E Is for Environment: The ABCs of Conservation

In unadorned language, Curran offers an uneven abecedarian centering nature and its preservation. One subject glides to the next, covering a wide swath of subject matter—“U is for Universe” (“The universe is larger than anyone can imagine and is made up of all the stars, matter, and living things”) abuts “V is for Vegetables” (“Broccoli, carrot, corn, and potatoes are some of the most popular vegetables”). The amount of relevant information beneath each letter also varies wildly; K, for example, reads “Kaffir lillies are beautiful plants found in South Africa,” while other letters are given in-depth definitions, brief facts, or questions. Brightly colored digital art by Rosa provides more reliably engrossing material, spotlighting humans of varying skin tones and softly airbrushed spreads of flora, fauna, and the outdoors. While the book’s theme is loose at best, it may whet the appetites of the youngest readers seeking more information on the world around them. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)