Jabberwocky
*Starred Review* Pulsing with vibrant color, this imaginative interpretation of Carroll's classic nonsense poem takes it out of the pages of Through the Looking Glass, into a contemporary urban setting, and onto the basketball court. The calmer 'Twas brillig verses that begin and end the poem are illustrated with children outdoors, skipping rope and playing at an open fire hydrant, while the more intense middle verses involve a young man challenging the fierce, enormous Jabberwock on the court. The Jabberwock, apparently some 20 feet tall and well equipped for blocking shots with his bulky frame and outsize, six-fingered hands, is no match for his nimbler, lighter-than-air opponent, who triumphs in the end (O FRABJOUS DAY! CALLOOH! CALLAY!). Against colors so fiery and intense that they seem to radiate heat, the imposing black shape of the Jabberwock and the shaded brown form of the hero create strong, often-silhouetted images that play out the scenes with a ferocious concentration of energy and more than a little magic. At the book's beginning and end, a painting faces a page of text in large, bold letters on bright, solid colors, with certain words highlighted in boxes in contrasting hues. The middle section, during the game, brings the action front and center, with words on the page right along with the artwork. Full of energy, this radiant version of Jabberwocky commands and rewards attention. Phelan, Carolyn