Down the Rabbit-Hole The Pool of Tears A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale The Rabbit Sends In a Little Bill Advice From a Caterpillar Pig and Pepper A Mad Tea-Party The Queen's Croquet-Ground The Mock Turtle's Story The Lobster Quadrille Who Stole the Tarts? Alice's Evidence
In addition to his work as an illustrator of classics, Hungarian-born artist Willy Pogany served as an art director on several Hollywood films, including Fashions of 1934 and Dames. He was also an author and teacher whose instructive manuals include Dover's Drawing Lessons.
A clock-face grows like the daisies around it as the White Rabbit hurries by; in the opening pages of the story, Browne hints at his interpretive presence in Carroll's world. A burning key, a fish swimming through space, a green thread winding its way through a cabinetful of strange objects, and the artist makes it clear that this will be no ordinary Alice. Thimbles and umbrellas bloom atop green stalks, Willy the chimp races by, another thimble casts the shadow of a trophy, the Caterpillar wears a smoking jacket covered with butterflies. The Mad Hatter has a stack of his wares on his head, and wears a terrible grimace; the tea party at which he resides displays a table full of toylike objects and sweets, among which are many surprising juxapositions. In short, the volume is so consumed by the unexpected that readers may well find their eyes leaving the text to pore over the pictures, replete with jaunty details and stunning surreal images that grandly point back in the direction of the written word. All ages. (Oct.)
Gr 4-8 Many fine artists have illustrated Alice in Wonderland , notably Arthur Rackham (Heinemann, 1907; o.p.), Ralph Steadman (Potter, 1973; o.p.), and Barry Moser (University of California Pr, 1982). Like the others, Browne utilizes Carroll's full text, including the ``Golden Afternoon'' poem and an author's note about the Hatter's Riddle. As a tribute to Tenniel's artistry, most of the best illustrators echo his unforgettable drawings. Although some of Browne's illustrations borrow Tenniel's composition, for example the frog doorman and the fish messenger, Browne's hyper-realistic style and quirky details make them his own. He ably avoids the Disneyesque trap that many full-color illustrators fall into. His Alice, more ordinary and child-like, meets all of the customary bizzare creatures, including Browne's signature gorilla. Readers will enjoy discovering the odd details that Browne includes, such as the fish mustache on the marble bust or the club-shaped beauty mark and the pig-earred hat on the Duchess. Reillustrating a classic like Alice in Wonderland is a challenge. Many have tried, but only a few can match Lewis Carroll's brilliance. Anthony Browne is one of them. Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
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