The Glorious ABC

In a market glutted with alphabet books, The Glorious ABC stands out from the crowd. Here, Edens has collected a sequence of full-color illustrations by such noted artists from the late 1800s and early 1900s as Maxfield Parrish, Edmund Dulac, Beatrix Potter and Arthur Rackham. While Edens's similar assemblage for last year's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Bantam) produced a disjointed, jarring effect, here the diversity becomes an enjoyment unto itself. Also, Edens has made many imaginative choices of depictions for each letter, as when two beguiling Kate Greenaway girls are entranced by a bubble--the letter B. The Glorious ABC , which is being issued as a companion to The Glorious Mother Goose , is beautifully printed and sure to catch the eyes and imaginations of beginning readers. All ages. (Sept.)