Eh? to Zed

From Arctic, Bonhomme and Imax to kayak, Ogopogo and zed, Eh? to Zed takes children on an alphabetic, fun-filled tour of Canada.

Set in tightly linked rhyming verse, the words for this unique book resonate with classic and contemporary images from every province and territory in the country. Included are place names from Cavendish to Yarmouth and icons that will prompt discussion of Canada's many regions, and its culture, discoveries and heritage. Accompanying the inventive text is a visual feast via the colorful palette of well-known illustrator Alan Daniel. He provides a witty mixture of folk art paintings, toys and models that leap from the page with a whimsical energy that delights the imagination.

Grade 2-6-The construct of the alphabet book is cleverly used here to convey and celebrate Canadian history, geography, and culture. Each letter is represented by four words that are somehow linked to the country. They include people (Dan McGrew under "d," [Nellie] McClung under "m"), places (Iqaluit, Ottawa), animals (beaver, walleye), inventions (insulin, zipper), food (bannock, poutine), and words distinctly Canadian (toque, eh?). The carefully chosen words also form rhyming couplets on each double-page spread: "Klondike, komatik, kittiwake, kayak/Loon, lacrosse, Lillooet, lumberjack." Many words are obscure, creating a guessing game of sorts. Four pages of endnotes explain the choice of words and provide "morsels of information" and definitions for the 104 words. The writing is witty and often tongue-in-cheek: "The MOOSE has a humped back, legs like stilts, a bulbous snout-. Not our best-looking beast-." Daniel's colorful watercolor montages bring together the diverse images. There are many creative interpretations and the artist often draws on popular culture to illustrate the words, e.g., toy figurines to represent Mounties, a CD cover of Glen Gould, a souvenir snow globe of the city of Wawa. A unique addition to the genre.
Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. From "Arctic, apple, aurora, Anik" to "Zamboni, zipper, zinc, zed," this lively picture book offers an eclectic, upbeat, staccato celebration of Canadian history and culture. Each page includes illustrations by Alan Daniel for the four words, all rendered precisely and effectively, sometimes in different styles and media. The result is a colorful, stimulating, often original interpretation of the various words. Since even longtime citizens would be hard pressed to identify every reference, Major appends a useful guide, identifying people as diverse as ski champion Nancy Green, pianist Glenn Gould, and NHL star Wayne Gretsky; places such as Fogo, Tuktoyaktuk, and Wawa; and things, from the space shuttle system Canadarm to zed, the last letter of the Canadian alphabet. Notes on the artwork offer information about the selections and where the inspiration came from for some of the illustrations. A sure thing for Canadian libraries, this large-format book also has classroom potential for American schools, since it underscores that the diverse land north of the border has more than its own flag and laws. It has its own cultural heritage. Carolyn Phelan
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