Alphabeasts [Hardcover]

Wallace Edwards (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

From the weird and wonderful imagination of an amazing new artist comes an alphabet book like no other. Kids will delight in discovering animals from A to Z living together in an old Victorian mansion. They'll meet an elephant in the ballroom playing with a model train, an octopus hanging from the foyer chandelier -- and even a zebra enjoying a soak in the bathtub! Using watercolours and colored pencils, Wallace Edwards has created a bizarre and luxurious world, rich in texture and detail. An engaging mix of art and alphabet book, Alphabeasts provides the basis for hours of animated discussion and quiet contemplation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An explosion of color and pattern are the central attraction in this otherwise confusing abecedary. An intriguing frontispiece of an old Victorian house that sports tusks for front pillars, a zebra-skin cupola and more, hints at what lurks within. "A is for Alligator,/ awake from a dream./ B is for Bat,/ slurping ice cream," kicks off the series of rhymed couplets that lead readers through room after room filled with alphabetically appropriate creatures. The alligator lounges on a tomato-red upholstered chair, his head propped on pillows of wildly contrasting design; beneath him lies a patterned oriental carpet, and ornate sage-colored Victorian wallpaper provides the backdrop. Visual contrast abounds in debut artist Edwards's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, and he frequently conveys a sense of wit ("H is for Hippo, preparing to play," for instance, shows a rotund hippo waddling toward a delicate chair with violin and bow at the ready). But while there's much to look at, the visual references seem more suited to adults than younger readers. Some objects are related thematically, but they're rarely linked alphabetically. All ages.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4-Adorned with elaborate illustrations for each letter of the alphabet, this fanciful concept book may have difficulty finding an audience. The rhyming text is occasionally clever, but more often just bizarre. The text and art try to surprise and puzzle, but frequently seem nonsensical and awkward. The cat that imagines himself as a tiger and the kingfisher resting on a fishing-lure box are fun and witty. The zebra in the bathtub and the yak painting himself into a corner are enigmatic. There is an art-deco tone in the rich and varied patterns on the walls, floors, and furnishings throughout the book. The beasts are wonderfully drawn and fascinating, especially the xenosaur and narwhal, and the colors are vibrant. However, unlike Graeme Base's Animalia (Abrams, 1987), in which the imaginative alliteration and fantastic illustrations are woven together, the text and the art in this book try too hard to make a match. Although some children will be fascinated with the watercolor-and-pencil pictures, they may not be enough to make the book anything more than a marginal purchase.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553373863
• ISBN-13: 978-1553373865
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,280,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Surreal: Suitable for framing!!, March 11, 2003

By 

Veronica Cruz Burchard (Fairfax, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alphabeasts (Hardcover)

I received this book as a gift and thought it would be just another alphabet book with the same old A is for Acorn-style drawings, but I couldn't have been more wrong. This book is filled with BEAUTIFUL, exquisitely detailed illustrations, many of which you wouldn't mind having blown up and framed.

"C is for Cat, who reflects on itself" shows a siamese cat gazing into a mirror at the tiger staring back at him. "E is for elephant, on the right track" shows a circus elephant playing with a toy train. "B is for bat, slurping ice cream" depicts a bat, carrying an upside-down hammer, flying up to a delicious sundae - many of the pages have this intensely original and dreamlike quality.

The day my 2 year old son first read this book, we read it 12+ times, and he still asks for it before naps and at bedtime. When he gets older I am sure the illustrations will serve as inspirations for his own art.

You will love this book!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The alphabet is fun for kids and adults both!, September 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Alphabeasts (Hardcover)

How can something so visually exquisite be hilariously funny too? This thing is a treat! And beautiful enough to double as a coffee table book.

My nieces and nephew loved it, my nephew spending hours drawing 'alphabeast' animals after we read the book.
Thank you Alphabeasts!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book you'll keep in your library forever!, October 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Alphabeasts (Hardcover)

This is a great book for children and adults -- a timeless, magical house of exquisite animals that opens up a whole other world of possibilities for children to imagine. The images are really evocative, so even very small children will enjoy this book. Early readers can read along with ease. Adults will catch all the subtleties. I can't believe what a deal this beautiful hardcover book is! I'm buying it for all the children on my shopping list and for all my hard-to-shop-for friends.