I am eagerly awaiting the end of the drops in my eyes and the eye exam that will put me back in whatever sort of glasses I will now need. The surgery is the easiest part of this, it's the waiting period (for your eyes to stabilize and heal) that's the pits!

I love the imagination and creativity of alphabet books! One of my very favorites is Anno's Alphabet: an Adventure in Imagination by Mitsumase Anno. Each letter looks as if it was carved from wood, with an Escher-esque twist. Check the borders carefully, each of the items there starts with the featured letter.

As regular readers of my blog know, I have family in Ohio. When the kids were little, I sent them O is for Orca: a Pacific Northwest Alphabet Book, by Andrea Herman and illustrated with the wonderful photos of Art Wolfe. There are images of the geography, people, animals (marine and land) of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon depicting what makes each of them unique.

The Shemsu Alphabet is an alphabet inspired by a remarkable shelter rescue dog. While designed for children, it has the added benefit of being well received by folks in an assisted care facility for those with Alzheimer's, because, as I learned from one resident, "I don't have to remember 'A' to enjoy 'T'!" (This book may be found at lulu.com)

I'll be up front here ... I am NOT a sports fan. Not at all .... and yet .... here I am, recommending Z is for Zamboni: a Hockey Alphabet! Matt Napier provides the text (in rhyme) explaining the game with illustrations by Melanie Rose. My friends who are sports fans (some play hockey) also gave this book high marks.

Take a look at the Alphabet Book section next time you are in a book store, there is an amazing variety of subjects with equally amazing artwork. (Often from artists and photographers whose coffee table books are very expensive).

Reading Hermit With Dog