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Eh? to Zed: A Canadian ABeCeDarium
Kevin Major
Price: CDN$19.95
(Currently Unavailable for Purchase)
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Book Description
From an alphabetical listing of choice and clever, rhyming
couplets on the end pages, readers are invited to explore the
Canada as seen by the talented team of Kevin Major and Alan
Daniel. In Eh? to Zed by Kevin Major Our Canadian culture leaps off every page in this
absolutely delightful and unique view of Canada. This ABC
tour-de-force brings together our vast and diverse country,
with harmony and humour, both in text and images.
Each page represents one letter with a collage of
amusing, boldly colourful objects to represent the witty words
chosen. Initially, I was confused by some of the words and
objects chosen by the author and illustrator, as several were
not familiar images to me, but after reading the glossary,
entitled, ''The Choice of Words; The Choice of Images,'' I
realized this was the intent: to introduce new terms; to discover the obscure about our
country. This listing of information gives fascinating ''tidbits,'' meant to help the reader
interpret the choice words as well as the unique images.
Using a blend of historical artifacts, people and images, with modern and
contemporary objects, the boldly coloured illustrations take us on a voyage and
celebration of our country, from sea to shining sea. And what a celebration it is! Daniel
innovatively constructs a fascinating combination of illustrative styles and subjects, from
folk art, paintings, and papercutting, to metal sculptures, toys, soap stone and wooden
carvings. These comic drawings defy the use of one medium and, instead, employ a mixed
media of layered, infused images flowing into and intermingling with each other. But the
results are pictures that are cleanly executed and composed, filling each page, and
providing an informative and pleasing picture book/quiz/dictionary effect. It is a visual
world that expands, sharpens and reinforces Major's words with pictures that are lively,
varied, appealing and entertaining. I especially loved the Jackpine in the form of a puzzle,
a Mountie with a turban and the Habitant couple as puppets.
Eh? to Zed will bring readers of all ages to a fuller appreciation of our Canadian
identity while expanding their visual and verbal vocabularies. Although the appeal is to
older children and adults, anyone, young or old, will be able to relate to at least one of
the images in this book. Because of its unique approach to introducing information about
Canadian places, people and heritage, this wonderful potpourri is a must for history buffs.
Highly Recommended.
More Books by Kevin Major
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All Prices are in Canadian Dollars
