A Mountain Alphabet

Margriet Ruurs
Illustrated by Andrew Kiss

This is an alphabet book that will not go out of style! The alphabet is depicted in the western mountain region of North America where the letter “A” starts at a view of an avalanche. “B” shows a bear in the boreal forest. Elks represent the letter “E” shown through evergreens. A laughing loon on a lake is great for the “L”. Following is massive mountains, nocturnal animals, an otter, a provincial park, and a quilled creature. The “R” for raccoons, “S” for salmons, and “Z” for a zigzagging trail. The last two pages give further descriptions of the illustrations that were used for the alphabets, and the very last page asks readers to find hidden items used in the illustrations.

This book is one that children and adults will want to come back to over and over again. Not only is it beautifully illustrated, which engages the readers eye, there is so much more to the book than just the alphabet. The illustrations draw the reader in to find all the elements included, bighorns, cougars, grizzly bear, a wide variety of flowers, picnic tables, jewelry – and so much more. Each illustration is a challenge for the readers to return and find more on each return.

BIBLIO: 2009, Tundra Books, Ages 6 and up, $7.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-940-5

REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 5/24/10