"The jungle way by night and day is full of cries and amber eyes while Zulus prance in snake-like dance to grooves hypnotic quite exotic"--these words rhythmically dance down the title page and back cover of Michael Roberts' gorgeous, oversized, color-drenched alphabet book. Roberts, perhaps best...
"The jungle way by night and day is full of cries and amber eyes while Zulus prance in snake-like dance to grooves hypnotic quite exotic"--these words rhythmically dance down the title page and back cover of Michael Roberts' gorgeous, oversized, color-drenched alphabet book. Roberts, perhaps best known for the collage covers he has created for The New Yorker magazine, is also a photographer, filmmaker, and set designer. As an alphabet book, The Jungle ABC works like this: each letter is represented by a breathtaking African scene corresponding to that letter. For example, "A" is paired with a giant antelope head, artfully crafted from colored paper cutouts. If you can't tell the image is an antelope, you flip to the back of the book, where all 26 words are identified, from Antelope to Queen to Xylophones to Zebras. Children will learn about the African kraal, and perhaps what an impala looks like. In the foreword, world-famous model Iman writes about the mystery and power of the African jungle, and how "the tigress inspired my every step; the graceful, erect arch of the giraffe formed my posture." We almost forget this exhilarating visual explosion is an alphabet book, as Roberts effectively distracts us with the power and beauty of Africa. (All ages) --Karin Snelson
