cover image Pigs from A to Z

Pigs from A to Z

Arthur Geisert. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), $18 (64pp) ISBN 978-0-395-38509-8

Pigs from A to Z updates the traditional alphabet book in a potentially useful way. Rather than the usual presentation of a picture illustrating each letter, Arthur Geisert (Pa's Balloon and Other Pig Tales offers intricate etchings depicting pigs engaged in assorted pursuits. In each picture, several examples of the letter are cunningly hidden among the whorls of artwork. This gives readers the opportunity to interact with the bookto actually learn about the letter's shape by looking for it. The black-and-gray tones add to this book's eccentric appeal; the clever doings are humorously underplayed by the text's dry wit. (All ages)