Just when you thought there could be no fresh take left on the ABCs, this theatrical comedy from Kelly Bingham (Shark Girl) and Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky (Toys Come Home) sets a new standard for the alphabet book.
Youngest book lovers will see that the Moose of the title is up to something when he lifts a corner of the burgundy curtain as if he can't wait for the show to begin. "Okay, everyone. Let's get ready!" says a Zebra in a referee jersey that zestfully clashes with his stripes. Eagle-eye toddlers learning their alphabet will note that an apple, ball and cat lead a line of characters, waiting by some stairs. The stairs lead to a stage, it turns out, and Apple takes it first, naturally ("A is for Apple"), as Zebra looks on approvingly and checks Apple off his list. Ball lays aside its stuffed bear to steal the spotlight, followed by a coquettish Cat. But what's this? "D is for Moose"? "Moose does not start with D. You are on the wrong page," an irate Zebra announces in a dialogue balloon. The antlered fellow disrupts Elephant as he departs the stage. The text tilts to play up the rule-bending, and the show-within-the-show goes on.
Young letter-learners will adore knowing more than Moose does, as he steps on Hat, shouting, "Is it my turn yet?" then hides in an ice cream cone and in a jar of jam. Moose suddenly seems to be wising up during Lollipop's turn ("Here it comes!"). But wait! "M is for..." Not Moose! "Wait! No! That was supposed to be me! Moose! With an M!" To say that Moose is angry, even hysterical, is to put too fine a point on it. He erupts in a terrible twos–type tantrum. Zelinsky goes to town, breaking the frames and fourth walls, and disrupting the established type treatment as Zebra tries to protect the letters and objects in Moose's path.
This book could teach children (and adults) all the rules of picture book making by the way Bingham and Zelinsky establish a strict structure, then tear it all down, and play with perspective and the animals' relative sizes. But author and artist also convey an emotional honesty. Moose is like the overeager kid who gets annoying enough that you don't want him on your team. But then, like Zebra, you feel horrible that you left him out. He just wants to play. When Zebra sees how crushed Moose is, well, can Zebra make it up to the poor banished fellow? Let's just say that toddlers will delight in finding every single cast member on the final page, just like a curtain call. Encore! --Jennifer M. Brown
Shelf Talker: A theatrical comedy upends everything you thought you knew about alphabet books from Apple, who starts the show, to Zebra, who directs it.