The concept of this compendium is Bell’s “collection” of animal albums. What we get are 26 hilarious, extraordinary double page spreads of these animal albums. Bell’s art in this book is all hand-painted collage with cut paper lettering, embroidery and other handmade elements. Each double page-spread includes an album cover complete with record companies, titles, and lyrics to one of the album songs – all alliterative, amusing and acrobatic in their uniqueness. The type for each ornamental display letter is done in a compatible style. Dodos and discos, Kangaroos and klezmer,  –  Bell’s imagination and scope knows no bounds. For example, Xavier Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless dog) and his “x-traordinary xylophone” sing on XOXO, Xavier on Xanthic Fox Records with songs like Use Your Inside Vox. Each animal artist also has a brief but incredibly detailed bio.  

This would be a great one-to-one read aloud. Each set of lyrics would probably work as a separate session. The book is highly browseable; a QR code on the copyright page allows readers to become listeners and listen to the musical rendition of each of the book’s songs. As Arnie Dillow sings in “My Astonishing Armpit is Astonishing to All”, “Whee!  . . . .  Gee! .. . .  And ‘Glory be!’”

Highly recommended for public and school library collections. 

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS, Young School Librarian, Saco