Isabelle Arsenault takes the standby concept of an abecedarian and turns it on its head via whimsy, droll humour, and a unique twist. The stars here are the illustrations, which use the NATO phonetic alphabet as a springboard for inspiration. “Charlie,” for example, is accompanied by a Chaplinesque bowler, “Oscar” shows an evening gown on a red-carpet background, “Papa” is a man’s billfold with a baby picture tucked inside. In addition to teaching young children the alphabet, the book also sets up older kids for fun and games using their newly discovered “code.” This is a deceptively simple book that holds mounds of appeal for all members of the family.