Alphabeasts

September 2, 2002
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.