Picture Book Reviews: Alphabets, 3-7
Wendy E. Betts
NOTES FROM THE WINDOWSILL ISSN 1078-8697
An electronic journal of book reviews. Copyright 1994 Wendy E. Betts.
Reproduction for personal and non-profit use is permitted only if this
copyright notice is retained. Any other reproduction is prohibited
without permission. Mail w...@armory.com with comments or questions.
Vol. 2, No. 136 Alphabet Books, ages 3-7 11/10/94
__ The Alphabet Parade_ by Seymour Chwast. 1991; Harcourt Brace, 1994
(0-15-200115-8) $4.95 pb
A captivating array of animals, floats and circus clowns walk, ride
and bicycle across the white pages of this wordless alphabet book.
Each section of the parade focuses on a letter of the alphabet, with
bizarre floats that celebrate such things as a giant foot for F or a
walking telephone for T. The audience, too, reflects the alphabet: a
caveman stands in section C, a duck and a dragon look on from section
D. The number of objects to spot ranges from 6 for Q to 35 for S
(this was easy to determine, because there's a list at the back.)
Chwast's combination of simplicity and surrealism--his pictures look a
little like a cross between a "Tintin" book and the movie "Yellow
Submarine"--make this book utterly eye-catching. The abundant detail
never crowds the eye; each object can be enjoyed individually or as
part of the scene. This book is ideal for readers who need practice
with the alphabet-- and unlike a "Sesame Street" cartoon, it can be
enjoyed at a child's leisure.
__ The Monster Book of ABC Sounds_ written and illustrated by Alan Snow.
Dial, 1991; Puffin, 1994 (0-14-055268-5) $4.99
Alphabet books are usually pretty simple, but Snow could probably have
made _three_ books out of this complex and creative story. A
hide-and-seek game is underway between the rats and the monsters--the
rats are seeking. As a rhyming text describes the hunt, the pictures
show the monsters being found, one by one, each in a room filled with
words beginning with a letter of the alphabet. Each scene also
features some "ABC sounds" as the monsters and rats scream "Aaaaah," go
"Boo," whisper "Cooeee!" and so forth. Each crowded, bustling picture is
framed by letters and little drawings of more alphabet words, for an even
more striking effect. This isn't a book to _teach_ the alphabet with, but
children who have mastered the basics can reinforce them while enjoying a
really funny, silly story.
__ Away From Home_ written and illustrated by Anita Lobel. Greenwillow,
1994 (0-688-10354-5) $16
This imaginative alphabet book takes readers on an around the world
voyage of fascinating sights. Presented as a stage show, it features
children alliteratively acting in front of exotic backdrops: Bernard
balloons in Barcelona, Frederick fiddles in Florence. Meanwhile, an
audience of children points and claps. The "backdrops" are richly
drawn paintings of famous landmarks; descriptions of the cities and
landmarks are included at the end.
While I admire the creative juxtaposition of the unfamiliar and exotic
with the ordinary here, there's an oddity about this book that disturbs
me: all of the performers are boys. Presumably this was a deliberate
choice on Lobel's part, but there is no apparent reason for it. As
picture books are still strongly male-dominated, I think it's
particularly unfortunate that a book which stresses action and
adventure so strikingly gives girls no place except in the audience.
Readers: I would like your input about NFTW. A reader's survey can be
found at ftp://ftp.armory.com/pub/user/web/reader.survey or mail me
for a copy. Thanks for your help!
--
Wendy E. Betts, Editor "The WEB: Celebrating Children's Literature"
finger w...@deeptht.armory.com; http://www.armory.com/~web/web.html
"Personally I just let fashion go...if I wash behind my ears and don't
slouch, that's about as far as I care to go." _Freddy the Pied Piper_