Alice in Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole

PreS-Gr 2—This much-pared-down picture book adaption takes a modern-looking heroine down the rabbit hole and through the first five chapters of Carroll's classic tale. Though some of the original dialogue is retained, the story is told in updated narration. The paintings create a dreamlike reality, depicting the creatures and landscapes of Wonderland with warm-hued brushstroked backgrounds, clean lines, unexpected color choices, and whimsical details. The playful use of shadow and perspective emphasize Alice's size shifts, as she consumes edibles that make her stature fluctuate between tiny and tremendous, treks through a river of her own tears, and, with the advice of a Blue Caterpillar, finally nibbles a mushroom and returns "to the right size. Phew!" The action abruptly ends there, with Alice pondering how to get home (and the tea party beckoning in the distance).