Wormell, whose first book, An Alphabet of Animals, was published in 1990 and captured the Bologna Graphics Prize, once again sets his abecedary apart from the herd through sheer force of artistry. Though the concept is a familiar one—each turn of the page reveals a letter (both capital and lowercase) and a corresponding animal, from the Southwestern Armadillo to the African Zorilla (a skunk-like creature)—the arrestingly beautiful wood engravings lift the book to a lofty level. Clean, sharp lines and a simplicity of composition that borders on stark define each illustration, while the animals themselves are strikingly iconic. Outlined in thick, dark strokes accented with gorgeous washes of color, each is placed in a setting that, with just a few telling details, suggests its natural habitat. An owl perches on a branch, for instance, against a serrated edge of trees lit up by a lilac night sky; the less familiar ibex (a mountain goat) stands against snowy peaks. A gifted colorist, Wormell creates hues that melt from one shade to another like a cloudless sunset. All ages. (Sept.)
