Review - Doris' Dear Delinquents

Doris' Dear Delinquents
by Emma Ward
Date: 2021
Publisher: Clavis
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Doris the gharial crocodile has her motherly hands full with twenty-six misbehaved hatchlings. Follow along on a journey through the alphabet as she tries to bring peace back into her home.

An amusing book about a crocodile and her cheeky hatchlings, whose names all start with a specific letter of the alphabet. For readers who know their ABCs ages 4 years and up.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't know I would enjoy this alphabet book as much as I did. Doris and her hatchlings are cute (well, as cute as crocodiles can be) and their antics are amusing. The crocodiles also wear clothes, which is probably the most hilarious part of the book. So many hatchlings in overalls! Well, except for Lucas...

My one complaint is that the layout is not consistent, and some of the text seems to be misplaced, especially on pages where there's more than one thing going on. On more than one occasion, the text for one illustration seems to be swapped with the text for another illustration on the same page. You can figure it out if you look closely at the pictures, but there's really no reason for it to be this confusing.

That aside, this is a unique, entertaining alphabet book that kids will probably enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - The Alphabet's Alphabet

The Alphabet's Alphabet
by Chris Harris
illustrated by Dan Santat
Date: 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

For fans of P is for Pterodactyl comes this groundbreaking spin on the ABC's from an acclaimed, bestselling author and artist pairing!

Here's a totally twisted take on the alphabet that invites readers to look at it in a whole new way: An A is an H that just won't stand up right, a B is a D with its belt on too tight, and a Z is an L in a tug-of-war fight! Twenty-six letters, unique from each other -- and yet, every letter looks just like one another! Kind of like...one big family.

From two bestselling masters of wordplay and visual hijinks comes a mind-bending riddle of delightful doppelgängers and surprising disguises that reveal we're more alike than we may think. You'll never look at the alphabet the same way again!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The Alphabet's Alphabet has a unique premise: the letters of the alphabet are kind of like one big family... and all of them resemble someone else in the family tree! Well, except for S (but I'm still impressed that the author was able to come up with 25 doppelgängers).

This is an alphabet book for slightly older kids. The amusing illustrations show this family of letters and their similarities. There's even a code to break at the end (that I spent way too much time on, but what can I say? I'm a puzzle geek). The text rhymes, and it's quite well done.

I don't know if I'd recommend this to kids who are still just learning their letters, but I would recommend it to older readers who can appreciate the similarities of the letters.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.14 out of 5

Review - An ABC of Flowers

An ABC of Flowers
by Jutta Hilpuesch
Date: 2019
Publisher: Philomel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Step into the garden and learn your ABC's with this colorful feast for the eyes!

From asters and daisies to roses and sunflowers, An ABC of Flowers is a colorful burst from the garden that will have little hands eager to grab. Filled with gorgeous photo illustrations, bold colors, and clever line art featuring a miniature-sized girl named Amelie, toddlers will laugh and be mezmerized by the book's vibrant pages.

Perfect for the youngest readers learning their ABC's!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a visually appealing alphabet book that, unfortunately, falls short on a few levels.

First, I don't ever want to see apostrophe usage like this. Apostrophes don't make plurals. I don't know why writers can't get this through their heads. (I'm having flashbacks to A Thousand No's.)

Second, I'm not loving some of the choices. I'm impressed the author managed to find a flower for X, but some of the other more obvious choices weren't used. M is for mum, which is presumably short for chrysanthemum (or maybe xeranthemum... there's your X!). Why not go with a flower that actually starts with an M? Monkshood? Magnolia? Morning Glory? Also, the entry for Queen Anne's Lace had me scratching my head; the only stuff I've ever seen is white, and this was pink. Apparently, it can be pink when it's budding, but why use a photo of an unfamiliar growing stage?

The pictures are cute enough, with little illustrated figures interacting with the flower photos. I don't really have any complaints there.

I love the premise, and I'm impressed that the author was able to find a flower to go with all 26 letters of the alphabet. But parts of the execution leave something to be desired. Maybe if it hadn't referred to "ABC's" I might not have been so annoyed.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - V Is for Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind

V Is for Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind
by Ruby Roth
Date: 2013
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Introducing three- to seven-year-olds to the "ABCs" of a compassionate lifestyle, V Is for Vegan is a must-have for vegan and vegetarian parents, teachers, and activists! Acclaimed author and artist Ruby Roth brings her characteristic insight and good humor to a controversial and challenging subject, presenting the basics of animal rights and the vegan diet in an easy-to-understand, teachable format. Through memorable rhymes and charming illustrations, Roth introduces readers to the major vegan food groups (grains, beans, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruits) as well as broader concepts such as animal protection and the environment. Sure to bring about laughter and learning, V Is for Vegan will boost the confidence of vegan kids about to enter school and help adults explain their ethical worldview in a way that young children will understand.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I haven't come across a lot of vegan books for kids. Actually, this may be one of the first ones I've read.

V Is for Vegan is a simple rhyming alphabet book that talks about various vegan foods (and non-vegan things like dairy, eggs, and fur). It's easy to understand, and quite cute overall.

I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of the style of the pictures. And, for some reason, I found the font a bit hard to read in spots. It's supposed to look like a child's scrawl, but the difference in size of some of the letters confused my brain a bit (for example, on the Bb page, it took me a moment to figure out that what looked like "beduty" was actually "beauty")!

But if you're looking for a picture book that introduces some simple ideas about veganism to young children, you can't really go wrong here. It's a non-judgmental look at veganism geared toward the youngest readers, and it oozes fun and positivity.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 5/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.14 out of 5

Review - ABCs of Kindness

ABCs of Kindness
by Patricia Hegarty
illustrated by Summer Macon
Date: 2019
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 22
Format: e-book
Source: library

Learning the importance of kindness is as easy as A-B-C with this sweet board book.

A is for all of us be everyone's friend.
B is for believing things will turn out well in the end.
C is for being caring in everything you do.
D is for dear ones who mean the world to you.

Learn your ABCs while learning to be kind to everyone you meet with this irresistibly illustrated board book that's perfect for Valentine's Day.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

First of all, ignore the sample in Goodreads's synopsis. It's not accurate, and it makes the book sound clunky and badly written. It's not. This is actually a charming, rhyming alphabet book that's perfect for every day of the year.

Each letter accompanies a different value or concept. The pages are illustrated with various animals who all appear to be friends. The whole thing is pretty cute.

If I have one complaint, it's that the words that start with the letters of the alphabet are not differentiated enough from the rest of the text. They're slightly bigger, but it's too subtle. For the age group this book is aimed at, it needs to be a bit clearer.

But, overall, this is a lovely little book. It would be a nice one to read at bedtime, or anytime we might need a reminder about what's really important.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - A is for Another Rabbit

A is for Another Rabbit
by Hannah Batsel
Date: 2020
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A rabbit-obsessed narrator makes an owl increasingly irate by refusing to play by the rules of a conventional alphabet book. Every entry is about bunnies, from "delightful, dynamic, daredevil rabbits" to "xylophone rabbits and rabbits on drums!" Readers will pore over scenes of bunnies at the circus, in a tiny town, at the museum, even in a motorcycle gang. Author-illustrator Hannah Batsel takes readers on a delightful romp through the alphabet and keeps them laughing all the way to the ridiculously fun conclusion.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a fun twist on an alphabet book. It's probably suitable for older children (not the ones who typically read alphabet books) because of the more complex narrative and the advanced vocabulary. This isn't a straight "A is for apple" sort of book. In fact, from the very first entry, the genre is turned on its head.

An owl is trying to explain the alphabet. But some bunnies take over and make the book all about them. Everything has to do with rabbits. The owl gets frustrated, and just when he thinks he's gotten the upper hand... things go south. The poor guy ends up amusingly frazzled, while the rabbits take over.

There's lots to look at in the pictures, and plenty of fun details to be found. There are so many different types of leporine characters in the book (from robot rabbits to Picasso-style bunnies) that readers will probably find something new with each read.

While I'm often wary of books like this because the intended audience is unclear (Will toddlers "get it"? Will older kids even want to read an alphabet book?), I think this one is worth checking out. At the very least, it offers some fun pictures to look at (and you might learn a few new words, too).

Thank you to NetGalley and Carolrhoda Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 4.29 out of 5

Review - Little People: An Alphabet

Little People: An Alphabet
by T. W. H. Crosland
Date: 1902
Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 108
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

(see it on Goodreads)

Good "Uncle Sam" has food to spare
For hungry nations everywhere;
His manufactures, too, are sent
From Occident to Orient.

Obviously written a long, long time ago, Little People is a fascinating glimpse at an old alphabet book for children. While modern readers will likely find the pages full of stereotypes and racism, they may also find a fascinating look at social views from over a century ago.

