Pre-war travel poster style illustrations by Bill Mayer in his new minimalistic style. ( )

This alphabet book is about a travel experience where you get to see different types of things you would when you travel. You are shown different pictures of "older timing" looking pictures that go with the theme of this book. This book has picture that contain the letters they are describing and they get to show representation. ( )

Some of the words seem challenging for an alphabet book, but I like the travel theme! ( )

In the foreward Mayer makes it clear that this alphabet book was inspired by the travel posters of the 1920s. While this leads to a beautiful, stylized collection of illustrations, I'm not sure that kids are going to understand most of what's going on here. Preschoolers fascinated with things that go might enjoy the book, but the letters aren't always apparent enough for the same audience to identify; I couldn't identify one of them without the key and I have a few years on the preschool crowd. The inclusion of a key to where the letters in each picture are hidden in two places, on both the back jacket and a page in the back of the book, helps those who are unable to decipher the puzzles. The illustations would make a lovely set of alphabet posters for decorative purposes, but I'm not sure how well this works as an actual alphabet book. ( )

Summary: On each page, there is a picture similar to the style of a 1920's vintage travel poster, and on each picture, part of the picture makes the letter of the alphabet being described on that page.

Genre: Informational

Critique: This is a great example of informational text because it is an alphabet book. There is no story line or plot that accompanies it.

Setting: 1920's vintage travel posters

Media: airbrush gouache and dyes