Crazy Alphabet

Designed around a cumulative ``House That Jack Built'' framework, this fresh and eye-catching alphabet book carves a special niche for itself in a crowded field. It all starts innocently enough--with an apple and the bird that ate it--and then careens through a deliciously improbable litany of characters and events, with each letter adding yet another twist--``M is for monkey / that jumped at the lightning / that struck the kite / tied to the jar / that trapped the insect. . . .'' The diverse cast includes an elephant, a queen, a wombat and finally a yowie, a most unusual monster that eats everything and then explodes, leaving--zero. McRae teams an uncommon palette (including such au courant hues as eggplant, teal, seafoam and olive drab) with a unique collage-like technique that resembles high-tech patchwork. With its crisp and witty images, this singular book will surely ensnare the imagination of young audiences. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)