Animalia

From the armoured armadillos avoiding the angry alligators to the zany zebras zigzagging in zinc zeppelins, the animals in this imaginative alphabet book put on quite a show. Each letter is alliteratively exemplified in both text and image, with any number of other objects and animals, besides the main ones that are actually named, hiding in the artwork. The result is a book that rewards a closer examination, and that will provide young children with hours of amusement as they pore over the illustrations.

First published in 1986, and then reprinted in this 25th Anniversary Edition, Animalia took Australian author/illustrator Graeme Base three years to create, and it is not difficult to see why. The artwork is gorgeously detailed, with so show more many little objects hidden away in its depths. This anniversary edition includes a poster on the reverse side of the dust-jacket that contains a riddle needing solving, giving young children even more to keep them entertained. Recommended to anyone looking for fun alphabet books, as well as to those searching for picture-books that provide a more interactive experience for young children. show less

This is not an abecedary for the younger forms; it's definitely for the Scrabble aficionado. The art is gorgeous and intricate, and the number of things beginning with each letter that Base works into each painting is both astonishing and delighting. (Example: "P" has a Parade led by a Prelate and a Pirate with a Parrot, holding a Peace sign, followed by a Pygmy, a Punch-and-Judy show, a Prisoner and a Policeman, a Piper and a Pharaoh, a Philosopher--classical Grecian issue--a Politician with his Partner and a Pig in a Pram, walking with her Poodle, while Pandas Pick up Pinecones.)

This book really creeped me out as a kid, but I didn't know why. I read it today as an adult, and it's not as creepy, but I still feel weird, still can't put my finger on why. The art is delightful and the alliteration cute if problematic at times--kidnapping kangaroos are supposed to be funny. They are not. I'm glad this book isn't creepy to me anymore, but I'll be kind of worried if my nieces or little cousins like it. So, mixed feelings over here.

A book that can take hours. That's a good thing.

I can still see my two Littles, sisters, sitting in one chair, heads touching, scouring together the last few pages on the hunt for the special surprise that is within each image.

Now I'll be looking for The Eleventh Hour.

Mr. Graeme Base is invited to our reading time any time!

This was one of my favorite books when I was a child, and it's still just as wonderful today. It's an alphabet book, but there's much more to it. Each letter boasts a tongue-twisting alliteration, often using big words that I remember having to sound out as a child, and then became curious about the meaning. As a graphic design major, I am very interested in typography and especially hand drawn type, and there are beautiful specimens of hand drawn type in this book. Also, each page contains not only the illustration described in words, but countless other objects that begin with that particular letter, as well as the artist himself hiding on every page, making the book into an exciting, animal version of Where's Waldo. As a child, show more there's so much more to learn in this book besides just the alphabet, and even as an adult, everything about this book is still fun and exciting. show less

There's two ways to do an alphabet book. The first is to have each letter firmly illustrated by one - and only one! - item. The second, which is the approach taken in this book, is to have as many items as possible crammed onto each page.

The result is an alphabet book that grows with your kid, because even a grown-up can spend a lot of time quietly poring over the pages of the book to catch one last detail, find one more F word, locate the boy in the striped shirt on every page.

There are a few pages that seemingly indicate violence - hogs going into battle, a kangaroo in a kidnapping, warrior wasps - so parents of more sensitive children will want to read this book before purchasing. Frankly, I think these scenes are not worrisome at show more all, but others may disagree. show less

Yet another abecedaria, this one lavishly and bizarrely illustrated. The drawings have incredible and subtle details. An animal or bird features in each, but there are other things going on. For instance, "C" reads "Crafty Crimson Cats carefully catching Crusty Crayfish". But also there is a camera around one cat's neck, another wears a cap, while a third has a paw resting on a calculator. The crayfish are joined in the water by an old clock and a cork and a clarinet.

The author/illustrator has hidden an image of himself as a child in each drawing.