Some of the entries are positively cringe-worthy. C is for Chinaboy (his father's name is Loo Too Sin and he's a good boy, despite not putting sugar in his tea). I is for Indian (he goes shirtless and wears a feather headdress). J is for Japanese (referred to as "Japs" and much is made of how tiny they are). K is for Kaffir (implied to be shifty and named Washington Neb-u-chad-nez-zar Solomon Sambo Snowball Timothy Jack Adolphus Rule Britannia Black). The stereotypes and assumptions don't stop there. All Persians apparently know the Shah. Quakers are secretly rich (because they don't spend much money on food, so they have "pots of money"). Valencia is a town "full of dirt and mules and fleas". I thought this seemed almost like a really old edition of books like Children Just Like Me... but then there are a couple of entries that don't seem to be about children at all. O is for Odalisque, which, as far as I can tell, is some sort of Turkish servant (the copy I read was missing that picture). And Z is for Zany, which is apparently some kind of clown or jester. I don't know what that has to do with anything.

The book ends with the words: Now we have finished--and I'm glad. Me, too, Mr. Crosland. Me, too. Check this one out for an interesting historical lesson on racism and colonialism. But, for goodness sake, don't give it to your kids (unless you're going to sit down and have an in-depth conversation about why this sort of book would never fly in 2020).

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.57 out of 5

Review - Please Don't Say An X Word

Please Don't Say An X Word
by W. Nikola-Lisa
Date: 2020
Publisher: Gyroscope Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 27
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

In the tradition of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll, W. Nikola-Lisa has written a concept picture book that presents the alphabet—all out of order and such—with each page comprised of three letters of the alphabet (very alliterative and funny) ending with the phrase, "Please don't say an X word," which, it is revealed (but only later), are "bad... angry... hurtful..." words (words YOU shouldn't say), leaving the reader to ponder more interesting words, words that are ”silly,” “fancy,” and considerably more “tongue-tickling”—and more appropriate and intellectually stimulating—than the usual four-letter words that we hurl at each other.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book really misses the mark. Look, I love wordplay. Especially when it's done so cleverly in kids' books that it's accessible to young readers as well as older ones. But the concept here is so high that it's going to have a hangover later. What we have here is an alphabet book that's trying to be literary and cute. It doesn't work.

The problem is that X words are never defined, other than that they're the words we use to hurt others. Unfortunately, the rest of the book talks about F words, N words, and S words as "fancy", "nifty", and "silly" (respectively). When you approach a child and say the phrase "F word", what do you think their first thought is going to be? (Hint: probably not "fluffy", "ferocious", or "finagle".) When you attach "word" to a letter of the alphabet, it brings with it a certain connotation (usually negative). The whole premise of the book is based around this (i.e., "X words"), so I don't understand why the author thought that implying that the N word is "nifty" would go over very well.

The book goes on to instruct kids in how to speak to each other:

You know these [X] words...

BAD words.
ANGRY words.
HURTFUL words.

Words YOU shouldn't say.

So the next time you're about to say an X word,
stop and think
(I mean, how'd you like it if someone called you an X word?).

Instead, say
a silly word,
a fancy word...

Did this book seriously just encourage children to use the S and F words?

Seriously. That's F-worded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gyroscope Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 1/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 0.83 out of 5

Review - Bear Is Awake!

Bear Is Awake!: An Alphabet Story
by Hannah E. Harrison
Date: 2019
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this delightfully different alphabet book from the creator of Extraordinary Jane, a curious bear makes a new friend.

Suddenly "awake" in the middle of winter, a "big bear" explores a "cozy cabin," which Bear of course "enters excitedly." But the cabin isn't empty--a little girl lives there. So begins an unlikely friendship and an unexpected adventure as the girl attempts to figure out what a bear is supposed to be doing in the winter. (Hint: It's not eating pancakes or visiting the library!)

With her trademark humor and warmth, Hannah E. Harrison puts her own irresistible spin on the classic alphabet book. The result is a story families will treasure for years to come.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm often conflicted when it comes to picture books that feature realistic bears (or other dangerous creatures) interacting with children. This book, unfortunately, has some of that. But I want to overlook that somewhat in this case because the illustrations are too adorable to be missed!

This is a bit of a different alphabet book in that it tells a story. It could also work as a wordless picture book, but the words here--carefully chosen to highlight each letter of the alphabet--make this a great tool for teaching new words. Some of the entries are not basic; for example, O features "oblivious" and "outlandish". But I actually like that the language isn't dumbed down.

The basic story is that a bear wakes up from hibernation, goes wandering, sees a cozy cabin, and rings the doorbell. When a little girl answers the door, the fun begins as she tries to figure out what to do with her ursine visitor.

The illustrations are really the star here. The bear is drawn fairly realistically, but it's also kind of cute and anthropomorphized to the point that my wariness started to dissipate a little. (Still, if you live in bear country, make sure your kids realize that actual bears are dangerous and probably won't take kindly to being dragged to the library or made to wear a hat.)

Despite my reservations about the premise, I quite enjoyed the rest of this. The illustrations are truly lovely, and I'd like to see what else the illustrator has done.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet

D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet (Discover the World)
by Carol Crane
illustrated by Zong-Zhou Wang
Date: 2006
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Winding its way like a long dragon through 4,000 miles of mountains, desert, and grasslands, The Great Wall of China was built entirely by hand, taking hundreds of years and millions of workers to complete. That's just one of the myriad wonders of China children will discover in this far-reaching book. D is for Dancing Dragon brings China's history and culture alive by describing its unique customs, art works, music, foods, geography and wildlife. Children will learn, for example, that paper, ink, printing, umbrellas, kites and fireworks are all Chinese inventions. They'll find the secrets of how silk is made, how chopsticks work and why you should never cry on the Chinese New Year's Day. They will even learn a few Chinese words, as well as which astrological animal sign belongs to them. This captivating book is sure to be of special interest to anyone curious about this beautiful and mysterious land.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The only other installment I've read in this series of alphabet books is M is for Maple... and I wasn't impressed with that one, either. D is for Dancing Dragon could have been a nice non-fiction book highlighting all things Chinese. Instead, it comes across as paradoxically braggy and clueless.

I don't know if the author has any connections to China. In the section about the author, it's stated that she's written a lot of picture books about various U.S. states. The lack of Chinese flavour shows in the writing. So many times, even when it's claimed that China came up with the concept or has been using it for centuries, the word used is not Chinese. (A few examples are marionettes, macramé, and sweet dumplings that are eaten at Chinese New Year; surely those all have Chinese words to describe them.) And Chinese New Year and the zodiac are muddled as concepts. The timing of Chinese New Year is described twice in slightly different ways, neither of which make sense (the wording is off). And as for the zodiac, the book states: To tell which month the calendar is in, every year is given an animal name or sign according to a repeating cycle. From what I understand of the Chinese zodiac, the animals correspond to the years, not the months. I have no idea how you tell what month you're in with that calendar... but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have anything to do with the animals.

Over and over we hear about how Chinese inventions or landmarks are the biggest, the longest, the earliest, the most important, etc. It's like the book itself has a fragile ego and needs to constantly be talking itself up to its readers. I would've preferred more facts (and fewer legends) about the origins of certain things. Some of the sections are quite interesting (I particularly liked the pages for J, which are about jasmine flowers and tea; O, which are about Chinese opera; and X, which are about language). But there's a distinct rose-coloured-glasses tone to the whole book in that it ignores all of China's problems. (Of course, a highly politicized book might not be as suitable for kids. However, I had the same issue with M is for Maple in that it barely talked about Canada's Indigenous peoples and their history. D is for Dancing Dragon likewise makes no mention of issues with Hong Kong, Tibet, or Xinjiang.)

This book is really heavy on the text. Each letter is explained with a few paragraphs of prose, a short rhyming verse, and an illustration. Maybe it's just because of the particular e-book format I read, but this didn't really seem like a picture book to me. It looked more like an illustrated textbook... and, as such, I found it rather boring on the whole.

I don't think this series is for me. I like the basic idea of tailoring alphabet books to different locations to highlight their special traits... but the two examples I've read so far have not impressed me.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 2.14 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - P Is for Poppadoms!

P Is for Poppadoms!
by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal
illustrated by Hazel Ito
Date: 2019
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From New York Times bestselling authors Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal comes a charming and unique alphabet book celebrating the rich culture, delicious foods, and fascinating animals of India.

