WHAT ABOUT X?

Time for a field trip with the alphabet.

Welcome to the Alphabet Academy and meet its 26 rambunctious scholars. Today, teacher Question Mark is gathering the letters for a camping trip. Each has something special to bring except for the book’s protagonist, X. As the individual letters make their choices—A brings apples; F brings fishing poles; S gets sunscreen; etc.—X watches and frets over what to bring along. Inspiration finally hits, but it turns out that X’s perfect item isn’t so perfect, only to be reassured by kind alphabet friends how important it is to any camping experience that involves maps. The book’s strategy of introducing letters and corresponding vocabulary words isn’t new, but the story treads this old ground with some style, with the illustrations presenting the occasional object or design that enhances each letter. B is patterned to look like bricks and sports a baseball cap, bling, and boots in addition to the binoculars mentioned in the text; P is covered in polka dots. These subtle hints go astray with other letters, however. Why does M have three eyes? Is it because M has one more? Why does R wear its green hair in a mohawk? Is that to imply rock-star status? Educators and caregivers may have to take a few minutes to explain some artistic choices to inquisitive and observant readers. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Serviceable but not stellar.