THE ARTFUL ALPHABET

A dachshund and a frizzy-haired child in a clown suit tour an abecedarian series of playscapes in this debut/showcase. Each scene, lettered and inked by hand, is dominated by one or more large letter forms, surrounded by appropriate smaller items; a trail of Dominoes, for instance, leads from a Desert to one Door, as a Doll points the Dog toward another Door labeled “Dragon’s Den.” Jirankova-Limbrick inventively incorporates many words into her fanciful, sophisticated compositions: some as small identifying labels, others gathered into strings, clumps, even large landscape features. There’s no common narrative thread, but each opening invites viewers to create their own scenarios. A small imagination-stretcher—just the ticket for a bit of daydreaming. (Picture book. 7-10, adult)