When I saw the cover of The Imaginary Alphabet I thought it looked neat, but nothing special. I mean who wants another alphabet book? Well, I would have to say, nobody really; I know I don’t. But neither did Sylvie Daigneault. They made a book that is yes, A is for Alligators, but also so much more. There is a sentence then a fantastical colorful, busy, detailed image on the next page. Not only do you see the alligators and the other A words in the sentence (if they are able to be shown or their action can be shown), but other items as well. A couple things I was not sure of (the bird on Y was yellow, but it had a special Y name; and I didn’t know the Z bird), but there is an “answer key” at the end.
The main thing about this book (due late August 2023) is the artwork. The illustrations are probably the most frameable ones I have
seen in a very long time. I read The Imaginary Alphabet as an online reader copy, I do not know if they will include the little girl reading the book as they did in the ARC (I am assuming it is a promotional thing only),
but I can see older children, and adults who are into art really getting into things. There is a more European flare and a more maturity to the text and if it is possible, the illustrations themselves.
I know many moons ago when my youngest nephew was probably not five yet, he loved this picture dictionary book. He wanted to read it all the time. Now, if I was kid, I would do the same thing with this book. I want to give it as gifts to everyone I know. The only thing I am not sure of is the final format, and I hope it is not too large, but the little girl in the photographs looked about six or seven and the book covered her lap.