The Wacky Wedding: A Book of Alphabet Antics - Hardcover

The wedding of the quite content queen ant and her faithful flying ant fellow is about to begin! Unfortunately, one disaster after another is in store for the passionate pair. First, a foolish fly lets some fruit fall on the groom's head. He insists the ceremony must not cease, so, spattered in purple, the nice nuptials continue. When oatmeal cookies and orangeade are offered to all, it seems as though the day will end perfectly... until the bride has a little mishap herself. "A terrible tragedy is taking place," cry the tearful treehoppers, trembling on a twig. Will the queen--and the day--be saved and the adoring ants allowed to live happily ever after? Pamela Duncan Edwards and illustrator Henry Cole (of Livingstone Mouse and Honk!) have created a hilarious alliterative alphabet book that goes well beyond the standard ABCs. Readers of all ages will be in stitches at the ants' antics. Younger picture-book aesthetes will love the challenge of finding the hidden letter and object on each page. Lush, larger-than-life illustrations of jungle-like grasses and leaves, and the giant yet subtle soda-pop can that provides orangeade drops, remind readers of the complex and complete world that usually goes unnoticed at their feet. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

Grade 1-3An alphabet tale of an elaborate ant wedding. As the guests, who range from army ants to zebra swallowtails, arrive and the festivities proceed, elegance soon gives way to slapstick. The wedding cake is dropped, the groom is knocked down by falling fruit, and the bride falls into a puddle and almost drowns. All ends happily as fireflies light up the night sky. The story line is lively and sometimes silly with lots of madcap antics and rich alliteration, such as Tearful treehoppers trembled on a twig. One particularly memorable line notes that the bride and groom have loved each other since they were larvae. The zestful, colorful, and dynamic artwork, done with colored pencil and acrylic, captures the spirit of the story. The pictures will catapult readers into an insects-eye view of the world, even if some of these bugs have rather unorthodox appearances (fire ants in firefighter outfits and army ants in camouflage). A letter is hidden in each illustration. Unfortunately, some of the text is difficult to read when it is printed on a dark-green background. Still, future entomologists with a sense of humor and lively imagination will want to join this zany celebration.Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.