*****= An all-time favorite
**** = Outstanding
*** = Above
average
**
= Enjoyable
*
= Good, with reservations
***C D C?
by William Steig
Reviewed October 9, 2003.
Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 2003. Originally published in 1984.
58 pages.
Available in hardcover on Amazon.com for $11.20.
Available at Sembach Library (J 793.73 STE).
C D C? is a puzzle book. Each page has a picture and
a phrase made up of letters and numbers or symbols. When you speak
the letters aloud, it comes out sounding like the phrase represented by the
picture. For example: “U-G-N K-M 2 D C-T” shows a picture of
a man with suitcases on a sidewalk. It represents “Eugene came to the
city.”
When I first looked through this book, I thought it was more for adults,
since many of the words aren’t in a kid’s vocabulary, like “effigy” (F-E-G)
or “tedium” (T-D-M). I did bring it home, and when I saw my 9-year-old’s
look of delight as he figured out the answers, I decided that it’s a kid’s
book after all, but one that their parents can enjoy, too.
I did have to explain several of the words, but it provided some fun and
expanded his vocabulary, so I’m very happy with this book.
Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund