Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC

by Lisa Falkenstern, Lisa Falkenstern (Illustrator)

Overview

In Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC, two mice dressed in Victorian clothing use gadgets and found objects—each starting with a different letter of the alphabet—to build a fantastic steampunk surprise. A is for anvil; M is for monkey wrench; P is for periscope. Steampunk-inspired elements abound on every page as the mice make use of ordinary household items—spoons, a sardine tin, life-size toothbrushes—to create the letters and, ultimately, the book’s surprise at the end. Young readers will delight in the mice characters and their fantastical creations, while parents will enjoy the celebration of steampunk—making old things new again, the retro/futuristic details, and the emphasis on creativity. With standout illustrations that are both charming and intricate, children and parents alike will want to pore over this story again and again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781477847220
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	04/15/2014
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD220L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Lisa Falkenstern created steampunk gadgets in her studio in New Jersey as she worked on this book. Altogether, she made numerous sculptures and used 1,072 pieces of hardware before she started the artwork. She has written and illustrated one other highly praised book, A Dragon Moves In. She lives with her husband in Califon, New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

02/17/2014
The typical preschooler may not know 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but that lack of familiarity won’t impede them from enjoying Falkenstern’s (A Dragon Moves In) geeky abecedary. Two industrious mice sporting all of the typical steampunk trappings—Victorian-style haberdashery accented with goggles and cogs, plus a zeal for low-tech industry—hammer on an anvil, collect bolts, and turn a crank (the latter belongs to an old-fashioned pencil sharpener). They progress through each letter of the alphabet (could G stand for anything but “gear”?) on their way toward a goal that remains inscrutable until the end. Honoring the subculture’s DIY ethos, the mice enlist ordinary household items—spoons, a sardine tin, life-size toothbrushes—in service of their mysterious project. Blending the gleam of various metals with the warmth of the furry mice and their antics, Falkenstern’s paintings lend a cartoonlike, kinetic feel to the dialogue-free scenes. The perennially sticky question of what X stands for causes many an ABC to overreach; Falkenstern’s answer not only feels organic, but points the way to a logical letter-Z reveal. Ages 3–5. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

The intricately detailed illustrations are quite fascinating and eye-catching.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] delightful work that can be enjoyed by all but especially by young tinkerers, future builders, and architects.” —School Library Journal

“The mice are cheery and the gorgeous illustrations are deep-hued but bright, giving balance to the sepia and saturated tones of Steampunk.” —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

2014-01-22
Here's another ABC book that takes an unusual theme and manipulates the device for a very sophisticated audience. Picture-book-age children will not be familiar with the term "steampunk," which is best known as a subgenre of fantasy and science fiction. The label typically features fantasy worlds powered by steam and clockwork and retro-futuristic inventions, often in a Victorian-style setting. Falkenstern takes that construct and adds two adorable mice, dressed in Victorian clothing, who use gadgets and found objects to invent machines, mostly using everyday tools. A is for Anvil; M is for Monkey wrench; P is for Periscope; Q is for Quartz; W is for Windsock; X Marks the spot; Z is for Zeppelin. Though there is no narrative as such, savvy readers will wonder what the various contrivances are leading to, if anything. The last page reveals the answer, as the mice float off on the zeppelin that they have contrived to build. The intricately detailed illustrations are quite fascinating and eye-catching, with the mice sporting French cuffs and bow ties, and one wears a red vest and derby hat. The disparity between format and content begs the eternal question, though: Who is the audience for this book? Though just a context-void bagatelle for actual children, perhaps teen and adult steampunk enthusiasts will take a look. (Picture book. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews