PICTURE PUZZLER

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)