It’s April 1st which means it’s the official kick off day for the A to Z Blog Challenge where bloggers use the alphabet to structure their posts. I’m focusing on Alphabet Books this year and I am surrounded by piles of ABC books. One problem is that most alphabet books start with the letter A (makes sense, right?) So, I’m looking for themes to share in alphabet books.
Alphabet books were traditionally intended to help children identify letters and sounds but they have evolved to showcases for art and ideas. So, for your viewing pleasure take a look at
ANIMALIA by Graeme Base (author and illustrator)
Harry A. Abrams 1987
This ABC book is a visual feast. I remember spending hours poring over the detailed illustrations, counting objects, and looking for a boy hidden within the pages. Written in alliteration, each page features an animal and objects that begin with the featured letter beginning with An armoured armadillo avoiding an angry alligator. Many people consider this to be one of the best alphabet books available.
ALPHABEASTIES and OTHER AMAZING TYPES
Written and illustrated by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss
Blue Apple Books 2009
This is not your typical alphabet book. Yes, it starts with alligator and ends with zebra, but the illustrations make this book stand out. Each letter is represented by the easily recognizable silhouette of an animal, but the animals are composed of different shapes, sizes, and types of letters. This is an amazing introduction to the art of typography. Children (and adults) will be fascinated by the variation in fonts as well as the clever ways the letters form each alphabeast. Many of the pages fold out which makes it a very clever and hands-on alphabet book.
and, finally…
One of our favorite alphabet books is the teeny, tiny
ALLIGATORS ALL AROUND – An Alphabet
written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Harper and Row 1962
one of four books in the Nutshell Library
Here’s the book set to music and sung by Carole King –
One of the reasons I love the A to Z Challenge is that it gives me the opportunity to find new bloggers to follow. Check out Stories Served Around the Table where AntionetteTruglio Martin is writing about childhood games and songs from A-Z.
Thanks for stopping by!
Animalia appears awfully awesome!
I am not sure if this will transform into a nice clickable link; if it doesn’t, just copy and paste it into your browser. (Sorry, not using the laptop):
https://seal-of-melchizedek.blogspot.com/2019/04/brigham-city-utah-temple.html
I love your alliteration!
I need to find Alphabeasties for my own shelves. Great start, Claire.
Thanks for your Anamalia suggestion. It was fun to revisit an old favorite.
Hi Claire Annette – I came across Graeme Base’s book when I sat at the children’s area in the Duncan, Vancouver Island library one day … fascinating – and I’m sure the others completely fit the bill … great A for the A-Z … cheers Hilary
It’s amazing! I’m so glad to return to this old favorite. Thanks for stopping by!
These are very inspiring. Animals are a beloved subject for most children. I like a lot the original illustrations on “Alphabesties”. I would surely enjoy it. Well… I enjoy a lot children books, even if I’m an adult (ehem) and have no children.
Hi Eva,
I think there are many adults that read children’s books. I read them almost exclusively. Have you ever thought of doing a series of stamps featuring illustrations from kid’s books? I know you’ve featured Alice in Wonderland.
Anamalia is one of my favourites (though being an Early Childhood trained teacher I have many favs). Also want to check out Alphabeasties. Am wondering if alphabet books might be a good way to get a little bit of reading into an 11 year old I mentor who struggles with reading, especially with books like Anamalia where there is so much to see and look for.
I think using detailed alphabet books with a reluctant reader is a great idea. Check out my post on the letter X which is written as a graphic novel and is really clever and might be a book that would appeal to to the 11 year-old you’re working with. (I’m not sure why the link isn’t printing correctly)
Thanks for stopping by!