The Other Colors: An ABC Book

Gr 1–3—Alliteration and photography meet in this vibrant picture book. Gates and Cutting introduce hues such as "azure," "byzantine," "chartreuse," "debian," "ecru," and "fandango" to begin the impressive vocabulary lesson. Each photo presents an alphabet-inspired sentence highlighting the palette of the first word found on each page. As "Taupe tortoises traipse the terrace timidly," the reptilian subject is shown facing readers with a solemn gaze. While children learn that a "Yellow youthful yardbird yearns yucca," the illustration displays a carving of a small bird contemplating a photograph of a favored plant. Subtle and playful, the image ranges from natural to contrived to fit within its confined color range. Branching out from the norm, this volume would fill in nicely as a vocabulary builder or story starter.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX