Alphabet Books and Poetry

The Z Was Zapped

By: Chris Van Allsburg

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated By: Chris Van Allsburg

            The Z was Zapped is a very cute alphabet book about all of the twenty-six letters represented by acts. Each letter has a phrase that rhymes with the following letter. I read this book to a little boy I babysit. He loved having the opportunity to guess the next letter by using the rhyming words. I personally enjoyed this book, it is definitely an age specific book but pictures are very sophisticated in black and white. I would suggest this book to a preschool classroom. 

 Take Me Out Of The Bath Tub  

By: Alan Katz

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: David Catrow

         Take me out of the bathtub is a very clever interactive book. It consists of a number of different songs that have the same rhythm as classics but with different lyrics. For example, Take Me Out Of The Bath Tub is to the song, Take Me Out To The Ball game. My favorite song was Cranky Poodle, to the sound of Yankee Doodle. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this songbook. My only complaint is that I am not very musically inclined and as I sang with the different lyrics I lost my rhythm. I would love to use this book in the classroom environment but I would add a cd with the music to keep myself on beat. Additionally, it could be interesting to give all of the children the lyrics to sing along too. Overall, this was a very clever book. 

On Market Street

By: Arnold Lobel

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Anita Lobel

           On market street is an interesting take on the alphabet, this book is more about the illustration than the words. The book is introduced by a young boy going to the market early in the morning, buying gifts with is gold coins. The items he purchases all start with a letter of the alphabet. For example, he purchases noodles and the letter was an N. Each item is represented by a picture of the boy dressed as it. Whether it was an Umbrella, Jewels, Ice Cream or Playing Cards, the same boy wore and entire outfit made up of it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book; it is more about the images than the words so it requires a very young reader to find interest in the story.

 Alphabet City

By: Stephen T. Johnson

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Stephen T. Johnson

           Alphabet City is a very abstract and beautiful way to depict the alphabet within our industrial society. The images are raw, real and naturalistic in our society. I read this story to a young boy I baby sit who is just starting to learn his letters. He found this book to be interesting and he was interacting with the story. He would trace over the images in the shapes of each letter, I turned it into a game with him where he would see how quickly he could find each one. Overall, the photographs are beautiful and simplistic. This book truly shows how literature is everywhere. 

To Market, To Market

By: Anne Miranda

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Janet Stevens

           To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda was one of my favorite books as a child and I was thrilled when I saw it on the reading list. It is the classic nursery rhyme but with the twist of this poor lady misplacing all of her still living grocery items. From purchasing a pig, hen, goose, trout, lamb, cow, duck and goat they all destroy her home. She goes back to the market one last time and in a way to restore the chaos she makes soup for all the hungry animals. This book is poetic in the sense that the animal rhymes with the mischief they get into. For example, “To market, To market to buy a live TROUT…Uh-oh, the goose was let out.” Overall, I really liked this book and I plan on using this comical book in my classroom some day.

Key Is for Keystone: A Pennsylvania Alphabet

By: Kristin Kane

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Laura Knorr

                 This book is hands down one of my favorite books from the reading list. It synapses the unique features of Pennsylvania in twenty-six short pages. Each letter represents a different part of the state, for example A represents, Amish Country. The book states it as “A is for Amish, Plain People avoiding strife, artisans, quilters, family folk, living a simple way of life.” This is an easy and quick way to read the book to a young child because the stanzas rhyme. Yet, as an adult or more mature reader you can read the captions at the side that give a detailed description of the topic. For example a synapsis of the Amish and how they are located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, along with a description of the Amish lifestyle as a religious choice. This book continues to tell a story of Pennsylvania from historic colonization to the Hershey chocolate factory. As I previously stated, this book is one of my favorites, it is ideal for any reader. I personally learned things about Pennsylvania that I never knew before. I plan on purchasing this book for my collection and using it as a coffee table book for guests to read when they enter my home. I also enjoyed the easy quiz at the end that gave another engaging aspect to the book.

 

*Many Nations: An Alphabet of Native America

By: Joseph Bruchae

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated By: Unknown

     This is a Lower level book that consists of the alphabet. It encompasses a different aspect on each page. From clothing to food many traditions are shown in this book.

*G Is for Goat

By: Patricia Polacco

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco

            This story is about goats however it also is an alphabet book and the story unravels through all twenty-six letters. The rhythm and rhyme is soothing and at a quick pace. I would suggest this book for a children’s classroom. This book is defining letters that appeal to a very young reader but the sentence structure is at a level for a much older reader. This book would fit nicely on a second or third grade classroom library shelf.

*Pete the Cat: I Love White Shoes

By: Eric Litwin

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: James Dean

         This energetic story is about a cat that has white shoes on and as the school day continues his shoes change colors from red to brown and even blue. The rhythm and ‘jazz’ vibe that comes from this story is displayed in both the sentence structure and the sing-along-song that comes with the book. I think this book would be a good way to end a school day on a positive and playful note. Eric Litwin is a fun and energetic writer; I plan on using this book in my future classroom.

*The Wind Blew

By: Pat Hutchins

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated By: Unknown

         This is a small book about a number of community members who lose their belongings to the wind. The wind snatches up, an umbrella, balloon, kite, top hat, shirt, handkerchief, wig, letters, flag, scarves and even a newspaper until finally when it lets everyone's things fall down to the ground and uses its gusty force for to blow away a sail boat. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and how the plot cumulates until the end where it is resolved. The fun plot and detailed pictures are ideal for a young reader. I would suggest using this in a classroom.

*A Cache of Jewels: And other collective nouns

By: Ruth Heller

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated By: Ruth Heller

         This book is a fun way for children to understand what a collective nouns are. This book also uses rhyming words to help the story flow. For example, “A batch of bread all warm and brown, is always called a collective noun.” By using a story with illustrations it can help children put the collective nouns into perspective. I plan on using this book inside of my classroom. 

*Parts

By: Tedd Arnold

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated by: Unknown

       This book was very cute; it talked about a boy who was starting to loose all of his body parts. He first lost some pieces of his hair in a comb, then he found lint in his belly button, his foot was peeling, boogers, loose teeth, and finally his parents told him it was part of growing up. This is a great book for kids to understand that all of these things are a part of life and growing up. I plan on reading this fun book in my future classroom.

 

*Llama Llama Red Pajama

By: Anna Dewdney

Alphabet Books and Poetry

Illustrated By: Unknown

         This story is about a young Baby llama who is put to bed by his Mama llama. The rhythm of this story flows throughout every page. As Baby Llama gets more and more frustrated at his Mama llama the expressions and illustrations get more vivid. Finally Mama Llama comes and soothes Baby Llama and he falls asleep. This book is ideal for a very young child if read to and can be read by a beginning reader. I liked this book so much I bought a personal copy.