From C for chai to Y for yoga, this fresh alphabet book takes young readers on a spirited journey to discover the people, places, lifestyles, and language of India. Lush illustrations from debut illustrator Hazel Ito bring to life the beauty, wonder, and diversity of this vast and vibrant country.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Aside from a couple of awkwardly phrased sentences, this is a strong alphabet book that teaches readers Hindi words from A to Z. Colourful pictures highlight the text while illustrating a variety of objects, animals, and concepts. There's a nice little explanation about languages in India at the back, as well as a full list of the Hindi words and how they're written in the Devanagari script.

All in all, this is a lovely alphabet book. I haven't seen too many that focus on a language other than English (while simultaneously being aimed at English speakers), so this was a nice find.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - An ABC of Equality

An ABC of Equality
by Chana Ginelle Ewing
illustrated by Paulina Morgan
Date: 2019
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 52
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

A is for Ability, B is for Belief, C is for Class. All people have the right to be treated fairly, no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they come from. An ABC of Equality introduces complicated concepts surrounding social justice to the youngest of children.

From A to Z, simple explanations accompanied by engaging artwork teach children about the world we live in and how to navigate our way through it. Each right-hand page includes a brightly decorated letter with the word it stands for and an encouraging slogan. On the left, a colorful illustration and bite-size text sum up the concept. Cheerful people from a range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities lead the way through the alphabet.

L is for LGBTQIA. Find the words that make you, you.
N is for No. No means no.
P is for Privilege. Be aware of your advantages.
X is for Xenophobia. Ask questions and you’ll see there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Celebrate your Differences, ask more Questions, share your Kindness, and learn to Understand the world.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sometimes the best intentions can go horribly awry. That's the case here, with An ABC of Equality. Intended for "the youngest of children", this is a confusing book that offers muddled definitions and paints an unrealistic vision of the world.

Starting early on, the book makes many demonstrably false statements such as:

People who identify as women have the same rights as people who identify as men.

It goes on to become even more confusing:

We're all human beings because of abilities like standing, talking, laughing, and pointing your finger.

Sorry, non-verbal kids in wheelchairs who were born without hands. You're not human. Or... are you?

Even if we have different abilities, we're all human beings.

Things don't get any clearer going forward. Many of the definitions for the words seem to be rather utopian. They're the way things should be, not how they actually are. I mean, I'm not asking for a depressing alphabet book, but this just doesn't seem to reflect the reality of our world at all. I'm tempted to think that the whole book was written from a place of privilege. It's entirely possible, given the author's somewhat strange definition of "privilege":

Privilege is when a human being receives benefits and advantages based on a category like gender or class or an ability like seeing and hearing.

Gender or class? Yes, of course gender and class come into play with privilege. But seeing and hearing? Privilege is usually talked about as something that's enjoyed by a smaller group of people. In painstakingly avoiding the words "disability" and "disabled" (they don't appear anywhere in the book), the author seems to be trying to redefine "privilege" when what she really means is "advantage".

The problems don't end there. Some definitions are really vague and/or confusing (A value is an expression of how to live a belief.) or don't make sense at all (A question is the opposite of a belief.). And then we get to S and T. S is for "sex". Unfortunately, "sex" gets conflated with "gender". And T is for "transgender". But then the book implies that non-binary people are transgender. Confused yet?

The icing on the cake is Z, which tries to introduce the gender-neutral pronoun "ze". To toddlers. You know, the kids who still construct sentences like, "Me want cookie." For good measure, "zir" is thrown in there, too, without any explanation.

I would never try to read this to a toddler. Older kids would probably get more out of it, but the age group who might be able to decipher the mangled word definitions would likely think this is a book for babies and avoid it. So I really don't know who this book is going to work for. As an adult, I was annoyed by all the questionable definitions and awkward phrasing. I can only imagine that children would be hopelessly confused. The intention here is good... but perhaps trying to teach these social-justice concepts to toddlers was a little too ambitious.

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5

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

Review - ABC What Can He Be?

ABC What Can He Be? (ABC for Me)
by Sugar Snap Studio
illustrated by Jessie Ford
Date: 2019
Publisher: Walter Foster Jr
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

ABC What Can He Be? presents a wonderful world full of possibilities—from Astronaut to Zoo Veterinarian and everything in between.

Whether they're fascinated by construction sites, fire trucks, teaching, dancing, music, books, or any other thing, boys can grow up to be whatever they want! ABC What Can He Be? presents a whole alphabet full of exciting, thoughtful, and wonderful things boys can do, including environmental engineering, fashion design, carpentry, quantum physics, and yoga instruction. This book shows that there are no limits to what boys can pursue.

