"With so many alphabet books on the market, do we really need another? In this case, the answer is a resounding yes, mainly because here the alphabet is not the focus but rather a device to introduce kids to neat architectural features--balcony, finial, gargoyle, quoin, and the like. Each entry includes a clever four-line verse by Crosbie--an architect himself--and a striking picture by the Rosenthals, who run a business specializing in architectural photography. Here's what Crosbie writes for the letter "V": "A hole in the wall / To bring fresh air through. / Could this vent be home / To a small bird or two?" On the final four pages, each term is more succinctly defined, and readers learn where all 26 photos were shot. This is a top-notch primer." --Stephen Del Vecchio and Blake Hume Rodman