Westray (A Color Sampler, 1993, ALA Notable) creates 26 artfully rendered optical illusions in an attractive array of subtly muted colors. Decorative folk art-style figures add interest to the eye-fooling images; these also incorporate illusions--e.g., on the title page, a stylized pineapple has a grid like one in the first illusion, while broken capital letters demonstrate the brain's eagerness to complete an image. The variety here is instructive and intriguing--color contrasts or patterning that seem to create movement; images swimming out of focus; alternate patterns or spaces to be perceived in a single picture; perspectives or juxtapositions that confuse size judgments; and more. Thoughtful commentary and intelligent sequencing make this a lucid and beautifully designed book that will be useful for assignments but will also be enjoyed simply for its presentation. (Nonfiction. 5-10)
