Review - A is for Apricat

A is for Apricat (Little Concepts)
by Mauro Gatti
Date: 2019
Publisher: Walter Foster Jr.
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Learn the ABCs through cute, quirky mash-ups of animals and food, from Apricat to Zebrussels Sprout!

A is for Apricat is a fun, creative way for kids to learn their ABCs. Combining photos of fresh fruits and vegetables with cute illustrations of animals, illustrator Mauro Gatti has created a whole new kind of critter! The Apricat has the round, fuzzy body of a real apricot, with the adorable whiskers and face of a kitten. And the Turkale may have the head and neck of a turkey, but its body is fresh and green.

Each page features a letter with a new fruit or vegetable creature, paired with simple text to help kids learn the letter, the animal, and the food. A food facts page at the back explains the health benefits of each featured food with playful, kid-geared language.

Promoting healthy eating and imaginative thinking, this unique, lighthearted take on a basic concept will be enjoyed by kids and parents alike.

The Little Concepts series helps young readers learn their ABCs with adorable illustrations featuring unique animals, colors, languages, and even healthy foods. From A to Z, learning the alphabet (even in Spanish and French!) has never been so surprising and engaging.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm a little bit confused as to who the audience for this book is supposed to be. A is for Apricat is a clever alphabet book that combines animals with foods. Are toddlers learning their ABCs really going to "get" the Kangaroot (kangaroo/turmeric root hybrid) or the Narwhanilla (narwhal/vanilla bean hybrid)? Some mashups, like the Apricat and Flamango, have the potential to reinforce the wrong spelling in kids who are just learning.

I like the inclusion at the back of the list of all the foods that are pictured. Still, I don't know if toddlers are going to care about antioxidants and the digestive health properties of various fruits and vegetables. Adults will likely find this book more entertaining than kids because of its pun-like nature. The problem is, to understand jokes like this, you need to understand the concepts they're derived from... and I'm not sure if the audience for an alphabet book has that understanding yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Walter Foster Jr. for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5