AN EDIBLE ALPHABET

The subtitle announces the approach of this clever ABC that will inform and entertain kids, whether they are farm savvy or naive.

Each letter has a title with factual tidbits in reader-friendly layout and text. Kk, “King-sized Kohlrabi,” gives an explanation of the vegetable and lists varieties. “Kohlrabi are sweet-tasting bulbs with thick stems that grow above ground. While they’re usually about the size of a tennis ball, some—like the king-sized Kossak kohlrabi—can grow as a big as a volleyball.” The chatty style and occasional questions will engage kids. Some word choices are a stretch—Ice Cold Ice Cream for I and Oh! Overalls in the Orchard, for example—though they do connect to farm life. S is for Stink, Stank, Stunk (manure); X is for Xtra Large Eggs with Yummy Yellow Yolks; Z is for Zoom Zoom Zucchini (with rules for zucchini races). What makes it all work are the vividly colored collages made with handpainted papers and acrylics. The end pages create a puzzle to find specific words and images, plus there’s a ladybug to find in each scene. For storytimes, pair this with Lois Ehlert’s Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z (1989).

A basketful of farm-filled fun and learning. (Informational picture book. 5-8)