EYE SPY: A Book of Alphabet Puzzles

Chronicle Books, 1992. 1st Paperback Edition 2nd Printing. Soft cover. New/No Jacket Issued. Linda Bourke. CONDITION: UNREAD 1992 Chronicle paperback, second printing. Bright, colorful illustrations by the Author. Tiny, tiny edge wear top front cover corner tip. CONTENT: This book is not for every child but for one who enjoys solving and recognizing puzzles. The reader is challenged to a two-tiered guessing game by trying to discover the answer, which is either a homonym or homophone, to the picture puzzle accompanying each letter of the alphabet and to detect the visual clues about what is on the following page. In an inventive variation on the alphabet book, each page offers a puzzle with words that are homophones or homonyms. Once the trick is learned, the rest is easy, though it's fun to go back and discover how Bourke chooses to execute the theme. For example, for the letter J the first three illustrations show a jar of jam, a bowl of jam and jam on crackers; the fourth depicts a trio of jazz musicians jamming on bass, piano and sax. In another, three belts display various waists; the fourth block is a basket full of discarded paper. Children who like to play with words or are just learning some of the intriguing ways English works could be captivated by the concept. Unfortunately, the small-sized illustrations do not successfully capture the book's complicated but nifty ideas. Eye Spy is an intriguing picture book for all ages. The pictured homonyms and homophones keep you guessing at the next visual for each letter. All ages.