THE BOUNCING, DANCING, GALLOPING ABC

Doyle offers a simple but refreshingly rare variation on the traditional alphabet book (or classroom chart), which focuses on objects or nouns as the examples of the letters. Here, most of the letters are linked to actions (hopping, swinging, turning), and are brightly illustrated in a rainbow of colors. “R is for riding a really big truck,” for example, features five shades of blue as well as red, green, yellow, orange, etc. Similarly, the text employs an attractive variety of fonts. These word choices also provide an excellent springboard for creative play. The three boys depicted have a retro feel—Howdy Doody crossed with Elroy from The Jetsons. The cover copy describes them as siblings and, while the text has no storyline, the red-headed pair romp like brothers. The third black-haired boy is presumably a playmate. The pictures are appealing, but the absence of any girls or ethnic minorities could narrow the book’s potential audience. (Picture book. 2-4)