Review by Booklist Review
Award-winning author-illustrator Daigneault invites readers to embark on an intriguing investigation in this elegantly crafted portrayal of the alphabet. Each spread features an inventively decorated letter (contrived of bubbles, noodles, feathers, fur) paired with an alliterative phrase to describe a fanciful vignette on its facing page. Engaged in whimsically improbable activities, the cavorting creatures there--iguanas improvising, quails quarrelling--seem somewhat frozen in time, but the icon-like poses prompt a pause for deeper inspection of each elaborate scene. Daigneault embellishes each moment with alphabetical details--some obvious, some esoteric--for readers to decipher. (An inventory in the back matter allows readers to confirm their discoveries of some 300 embedded objects.) The meticulous, semi-realistic colored pencil renderings in soft yet bright colors heighten the sense that each letter is a splendid jewel, inviting contemplation and wonderment. More treasury than teaching tool, this iconic interpretation of letters will entice readers to find delight in the wonder and whimsy of words arrayed in alphabetical order.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Alliterative lines accompany elaborate colored pencil drawings in this fantastical animal abecedarian for fans of Graeme Base. Each spread opens with a letter constructed from appropriate material (bubbles for B) that's situated above an introductory phrase ("Kind Koalas Keeping Kiwis for a King"); letter-specific details then fill facing pages, illustrating madcap moments. Representing H, hats, helicopters, and more appear around an iridescent "Happy Hippopotamus Hopping down the Hall." Numbats nestle beneath the North Star ("Noisy Numbats Nesting Nicely for the Night"). And "Two Toucans Taking the Train to Town" are shown with tigers, turtles, and tables. Daigneault's absorbing drawings incorporate vivid detail in depicting a wide range of subjects, and back matter guides readers seeking to identify objects tucked throughout. Ages 5--10. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--"Dizzy Dinosaurs Dancing in the Dark," "Majestic Macaws Making a Magnificent Mess," "Wild Wolves Wandering the Wintery Woods." Unassuming at first glance, this sophisticated yet whimsical, alphabet book lures readers into a fantastical alliterative rabbit hole and is visually captivating, with the utmost attention to detail. A spread is devoted to each letter of the alphabet, highlighting illustrated letters on the left coupled with a surreal look-and-find scene on the right. Daigneault's digitally enhanced colored pencil drawings are vivid dreamscapes of nature, magic, and imagination that play along with each alliterative description that proceeds. Readers of all ages will linger and absorb the many whimsical plants, animals, and objects woven throughout each carefully crafted illustration. Back matter provides a guide for the hidden components incorporated into each illustration, and readers will surely scan each drawing to make sure all elements are discovered. Some details depicted will not be easily identifiable for the youngest readers, but when enjoyed with an older reader, the book may serve as an opportunity for extending vocabulary. Early elementary aged children will be drawn to the stunning illustrations and gamelike details of the book, but the most interest will likely be shown by grown-ups nostalgic for Graeme Base's Animalia. VERDICT An enchanting, artistic interpretation of the alphabet, sure to delight readers from A to Z.--Emily Brush
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An alliterative animal abecedarium for avid apprentices. This whimsical yet elegant alphabet book unfolds in a series of 26 vignettes. Daigneault crafts scenes bursting with opportunity for further exploration of each sound. "C," for example, is "Clumsy Camel Cutting a Crunchy Cake." The accompanying illustration depicts the long-legged shaggy beast perched on a chair, cutting a toppling cake, while a curious cat looks on (clouds dotting the sky and a candy shop in the background). The letter C on the opposing page is formed out of a prickly cactus. Readers will delight not simply in the sounds, but also in the strange juxtaposition of the quirky subjects, drawn in lavish, ornate style. Of course, even the more uncommon letters are given time to shine. "Quick-tempered Quails Quarrelling in a Queue" finds a line of feathered friends in heated debate along a quay, near a shop selling quiches and quahogs. Some scenes feel a bit cluttered (the hallway where a happy hippo hops is filled with a helmet, a hamster, a helicopter, hornets, horns, hummingbirds, and more), but most strike a delicate balance of both accurate description and intricately added details. A list of other items to spot is appended. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Fun with phonics. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
