WORD PLAY ABC

PLB 0-8027-8684-7 This alphabet book from newcomer Cahoon endeavors to keep its audience amused and engaged by punnery and word play. It works, too, for the most part, especially the literalisms, such as eerie (an extraterrestrial with an e for each ear), teacup (little t’s being poured into a cup), and open (a pen that specializes in o’s). Others are warm, such as a birdhouse full of warblers for music box or a beehive dripping honey for Home Sweet Home. The puns are fun—goosebumps features a swarm of goslings stumbling, and the quarter horse as a pony ride for 25 cents. The few that may leave readers scratching their heads, e.g., the relation of the ringtoss to a bandit throwing a lasso is not immediately apparent, keep the book fresh. The format provides a grand vehicle for Cahoon to showcase her illustrative talents; there is a dreamy, ancient quality to her images and their feeling of movement. (Picture book. 3-8)