Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami

This volume is part of the publisher's series of alphabet books whose titles are arranged in alphabetical order (others in the series include A is for America, S is for Shamrock, and D is for Dancing Dragon). This book opens with aqueducts and ends with zabaglione. Each passage includes information on geographical, historical, social, and cultural aspects of such specific entries as "Galileo" and "Uffizi" and as generic entries as "kitchen" and "heritage." Some letters use an entire double-page spread, while others are limited to a single page. The more regionally-specific entries offer quite a wealth of information, and the level of detail is impressive given the space limitations. The entry for Naples, for instance, includes the story of the origin of pizza and myths related to the island of Capri. The emphasis here is on history, culture, and the contributions of Italians to their nation and to the world. The text for other entries is slight in comparison. Each letter is also accompanied by four lines of rhymed verse. Unfortunately, the rhythm and meter are frequently hit-or-miss, and the verse does not add much to the whole. The simple recipe for zabaglione is a nice touch. The book is co-authored by Governor Mario Cuomo (The Blue Spruce), who includes a personal message celebrating the contributions of all immigrants to the "dazzling ‘American Mosaic.'" Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami