With its bright and bold illustrations, this stunning, wordless picture book turns learning the alphabet into a guessing game and a hunt for hidden letters that children and adults alike will enjoy. And, with its many interconnected tales that flow from letter to letter and from page to page, this book will inspire even the youngest of readers to become storytellers themselves.‘Exuberant, larger-than-life illustrations spill from the pages of this imaginative ABC book . . . Animals and people join together on a treasure hunt (the alphabet itself turns out to be the plunder), and readers accompany them, trekking across pages crammed with tantalizing detail, from hidden letters and an elusive treasure map to a plethora of objects beginning with the representative letter (on the ‘P’ page, for example, a cursory glance reveals paisley, plunger, pigs, pirate, puppet, pearls, plank, pot, parrot, pelican... and that’s just a sampling).’—Publishers Weekly. ‘Part hidden-picture game, part vocabulary stimulator, part art book...teachers will find the book full of possibilities for inspiring art and writing projects, and browsers will have a great time putting their imaginations to work.’—BL.
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Book Description
Anteater aims his arrow and lets it fly. The arrow bounces off Big Brown Bear and catches on Camel's crystal ball. A mysterious treasure chest is revealed, and with each new letter, rambunctious animals all the way from A to Z join the race for the buried treasure.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2?This visual abecedarian puzzle begins with an anteater archer aiming an arrow, and goes through the alphabet, with each spread featuring numerous things beginning with the appropriate letter. Because the wordless book is really a long mural, with each page continuing the picture of the page before, it is remotely possible to connect all these illustrations with a story?but not a very coherent one. The artwork is bright and eye catching, with an open, inviting design, though readers may soon tire of seeing creatures, all of whom have enormous eyes and a stupefied look of surprise. The attempt to impose order on what is basically a list book is interesting, and some youngsters will readily accept the quest. However, it does not lend itself to the kind of long-term enjoyment one can find in a simple, yet extremely detailed, alphabet book such as Graeme Base's Animalia (Abrams, 1987). Nonetheless, Whatley's book is an amusing addition, if not an essential purchase.?JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5 and up. Part hidden-picture game, part vocabulary stimulator, part art book, this oversize picture book certainly isn't a traditional ABC, nor is it for young children. Whatley and Smith challenge young people to create a quest story keyed to striking double-spread illustrations, each of which revolves around a letter of the alphabet. By way of example, they provide one adventure story, which is told in four columns across the inside of the dust jacket. Although sometimes spilling into the gutter, the illustrations are fascinating. Gloriously sturdy and colorful, scientifically precise, yet fantastical and exaggerated, they're full of comedy and zest. The sample story is predictably choppy and nonsensical, and correctly identifying all the alphabet-keyed objects in the pictures would be difficult for adults, let alone most kids. Still, teachers will find the book full of possibilities for inspiring art and writing projects, and browsers will have a great time putting their imaginations to work. A complete key to the objects in the pictures would have been nice; some hints do appear on a follow-up double-spread word page. Stephanie Zvirin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical, never ending quest,
By A Customer
This review is from: Whatley's Quest (Hardcover)
Quest was so intriging (I'm over 50), that I have bought copies for my peers who also marveled at the wondrous artwork, the challenge of the search and the genius behind Mr Whatleys & Ms. Smith's talents. It is truly a fun and challenging book for all ages.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rich and lush,
By saliero (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Whatley's Quest (Hardcover)
I agree with the review above that this is NOT for young children. It was given to my son when he was 5, and it is way beyond him. So it has been carefully put away until such time as he will more fully appreciate it.
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