Alice in Wonderland

'Tis the season for journeying down rabbit holes. In addition to Sabuda's and Seibold's pop-up editions (see Children's Forecasts, Sept. 22). Ralph Steadman portrays the curious girl in spirited illustrations that bring new life to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Steadman's imaginative pen-and-ink drawings, which first appeared in a 1968 British edition, have here been restored, reformatted and updated. The White Rabbit's anxiety at his tardiness seems insurmountable in an opening portrait; the bottle labeled "Drink Me" unmistakably resembles a classic Coca-Cola bottle; and the artist depicts Alice outgrowing the White Rabbit's house as a wordless spread of the girl in a dark interior, with only a window as the source of light. His artwork deftly blends contemporary ideas with timeless psychological portrayals. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In the original large-size edition, Zwerger invoked a surreal dreamland devoid of background and details, but with an ambiance so intensely realized it inspired readers' own imaginations. The impact of the exquisitely composed paintings (especially the full-page ones), however, is lost in this mini-edition. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Alice was sitting by the river having an oh-so-ordinary afternoon, when a White Rabbit ran by. Not just any old rabbit, but one with pink eyes, a red jacket, and a great big pocket watch.             "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" he groaned, looking at his watch. Then ZIP! he disappeared down a rabbit hole.             Alice did what any curious girl or boy would do. She followed him right into the hole. Excerpted from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.