The alphabet as a preeminent organizing principle of knowledge, is unique. It is the foundation of additional organizing principles like words, sentences, paragraphs, the Magna Carta. More than that, however, the alphabet is a point of superlative decision. When confronted by an alphabet, I think 'out of all the "Es," this is the one I choose. Eggs. No..elephants! No, Ellen!  Too many Es, not enough time!'

What would you choose for "E?" The superlative "E" in all its elegant fineness and exquisite.

For anyone drawing, describing, or lending their hand to an alphabet (like this unique version by my favorite nonsense poet, Edward Lear) the author will have chosen a top thing for every letter. Twenty-six decisions in all. Alphabets show us the artist as much as they show themselves.

For his 90th birthday in 2022, Quentin Blake (Born December 16, 1932), the long-time illustrator of Roald Dahl's fiction and biographies, issued a timeless imaginarium of his most beloved illustrations and inspirations, The Quentin Blake Treasury. It allowed me to revisit the magic space of Quentin Blake's mind, as ordered into the brilliance of our beloved alphabet.

Enjoy enthusiastically!

A is for Apples, some green and some red.

B is for Breakfast we're having in bed.

C is for Cockatoos learning to scream.

D is for Ducks upside down in a stream.

E is for Egg in a nest in a bush.

F is for Firework - it goes BANG and WHOOSH!

G is for Grandma - she's really quite fat.

H is for Hair that goes under your hat.

I is for Illness (which nobody likes).

J is for Junk - rusty beds and old bikes.

K is for Kittens all scratching the chair.

L is for Legs that we wave in the air.

M is for Mud that we got on our knees.

N is for Nose - and he's going to sneeze.

O is for Ostrich who gives us a ride.

P is for Parcel - let's guess what's inside.

Q is for Queen with a cloak and a crown.

R is for Roller skates - watch us fall down!

S is for Sisters, some short and some tall.

T is for Tent where there's room for all.

U is Umbrella to keep off the rain.

V is for Vet, when your pet has a pain.

W is for Watch - we can hear the ticktocks.

X is for the ending for a jack-in-the-boX.

Y is for Yak - he's our hairiest friend.

Z is for Zippers. That's all. That's the end.

That's all. That's the end!