R Is for Rocket: An ABC Book (Rocket)

PreS-Gr 1--Rocket the dog and Goose, from the "Duck & Goose" series (Random), both appear in Hills's latest picture book. As they play outside with their friends Bella the squirrel and Owl, they encounter a variety of animals whose activities are described in sentences that use alliteration. ("Rocket rests by the river in the rain./Bella sits on a stump. 'I'm glad I have this sock, ' she says") Every page is given its own letter, and those letters are written in bold text when they appear at the beginning of a word. The humor is subtle; the situations playful. ("Fred frolics with fireflies in the field"; "Owl jumps for joy").The oil paint and colored-pencil illustrations include full pages and spreads, and large spot art. A cheery alphabet chart appears on the reverse side of the cover. VERDICT An endearing introduction to the alphabet.--Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Having explored reading and writing in his first two picture books, Rocket the dog heads up a tour of the alphabet, starring a handful of his animal friends and featuring abundant alliteration. Hills creates sweet, gentle scenes for each letter, introducing moments of light humor (Bella the squirrel "plays in the ivy. It's not a good idea. It makes her itch"), while touching on emotions like joy, kindness, and fear ("The waves are noisy. They make Owl nervous"). Bold type highlights the repeated letters, and Hills's oil paint and pencil illustrations exude a quiet, soothing soulfulness throughout. Ages 3-7. (July)