ACHOO! BANG! CRASH!

Noise is a sure-fire theme in picture books and the cover alone will entice kids to this retro abecedarium akin to Brown’s Noisy Book. The telling is in the type, literally, as word sounds, set in 19th-century wood type and printed in bright colors on a handpress, enact small scenes for each letter; e.g., H is visualized with a child pointing at a man wearing a tie, garters, and jacket but no shirt or pants, with the words “HAW” and “HEE HEE.” Some displays are standard, like “GRRR,” “GRUNT,” “GROWL,” while some are unusual like “FA-DWAP” and “FWIP.” Q is the best; with the word “QUIET” superimposed on “QUACKS” as a toddler pulls a duck toy and a man holds his ears. Over 70 words are composed, each in a different typeface. The 1940/’50s illustration style. with pudgy-kneed, round-faced kids, provides effective backdrops for the dramatized sounds. The yellow-dominant palette against cream paper infuses energy into the actions, many containing monsters. Great potential for reading aloud and program sharing. Endnote describes the process. (Picture book. 4+)