Quentin Blake's ABC

``A is for Apples, some green and some red / B is for Breakfast we're having in bed'' begins Blake's spirited ABC book. Each page playfully introduces a letter of the alphabet, a word beginning with that letter, and a phrase describing the word. Many pages are humorous, such as ``G is for Grandma--she's really quite fat / H is for Hair that goes under your hat.'' The rhyming text is bouncy, as in ``M is for Mud that we get on our knees / N is for Nose--and he's going to sneeze!'' The text is also relevant to children's experiences, as in ``I is for illness (which nobody likes) / J is for Junk--rusty beds and old bikes.'' Blake's zany watercolor illustrations, loosely outlined in black ink, are vibrant and whimsical. The oversized format and the large, bold print add visual appeal. Ages 2-5. (Sept.)