Lucy Goes to Market: A Magical Alphabet

K-Gr 2—Lucy sets off on a shopping excursion in this unusual alphabet book. For one thing, her market is magical, filled with items such as an asparagus angel, wacky Wellingtons, and a groovy garland. The language is simple yet sophisticated, such as challenging readers to grasp the meaning of "yellow yesterdays," which depicts dozens of old family photos lining Lucy's staircase. The quirky and charming illustrations are perfect for capturing the items themselves, as evidenced in the spread that showcases "endless eccentric eggs and four flamingos feasting on fruitcake." The soft colors are flavored with delicate pastel hues that invite readers to explore details such as the hidden tiny snail that appears on each page. The story is neatly wrapped up in a final spread that shows Lucy playing with her treasures in an oversize dollhouse. "Now it is complete." Pair this story with other imaginative alphabet books such as Chris Van Allsburg's The Z Was Zapped (Houghton Mifflin, 1987), Kelly Bingham's Z Is for Moose (2012) , and Neil Gaiman's The Dangerous Alphabet (2008, both HarperCollins) for visual and well-written treats.—Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Half Hollow Hills Community Library, Dix Hills, NY