ABC

Kids are funny, sometiemes they just never like a book, no matter its status as a "classic" or not, sometimes they're infatuated with one for a few days or weeks only to never return to it again, and then others, they return to constantly. This book is in the latter category for our now 2.5 year old, who has had it for about a year and a half or so, and still enjoys it a few times a week at naptimes and bedtime. It's nice reading to your kid the letters and the animals' names, you can establish a nice rhythm. And even though we don't really know what an Uakari or a Quokka is, the pictures are still nice, and it's fun to be silly reading those silly names. The artwork is really original, which in my view, is the book's selling point. These are not literaly renderings National Geographic style, but rather interpretations of animals, instantly recognizable, yet quite cleverly and uniquely drawn. One of the nicest aspects of this book is that it's both a traditional ABC book and a compilation of artwork at the same time! It's quite sturdily built, too! Nice thick boardbook-style pages, with a sturdy binding. Guaranteed to last! Highly recommended.

Mathew Porter is a local Seattle artist that owns a very funky Art Boutique shop called Blue Bottle in Capitol Hill. His work of big-eyed animals, monkey pirates, and chirpy birds appeals to both children and adults. All of his art is reminiscent of those carefree childhood days. I loved it so much that I went out and bought the original "F is for Fox" painting. The entire book is based off of his popular alphabetical series where he paints the acrylic painting and then sands off the texture to leave a shiny worn look like a well-used building block. This book is the perfect baby-shower gift. Visit his gallery on your next trip to Seattle.

Great quality book. Imaginative, beautiful colors and a fun way to think about the alphabet and animals too.