ABC UK

Something for everyone to relate to in our enriched mulit-cultrural melting pot of a nation. Perhaps it may also spark some interesting debates about whom, or what, was missed out. You might also ask why this hasn't been done before, but full marks to the authors for such a bright and bold attempt to meet the challenge. - Publishing News

'The most innovative of all the picture books out this summer is in a sense the simplest. James Dunn and Helen Bate's ABC UK is a celebration of all things British, from King Arthur to Zero Degrees Longitude. The lovely pictures are consistently unexpected - Robin Hood is a black silhouette against a photograph of a wood, the Queen is a coloured drawing next to a painted corgi, V is for Vindaloo and so on. The opposite of jingoistic, it is the kind of thing I'd like to see turned into a poster for every primary school in the land; and if you're going on holiday abroad, will make you glad to be back home.' - Times

James Dunn's book is a heartwarming mix of the predictable and the unexpected, the traditional and the multicultural. Helen Bate's witty illustrations make the most of the resulting juxtapositions. On a bad day you might want to substitute Hoodies for Holmes and Reality TV for Robin Hood but this is the UK on a good day, as it should be in a children's book, and as grown-ups sometimes need reminding. - Financial Times

Rule Britannia with this gloriously anglo-centric ABC book. From King Arthur to The Beatles, it's a quirky celebration of national identity and all the things that make Great Britain great. The illustrations, colourful and diverse, have a wonderful retro feel that will appeal to adults as well as children. - tbkMag Christmas Supplement

If you are often asked for a gift for visitors from abroad, and you want something different that reflects our culture, then ABC UK fits the bill. It has lots of potential: It makes an ideal souvenir, can be enjoyed by all ages and is educational too. There is a glossary in the back, and it could certainly be used in classrooms to discuss citizenship. In short, a must-have in every bookshop. - Bookseller