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Overview
In this innovative book, animals take the shapes of all the letters in the alphabet! From an alligator to a zebra, each animal represents a different letter—but what could it be? To find the answer, children can pull out the pages to find the letter and the animal’s name. This fun format is perfect for children who are learning to grasp the familiarity and phonetics of the alphabet, as the first letter of each animal’s name corresponds to the letter depicted. Children will learn their ABCs while exposing themselves to a wide array of animals. Parents and kids alike will delight in Suse MacDonald’s unique, cut-paper, collage-style artwork.
Synopsis
In this innovative book, animals take the shapes of all the letters in the alphabet! From an alligator to a zebra, each animal represents a different letter—but what could it be? To find the answer, children can pull out the pages to find the letter and the animal's name. This fun format is perfect for children who are learning to grasp the familiarity and phonetics of the alphabet, as the first letter of each animal's name corresponds to the letter depicted. Children will learn their ABCs while exposing themselves to a wide array of animals. Parents and kids alike will delight in Suse MacDonald's unique, cut-paper, collage-style artwork.
Children's Literature
In her introduction, the author says she used the concept behind this book to introduce art and the alphabet to school children for many years before realizing that it would make a great book. How right she is! Here is a book that children can use on their own to strengthen their familiarity with the alphabet as they develop awareness of line and color in art. Each page of the book is, in reality, a sturdy envelope that holds a large slide-out card. There is a thumb-nail cut-out in the outer edge of each envelope which allows the card to be pulled outward but not out of the envelope. The first illustration, on a bright red background, shows an alligator bending in a way that makes the shape of the letter A. Pull out the card and the letter A appears above the word Alligator on a bright yellow background. On the opposing page a blue bird with a large round eye and a bright green feather on its back rests on a darker blue background. A lighter blue card can be pulled out to reveal a bright red B with the word Bird printed below. The bird is a little less obviously shaped like a B, but a finger can easily trace the shape of a B on the bird. And so it goes, cheerful, bright colors; amusing pictures of animals and a tactile urge to move your finger around each animal and bird to follow the contour of a letter! The practice of asking children who are learning the alphabet to trace the outline of each letter with their fingers is an established learning tool, and it is fun to do! Especially recommended for children having trouble learning the alphabet. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich
Editorials
Children's Literature -
In her introduction, the author says she used the concept behind this book to introduce art and the alphabet to school children for many years before realizing that it would make a great book. How right she is! Here is a book that children can use on their own to strengthen their familiarity with the alphabet as they develop awareness of line and color in art. Each page of the book is, in reality, a sturdy envelope that holds a large slide-out card. There is a thumb-nail cut-out in the outer edge of each envelope which allows the card to be pulled outward but not out of the envelope. The first illustration, on a bright red background, shows an alligator bending in a way that makes the shape of the letter A. Pull out the card and the letter A appears above the word Alligator on a bright yellow background. On the opposing page a blue bird with a large round eye and a bright green feather on its back rests on a darker blue background. A lighter blue card can be pulled out to reveal a bright red B with the word Bird printed below. The bird is a little less obviously shaped like a B, but a finger can easily trace the shape of a B on the bird. And so it goes, cheerful, bright colors; amusing pictures of animals and a tactile urge to move your finger around each animal and bird to follow the contour of a letter! The practice of asking children who are learning the alphabet to trace the outline of each letter with their fingers is an established learning tool, and it is fun to do! Especially recommended for children having trouble learning the alphabet. Reviewer: Eleanor HeldrichSchool Library Journal
PreS-K
A note to parents explains that this book is a guessing game in which animals and birds are drawn in the shapes of letters and children are encouraged to identify them. Each page presents one critter, set against a bright backdrop, with a pull-out panel that reveals the letter represented along with the name of that particular animal. The color combinations are eye-catching and the images are appealing, as legs and various body parts are imaginatively arranged to mimic capital letters. A cat curls gracefully to form a "C," a jellyfish's tendrils drape down to make a "J," and a yak's yellow horns extend into a "Y." This is a clever way to help children learn the alphabet and reinforce pre-reading skills.-Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public Library