ignore these offers, while being followed around the castle by the latest creation — something resembling Frankenstein's monster.

Besides the ring master and the usual chaos within the castle, the villagers are growing restless. Years and years of living in the shadow of Castle Grotteskew have made them wary — if not down right paranoid.

In the background is Stitch Head's origin story and his desire to be loved again by his creator. The newest creation through question and answers helps Stitch Head rethink his unquestioning loyalty to Erasmus.

It's an odd but memorable coming of age story. In terms of basic plot, and in the black and white illustrations, Stitch Head looks like something out of a Tim Burton film (Edward Scissorhands coming first to mind). ( )

In an old castle named Grotteskew, just outside the quaint town of Grubbers Nubbin, the mad Doctor Erasmus brings to life freaky experiments, each one bigger and more sinister than the last. Stitch Head, the Doctor’s very first creation waits in the shadows to give a special potion to the creatures once they awaken, so they don’t run rampant and take over the town, harming innocent people. More than anything, Stitch Head wants the Doctor to remember him — remember the friendship they once had before the Doctor went mad.

When a freak show, full of fake freaks rolls into town, the show’s owner, Fulbert Freakfinder, learns of the castle and the crazy experiments inside. He decides to take over the castle and kidnap the doctor so that he can make real monsters for the show. Now it’s up to Stitch Head to stop him before it’s too late for his old friend.

A bulk of the novel takes place in Castle Grotteskew, a creepy, gothic castle atop a hill. The castle is filled with all sorts of imaginative, creepy crawly things that will delight young readers.

The main focus of the story is Stitch Head. He’s a small, sympathetic monster of sorts, more set on rekindling a friendship with the doctor than causing any sort of destruction. He patiently waits in the shadows to calm the newly born monsters, and until recently has gone unnoticed.

The Doctor’s latest creation is a hoot. He takes a liking to Stitch Head and is determined to make him his best friend.

The Doctor and Fulbert Freakfinder are perfect villains that are just bumbling enough to bring a chuckle to readers.

The writing is perfect for the age group and the tone of the story. It flows well, and within the pages is a wonderful message about individuality and friendship. Mr. Bass has a very vivid imagination and a definite way with words.Topping it all off are the black and white cartoon drawings that illustrate the book.

A quick, fun and zany read, Stitch Head is a book I would highly recommend to young readers. It’s well-suited for 8 to 10-year-olds, but even older kids and adults will enjoy it. ( )