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If Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll were to put their heads together to write an alphabet book in verse, Alpha Beta Chowder is what they might have come up with. This, however, is the wily work of the devious Jeanne Steig. With her rollicking rhymes, alluring alliteration, and weird words--some of them of decidedly uncertain origin--Steig leads the reader through a controlled delirium, complete with a... More

If Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll were to put their heads together to write an alphabet book in verse, Alpha Beta Chowder is what they might have come up with. This, however, is the wily work of the devious Jeanne Steig. With her rollicking rhymes, alluring alliteration, and weird words--some of them of decidedly uncertain origin--Steig leads the reader through a controlled delirium, complete with a hint of menace and a little lighthearted bloodshed.

Meet Gruesome Gilbert, who smells like old galoshes and whose teeth are green, gooey, and gorgeously mildewy. And here's Xavier Max, who views the Great Sphinx; Tactless Toby, who teases Tina with tadpoles in her tapioca; and Penelope, who plummets from her piano stool, pretending to be dead so she won't have to practice her scales.

William Steig's hilarious illustrations provide a perfect accompaniment to the verses--in fact, his pictures sometimes communicate even more than the words. Children will delight in seeing Vera's feet under her bed while her parents are still wondering if she vaporized, or if a vampire's venom downed her. Parents and children be warned: if you're looking for tame and innocuous, turn right around and go home. Alpha Beta Chowder is going to tangle your tongue and wobble your world. (Ages 9 to 12)

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