U Is for Underwear

It’s easy to see why a pair of tighty-whities figures prominently in the title and cover of this board book—they are by far the most eye-catching example in this otherwise straightforward abecedary. Levison, a Brooklyn-based artist, offers clean, understated portraits of a rubber duck for D, a swirl of pink ice cream for I, and a gray feather quill for Q. But while the artwork, rendered in bright and creamy colors against an equally creamy taupe background, is certainly handsome, the overall effect is of a book designed to appeal more to a modern parental aesthetic than to a child’s sense of fun. Ages 2–6. [em](Mar.) [/em]