It Begins With an A - Hardcover

Rezensionen

PreSchool-K-- Yet another alphabet book nudges its way into a crowded, but receptive, market. It Begins with an A has the child appeal of a riddle book combined with the practicality of an alphabet book. Each page has four pictures, four clues, and a question, "What is it?" In most cases the "what" is easily guessed. For the uncertain, there is a guide at the back with picture and word answers. The illustrations offer adequate support to the text and have a nice mix of ages, genders, and ethnicity. Their childlike simplicity could remind youngsters of their own artwork, although the control of an artist is evident. A muted palette strong in secondary colors may be a relief to those weary of bright splashes of primary color or wispy pastels. Preschoolers will delight in responding to "What is it?" --Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A rhyming alphabet/guessing-game. On each page are four bright gouache paintings. One illustrates a capital letter; the others, each with its line of verse, give clues to the identity of an object beginning with that letter. Across the bottom, large gray capitals ask, ``What is it?'' No surprises here--``X'' (always the toughest) is an unremarkable ``X-ray''--but the ordinary objects, smiling multiethnic kids, profusion of animals, and cheerful, flat blocks of color make a pleasant, sure-to-be-successful experience both for small folks just learning letter-sound correspondences and early readers who need lots of visual and aural cues to aid decoding. The last two pages display the letters and answers to the 26 riddles, in words and pictures. More interactive--and therefore more fun--than the usual ``A is for apple'' alphabet. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.