Gulf Islands Alphabet. Bronwyn Preece. Illustrated by Alex Walton. Vancouver, BC: Simply Read Books, 2011. 48 pp., hardcover, $19.95. ISBN 978-1-897476-29-1. Subject Headings: English language-Alphabet-Juvenile literature. Gulf Islands (B.C.)-Pictorial works-Juvenile literature. Alphabet books. Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8. Review by Ellen Heaney. ** /4

Earlier known as the Strait of Georgia, or Gulf of Georgia, the body of water between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island was part of the area renamed “The Salish Sea” in 2010 following a proposal by the Chemainus First Nation. The lovely map on the end pages of Gulf Islands Alphabet is labelled “The Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea.”

     Artist Alex Walton depicts a landscape familiar to residents of the West Coast in Gulf Islands Alphabet. Expanses of ocean, towering trees and thick undergrowth are realistically featured in the watercolours that fill the pages. The passage of the seasons is also captured well. I love the winter scene of the crows atop a fir tree with a ferry boat in the near distance. Although the natural features in the book are true-to-life, some of the human figures are awkward and out of proportion.

      The text consists of 26 alliterative phrases describing different aspects of island life. They are informative and complement the watercolour spreads well, but the language is stilted. A few examples are:

Eagles fly over Estuaries,
Eventually landing on Entrance Island.
Exploring these isles
Enchants us and others, who arrive on....
Ferries to Fulford Harbour and False Bay
And boats that
Frequent Fiddler's Cove.

     There is a certain greeting card quality to the words rather than the capturing of a mood that would appeal to children.

      Gulf Islands Alphabet is a useful geography lesson for teachers and parents and a pleasant artistic excursion. However, it is less successful as a picture book.

Recommended with reservations.

Ellen Heaney is Head, Children’s Services at the New Westminster Public Library, New Westminster, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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