Quotations from J. R. R. Tolkien, Thomas Jefferson, Lucille Clifton, William Shakespeare, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes, and many others illuminate words for each letter of the alphabet, and Peter Malone's exquisite illustrations for them are inspired. This enticing alphabet book is sure to delight the minds and excite the imaginations of young and old alike.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Readers will find a beguiling treasure trove of aural and visual delights in this abecedarian arrangement of excerpts from poems, letters and prose. Each spread presents one or two words, from Animal to Zoo, which thematically connect one, two or three quotations?each quote notable for the sheer pleasure in language it betrays?paired with a sumptuous portrait that integrates them all. As a compiler, Tobias (Pot Luck) goes beyond the light verse typical of collections for children (although Farjeon, Carroll and Lear appear here); her selections encompass a range both broad and diverse?from the King James Bible to canonical adult poets such as Hughes, Dickinson and Stevens, to anonymous Native American poems. Malone (The Magic Flute) uses a sure, deft hand to create gouache paintings that interpret, rather than simply illustrate the theme. For instance, Malone sets in context a Joel Chandler Harris quote for "Fire"?"Youk'n hide de fier, but w'at you gwine do wid de smoke?"?with a scene of Br'er Fox and Br'er Rabbit regarding Uncle Remus as he attempts to hide flames beneath a fire bucket. The artist's pale foreground allows the fully realized characters to appear almost three-dimensional. Equally accomplished is the book's design, with its elegant yet tactile body and display type, and clever spot illustrations which intertwine with the initial letter of each word. A book likely to appeal as much, if not more than, to adults as to children, but one that will be savored by anyone who takes pleasure in the sound of words and the images they inspire. All ages.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-The power of words to conjure up images is splendidly viewed in this remarkable alphabet of quotations. A word is chosen for each letter of the alphabet ("Animal," "Book," "Circus," etc.), and readers are treated to one or more quotes that feature that term. Poems and verses from famous writers such as Edward Lear, William Shakespeare, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Lewis Carroll are mixed with those from the Inuit and Native American traditions as well as the Bible. The visual worlds that Malone creates for each word (or, in some cases, two words) with his gouache illustrations are filled with fantastical details and interconnections, dreamscapes heightened by vibrant contrasting colors. The artist has an engrossing sense of humor; he seems to be just out of view waiting with a quirky smile and asking "Did you get it?" Resplendent, unexpected delights await the eye and the ear and invite repeated viewing and reading.
Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Ronald Jobe, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique look at the alphabet,
By A Customer
This review is from: A World of Words: An ABC of Quotations (Hardcover)
Every time I think I've seen everything that can be done with an alphabet book, something truly unique comes along. This little gem uses quotations from a wide range of people, celebrity and non-celebrity to 'illustrate' an alphabetical list that will appeal to children. From animal and book to yard and zoo, this is a new kind of alphabetical book, enhanced by illustrations that are 'out-of-this-world.'
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, delightful book for children and others who read,
By A Customer
This review is from: A World of Words: An ABC of Quotations (Hardcover)
When Pumpkin looks up at me with his great, long-lashed eyes and says, "Again?" (Pumpkin is 14 months old), I am grateful for Tobias' wonderful book. This book stands up to repeated readings with grace and aplomb. (Good for adults as well as kids.) Such a dreamy, evocative, intelligent selection of quotations, placed so beautifully one can forget it's an alphabet book and just enjoy the ride.
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