THE NOTORIOUS A.B.C.

Old-school rap and hip-hop name checking abounds in author/illustrator Darling’s alphabet concept book.

We’ve all seen alphabet books where D is for dog, but what if D was for “DJ,” “Drum Machine,” or “De La Soul” instead? Loaded with references to artists from the 1980s and ’90s, this book offers an alternative to other abecedarian works. The realistic illustrations are done in an appropriately retro collage style, with vintage-looking images overlaid on boldly hued and patterned backgrounds. Some references are clever, such as a child using a hammer on a “Hammer Time” sign; others are just odd, such as Kurtis Blow’s name on a kite, and a few exclusions are questionable (Q shows a quarter but not Queen Latifah?). Most objects will be familiar to kids, but several outmoded items may require adult explanation (a Polaroid camera, a VHS tape), and occasional objects are listed by their adjective instead of their noun: “Electric Guitar” and “Bass Guitar” are categorized under E and B respectively, in addition to “Guitar” for G. (There’s also a distracting error: a magnet is labeled “Mouth.”) Ultimately, it’s difficult to see a great deal of educational value in this book—the words have no text definitions, and the named figures receive no explanations—but grown-ups may reminisce about the old days.

Nostalgic fun for adults but likely less useful to kids.