In a picture book debut that uses handsome woodcuts to present a regional theme (recalling Azarian's A Farmer's Alphabet, 1981), Bowen chooses subjects that typify Minnesota's north woods, cleverly ordering them by a year's cycle as well as by the alphabet. ``Fishing'' can be done through March's ice; ``Junk'' appears when the snow melts; ``Loons'' hatch in July, when ``Northern lights'' may appear; and so on to ``Zero,'' December's cold. Well-chosen bits of information combine with the woodcut's vigorous black and skillfully added watercolor to give the flavor of this attractive region. (Picture book. 5-9)*justify no*
