The Other Colors: An ABC Book

Primary colors are just so... primary. This square-format ABC book focuses on colors that readers have probably seen, but perhaps never before heard named. Large white capital letters appear against solid blocks of color, while alliterative phrases describe the image on the opposing page. “Ecru egg exhibits elegant eclectic exterior,” reads one phrase, referring to a photograph of a delicate speckled egg. Cutting’s images combine the playful with the elegant: “Khaki kingbirds keep kites knotless” in one scene, while in another stones are serenely stacked upon one another (“Periwinkle pebbles produce pleasing patterns”). If the sentences sometimes favor linguistic novelty over discernable meanings (“Zaffre zesty zebras zigzag zoo zone”), the book is still a visual and verbal treat. Ages 4–up. (Apr.)