The images are interesting, and I like that the reader is shown how to make each letter, not just what the letters are. But 3 of the letters are depicted with items that don't start with the letters in question. The I page uses words in which I is in the middle: it highlights pIgs and also includes pIn, pInk, and rIbbon. The N page uses words in which N is the last letter: it highlights lioN and also includes raccooN, ribboN, lemoN, greeN, browN, faN, mooN, caN, and spooN. The X page uses words in which X is the last letter, too: it highlights foX and also includes boX, aX, waX, siX. Now I know it can be hard to find words that begin with X, let alone ones that will be recognizable items for young children, but I isn't nearly as difficult and N isn't difficult at all. ( )

"Ed Emberley's ABC" by Ed Emberley is an alphabet book that shows the letters on each page. Each page has a letter and the words to go with the letter. The letter in the words are highlighted. On each page there are pictures of the letters being formed in different ways. This book was used for research for my children's book. ( )

What a trip. Definitely has that 70s vibe, for example the paisley trousers on the elephant. I appreciated that each letter was assembled or drawn across the page spread - showing the child one way to write the letter herself.

Looking closer, one sees a little story being told across the four panels of each spread. Looking even more closely, one sees the hidden alphabet words. F is for Frogs, but the F is being created by... Fireflies! In fact, there's a list of 'hidden objects' in the back - I recommend you see how many words for each letter on each spread you can find on your own, then check that list and find the ones you missed.

I think my favorite pages are the Vole building a Village and the Tiger playing with Tinker-Toys.

Overall a clever, almost wordless, artistic book. Don't pay high if it's OOP but do pick it up if it's at your library. ( )

uitg 1987