ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

This boldly illustrated alphabet book pays homage to musical theater's leading ladies of the past and present. The goal here seems to be mirably cram as many women into the spotlight as possible. Many letters stand for one actress, the letter usually correlating with her first name. Patti Lupone, in the P spread, would never dream of sharing; she's pictured in her famous role of Eva Perón. But Barbra Streisand and Barbara Cook share the B slot, and while F and S are technically men (Bob Fosse and Stephen Sondheim), the pages are filled with the women who famously acted in their shows. Lively quatrains accompany each spread, while four pages of bios at the end offer further information. Some illustrations tend toward caricature and a few letter choices are a stretch rnadette Peters is Q, because she's the queen t altogether this is a thorough, eye-catching introduction to women of the theater and their seminal roles. It might be a more geared toward the adults in the room, but budding theater lovers will get a thrill.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This inclusive rhyming abecedarian begins with Audra McDonald and ends with Liza Minnelli. A roster of showstopping women (though Bob Fosse and Stephen Sondheim elbow their way in) and iconic female roles are shouted out in quippy, singsong verse----I-s for Idina,/ whose vocals you-ll know/ from Wicked or Rent/ or from -letting it go.--- The book is really meant for Broadway buffs, with the text offering fawning raves in lieu of contextualizing information (-She-s brilliant and bold and has talent in meters... Ladies and gentlemen, Bernadette Peters!-). Captions identify each performer and role, and Emmerich-s flattering caricatures, paired with each verse, are colorful and slick, bringing Broadway-s drama to the page. An index offers brief career highlights for each individual mentioned. Ages 3-7. (Nov.)

School Library Journal (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

K-Gr 4 As in traditional alphabet books, each page features a single letter; beyond that, Allman takes liberties with the format. Some pages highlight one actress; others examine two or more. F is for Fosse, the famed choreographer, but the accompanying illustration includes four actresses, two who have played Velma and Roxie in Chicago . S is for Sutton Foster, tap-dancer extraordinaire, but also for Stephen Sondheim. Some letters correspond to characters such as Dolly ( Hello, Dolly ) and Rose ( Gypsy ). In an effort to be inclusive, X is for 32 additional "eXtra-eXceptional" divas. Allman lists the full name of the actress, the musical in which she starred, and the year she performed that role at the bottom of each page. After Liza with a "Z," Allman elaborates with short bios of everyone mentioned, citing additional roles, talents, and awards bestowed. The digitally crafted portrait-style illustrations focus on the women in costume, with bright colors and distinct lines. Occasional background details suggest settings or include props but leave the ladies in the spotlight. VERDICT The simple, rhyming text and cartoon illustrations will entice young readers. Theater aficionados will also get a kick out of this catalogue of leading ladies and the conversations it will inspire. A sure hit for thespians of all ages. Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, MA