ABC DANCE!

Animals dance their way through the ABCs.

This board book is not only a celebration of the alphabet, but also an exuberant adventure in rhyme and alliteration. Each letter is represented by a different animal with its own part in the dance. Sabrina Moyle’s text skillfully reads with its own playful cadence, carefully playing with word sounds without tying tongues. It’s this finesse that makes lines like “Quail quickly quickstep—they’re queens of the dance!” both fun to read aloud and appealing to little listening ears. The vocabulary is rich and unusual, with featured animals such as vicuña and xemes (a type of gull) and words like “pivot” and “winsomely.” Unlike so many alphabet books that announce each new page with a large, lonely letter, this one showcases the letter by subtly emphasizing its appearance in each word. The text fits in well with Eunice Moyle’s illustrations, appearing as an intentional part of the larger design instead of a typeface selected after the fact. The words “Rhinos ROCK OUT!” look almost as if they could be part of the set design for the energetically jamming rhinoceroses. Each page features bright backgrounds; animals are equally dazzling, with simply drawn yet emotive faces. Sure to be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Readers can’t help but smile and tap their toes through this one.