Day combines animal names with musical instruments (contrababoon, gorillute) to come up with the entries for this alphabet book. It's an entertaining concept, but not all of the letters work well, and the rhymes aren't always spot-on. Some of the illustrations have verve, but most of them--showing big-eyed creatures with their mouths agape--are one-note.

K-Gr 1 This picture book combines animals with musical instruments. "A is for alliguitar, who has his own picks./B is for banjaguar, who plays some hot licks," and so on. The rhyming text is an invitation to children and caregivers to have a conversation about what animals or musical instruments the youngsters think they see, and it makes for a fun read-aloud. The creatures in the colorful, detailed illustrations have delightful facial expressions, and the letters are prominently displayed. A creative alternative to the standard ABC. Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH