Oscar de Mejo's ABC

Selections from the artist's work of the past two decades are compiled in an (unusually pricey) abecedary of American history and lore. The towering figure of Mother America wielding scale and sword illustrates the letter A ; B brings a depiction of the Boston Tea Party; C shows a mounted cowboy faced off with a buffalo. This is a visually arresting compendium: de Mejo's primitive paintings, with their flat perspectives, odd proportions and dramatic symbolism, are adeptly displayed, with ample white borders and minimal text. Followers of his work will find much to pore over, and fans of Americana will value the book as a quirky narrative of the events, myths and even pastimes that have defined our country over the years. The work's appeal to children, however, seems limited. The paintings' accessibility varies greatly--there are straightforward scenes, such as those of a baseball game and of the troops at Valley Forge, that can be grasped easily enough with adult assistance, but some contain figures so off-putting and symbolism so esoteric that a child might be baffled instead of intrigued. All ages. (Aug.)