FICTION

West Coast Wild: A Nature Alphabet

by Deborah HODGE
illus. by Karen Reczuch. 48p. further reading. websites. Groundwood. 2015. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781554984404.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 3—Reczuch's gorgeous watercolors are the centerpiece of this informative ABC picture book about the habitats along the west coast of North America. The clean design allows readers to focus on the visuals and the meaning of the text. Each page has two or three well-crafted sentences describing a plant or animal that lives in the Pacific Northwest. Hodge manages to find noteworthy specimens for every letter, even X (Xiphister, an eel-like fish). Useful back matter rounds out this charming and original abecedarium.
VERDICT This award-winning author and illustrator team present an elegant introduction to the organisms of the Pacific Rim, as well as a useful and accessible model for descriptive writing.
Reviewed by Maggi Idzikowski, Ann Arbor Public Schools, MI
Each letter of the alphabet introduces readers to an animal or feature of British Columbia's Pacific Rim region on Vancouver Island's west coast. Lush, detailed full-bleed paintings show familiar (e.g., bears, cougars) and less-well-known (e.g., Xiphister, or prickleback fish) creatures in their habitats (ocean, shore, ancient rainforest). Brief text accompanies each entry. An author's note provides more information. Reading list, websites.
 , Nov 01, 2015

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