Searching for a book of short stories from 60's, includes Tale of a moth. Help please.

[uppityperson]

I've a sibling that has been freaked out by moths all life because our mom used to read us stories from this book (mid 60's) and we're trying to figure out what it was. We've searched but can't find anything, or rather find too much but not the right thing. It was an eerie book rather than a mystery, we think. Weirdness type stuff.

We are searching for a short story in a book from the 60's (early 60's or late 50's but probably early 60's). The short story is about a boy who gets cocooned by a moth. The mother reads to the boy in bed, the moth comes around, he ends up being cocooned. Not much to go on, but if this rings any bells for anyone, please let me know. If this topic sinks I'd appreciate a PM to let me know you responded too.

Thanks all.

[jbm]

1. I have a very vague recollection of a story like that..

but I can't quite recall it. I don't have much time tonight, but maybe this site will help: http://www.logan.com/harriett/nostalgia.html

[uppityperson]

3. I looked there, will look more, thanks. It was not a kids book but an adult one.

Eerie stories that she read to us. Yeah, a bit weird, but this was during the days of "the maniac has escaped from the insane asylum" spooky stories also. Probably wouldn't scare anyone today. Thanks, I'll look through that site more.

[kestrel91316]

2. Sounds like something from a 50s or 60s horror/sci fi/fantasy anthology.......

Robert Bloch or Theodore Sturgeon material????

Help me here.......I used to read similar stuff all the time but this particular story doesn't ring a bell.

[uppityperson]

4. Robert Bloch's stuff looks similar, creepy, will keep looking. Thanks.

[uppityperson]

7. We're looking through Shirley Jackson stuff now.

[Sal Minella]

5. Roald Dahl also wrote some EXCEEDINGLY strange stories.

[uppityperson]

6. I know. I have most all his books. I find him a very good writer.

Some of his "kids" books sure aren't for kids. Have you ever read Uncle Shelby's ABZs (Shel Silverstein on an adult day)?

[Sal Minella]

8. No, apparently I need to look that one up --

[uppityperson]

9. I read it as a child, very much enjoy it as an adult. Here...

http://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Shelbys-ABZ-Book-Primer/dp/067121148X/ref=sr_1_1/103-0754254-0560639?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190070944&sr=8-1

B is for baby

See the baby

The baby is fat

The baby is pink

The baby can cry

The baby can laugh

See the baby play

Play, baby, play.

Pretty, pretty, baby.

Mommy loves the baby more than she loves you.

[Sal Minella]

14. Ha!!! That's perfectly dreadful! Thanks.

[mzteris]

10. the story MAY be "The Cocoon" -

if so -

Originally published in Story Magazine, 1946.

Collections included in:

Alfred Hitchcock collection for 1961 'Stories for Late at Night.'

Timeless Stories for Today and Tomorrow (1952) edited by Ray Bradbury

Some things Strange and Sinister by Joan Kahn

STRANGE BEASTS AND UNNATURAL MONSTERS: The Birds; Nature of Evidence; Slime; Garden of Paris; Doomsday Deferred; Cocoon; Aepyornis Island; Elephant Man; Terror of Blue John Gap; The Kill; Mrs. Amworth; Judge's House; Skeleton
by Philip (May Sinclair; Joseph Payne Brennan; Eric Williams; Will F. Jenkins; John B. L. Goodwin; H. G. Wells; A. Conan Doyle; Daphne du Maurier; Bram Stoker; Peter Fleming; E. F. Benson; Ray Bradbury; Sir Frederick Treves) Van Doren Stern

[uppityperson]

11. Thank you, I'm looking those up now to see, will send off to my sib too.

[uppityperson]

12. WOOHOO!! Thank you. This story has been an issue for nearly 50 yrs.

Thank you so much. Good job. Did you read it or just know it or what? Thanks again.

http://gloomysundae.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/gaskell-hunt/

John B. L. Goodwin - The Cocoon: Butterfly obsessive Danny Longwood, eleven, hides away in his room tending his smelly collection of caterpillars and pupae like a mad scientist. His father, a retired explorer of note and doesn’t he let everyone know it, neglects him and his mother ran off five years ago so he’s left to his own devices for the most part. When his father refuses to lend him his enormous cigar bowl, Danny has no alternative but to dispose of his prize find - a huge mutant moth with crab and mouth-like simulacra on its wings. But the cyanide jar fails to kill it

[mzteris]

13. I'm glad it was what you were looking for.

I just searched for it, though. I love helping people find out "stuff".

(Although I probably did read it at some point in my life - it sounds like the kind of story I'd like. :hi: )