Talented illustrator Jessie Ford of Sugar Snap Studio pairs engaging, inspiring illustrations with 26 different career possibilities and empowering text, highlighting careers that are fun, challenging, and impactful. Young readers will learn their ABCs and discover a world of possibility open for their future through this fun family read.

With endearing illustrations and mindful concepts, the ABC for Me series pairs each letter of the alphabet with words that promote big dreams and healthy living.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

My first thought upon seeing this was along the lines of, "Why do boys need a book telling them they can be anything they want? Society already tells them that from the moment they're born!" But it's actually not quite that simple, and as I read through this book and saw some of the careers within, I started to understand why a book like this is needed.

Why not just make it an ABC of what all kids can do? Because our society has so clearly divided everything into "boy stuff" and "girl stuff", many of the careers in this book would be discounted as being just for girls. So the choice to have this book focused solely on boys makes sense. (In case you're wondering, there is a version for girls that was published last year.)

I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of careers in here. The author even managed to tie it to the alphabet theme without getting tripped up on letters like Q and X (Quantum Physicist and Xenobiologist, respectively). There are plenty of non-traditional careers for boys here; they can be a Ballet Dancer, a Fashion Designer, or a Nurse. They can also be an Environmental Engineer, a Horse Trainer, or a Welder. Basically, boys can be anything they can think of.

The illustrations are pretty cute, and the text is done quite well. This would be a good book for opening boys' eyes to the possibilities of all the things they might do with their lives.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Llamas with Lemonade: An Unusual Animal ABC

Llamas with Lemonade: An Unusual Animal ABC
by Ariana Koultourides
Date: 2019
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Get ready to jump rope with jaguars and sip lemonade with llamas.

Introducing a delightful animal-themed ABC book that will have toddlers and parents grinning from A to Z. In addition to helping with letter recognition, Llamas With Lemonade introduces toddlers to uppercase and lowercase letters, and to alliteration. The adorable parade of animals and their often-unusual objects helps little ones build their vocabulary. The book’s oversized, case-bound board book format and irresistibly cute animals in soft pastel colors make it a perfect addition to any nursery library.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think this is one of the best alphabet books I've ever read! The illustrations are absolutely adorable, the selection of animals is creative, and Q and X are surprisingly well done (they're always iffy letters in alphabet books).

I don't even think I could pick just a few favourites out of the twenty-six animals presented here. They're all so cute.

This is definitely a book to check out if you're looking for alphabet books for toddlers. And I want to see what else this illustrator has done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Review - The Guinea Pig ABC

The Guinea Pig ABC
by Kate Duke
Date: 1983
Publisher: Dutton Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Each letter of the alphabet is illustrated by a word which applies to pictured guinea pigs.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think there's probably an alphabet book for every theme under the sun! This one covers guinea pigs, and highlights the 26 letters of the English alphabet with cute, cuddly cavies.

The selection of words is quite nice, and each illustration provides a basic definition of the word in question. Q, X, and Z are always tricky when it comes to alphabet books, and this book falls back on the oft-used "Zzzzzzzzz" for the last letter. (The X page is even more of a stretch, but the accompanying illustration is so cute that I'll give it a pass. Besides, even though the word doesn't start with X, the X is highlighted so that it's easy to see the letter.)

I don't think I've come across Kate Duke's illustrations before, but her guinea pigs here are adorable. This is a pretty strong alphabet book that adults will probably enjoy perusing as much as kids.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Twenty-six Pirates: An Alphabet Book

Twenty-six Pirates: An Alphabet Book
by Dave Horowitz
Date: 2013
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Dave Horowitz’s swashbuckling cut-paper artwork is packed with clever details in this epic companion to his popular Twenty-six Princesses.

This rhyming alphabet book is chock full of fun as 26 mischievous pirates head to Captain Frogbeard’s ship where they hope to join the crew—and the fun! From Arty to Zach, the Pirates of the Alphabet are the most colorful crew on the high seas!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This alphabet book is a disappointment. I didn't realize when I picked it up and read it that there's a companion book called Twenty-six Princesses. If I'd known, I might've given this one a little more leeway. As it was, I kept wondering why all the pirates were male! Girls can be pirates, too!

The illustrations are amusing and interesting to look at, the rhymes are silly (but fun), and Horowitz manages to come up with a named pirate for every letter of the English alphabet. But... something's missing. (Girls, maybe? Sorry... I just can't get past that. Why are we still seeing rigid gender stereotypes in the 21st century? Why aren't there any female pirates? If I were a little girl who loved pirates, I would be very disappointed to pick this one up and see that, apparently, only boys are allowed to have the fun of being a swashbuckler.)

There was no good reason this book had to be so gender-binary and exclusionary. For that reason, I can't really recommend it.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Eh? to Zed

Eh? to Zed
by Kevin Major
illustrated by Alan Daniel
Date: 2003
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Citation, Starred Selection Mr. Christie's Book Award Nomination Ruth Schwartz Award Nomination Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature Nomination Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Nomination Alberta Trade Book of the Year Nomination Alberta Children's Book of the Year Award From Arctic, Bonhomme and Imax to kayak, Ogopogo and zed, Eh? to Zed takes children on an alphabetic, fun-filled tour of Canada. Set in tightly linked rhyming verse, the words for this unique book resonate with classic and contemporary images from every province and territory in the country. Included are place names from Cavendish to Yarmouth and icons that will prompt discussion of Canada's many regions, and its culture, discoveries and heritage. Accompanying the inventive text is a visual feast via the colorful palette of well-known illustrator Alan Daniel. He provides a witty mixture of folk art paintings, toys and models that leap from the page with a whimsical energy that delights the imagination. A treasure for families, a desirable souvenir for visitors to Canada, and a perfect resource for schools and libraries, Eh? to Zed celebrates what makes us truly Canadian, eh.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the second really Canadian alphabet book I've read, the first being M Is for Maple. I think I like Eh? to Zed better, even though it still erroneously claims the zipper as a Canadian invention.

Each two-page spread features two letters, eight objects, and rhyming text. Even as an adult who's lived most of her life in Canada, I had trouble recognizing some of the terms; luckily, there's a big section of notes at the end that covers all of the words in the book. Also at the end are some notes on the illustrations and why the artist chose to depict some of the things in the book the way he did.

Unlike most alphabet books, this one really isn't for young children. They might enjoy listening to the rhymes and looking at the pictures, but the real audience for this one is, I think, older school-age children and even adults. It's definitely a book that should be in every Canadian's collection, as it's chock-full of great starting places for more learning about Canadian culture and history.

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Review - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Chicka Chicka #1)
by Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault
illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Date: 1989
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A told B, and B told C, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.

In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the cocunut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no - Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom! The well-known authors of Barn Dance and Knots on a Counting Rope have created a rhythmic alphabet chant that rolls along on waves of fun. Lois Ehlert's rainbow of bright, bold, cheerful colors makes the merry parade of letters unforgettable.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a great example of why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

I wasn't even sure what I was in for when I picked this one up. The cover doesn't do the book any justice. It's an alphabet book in rhyme, and what a rhyme it is! To really appreciate it, you should read it aloud. I did (thank goodness there was nobody around!) and got totally sucked in. It's almost like you're performing a chant, or one of those clapping games from childhood (well, my childhood; I may be dating myself here). The basic premise is that all the lowercase letters climb to the top of the coconut tree... which can't hold them all. After they all fall down, everyone's upset and the capital letters come running to help. It's a different sort of concept for an alphabet book.

The pictures are simple--perhaps a little too simple--but then again, so is the story. It's the rhyme that's the real star here. This would be fun to read to kids... and I imagine that, after a few read-throughs, the kids would be joining in!

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - A Apple Pie

A Apple Pie
by Kate Greenaway
Date: 1886
Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: Read.gov

In this delightfully illustrated educational tool, the popular children's author from years gone by uses full-color pictures to teach young children about the alphabet, with examples that help them learn their ABCs.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

No, the title isn't a grammatical mistake. This is actually an alphabet book, and the title is based on the first page for the first letter.

This is actually pretty charming and not as dated as I feared. The whole book revolves around this massive pie. Letters of the alphabet are highlighted along with a verb (well, except for "A", of course) such as "eat", "knelt", and "mourned". Some of the words make more sense than others. The last page made me laugh because it seemed like the author was phoning it in (or whatever they did before they had phones):

UVWXYZ all had a large slice and went off to bed

Okay...

I kind of loved looking at the illustrations and seeing all the old fashions. There are a number of large knives, and a boy at one point is chasing the others away from the giant pie with a stick, so I'm not sure if it entirely passes today's standards for what's appropriate in children's books. But it's an interesting look at another time through the most basic of children's picture books: the alphabet book.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5