Monday, March 30, 2015

Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers - ESSENTIAL

Jeffers, Oliver, Once Upon an Alphabet, PICTURE BOOK. Penguin Group, LLC. 2014. $.

Once Upon an Alphabet’s prologue reads (yes, this picture books has a prologue), “If words make up stories, and letters make up words, then stories are made of letters. In this menagerie we have stories made of words MADE FOR all the LETTERS.” And so they have. Each letter of the alphabet has a unique story written just for it. A is about an astronaut, B is about Bob and Bernard who quarrel on opposite sides of a bridge, V is about Victor plotting his vengeance, and of course, Y is about a Yeti, a Yak, and a Yo-Yo.

This is such a cool book! I was instantly drawn to the idea of the book, and each mini story makes me smile. I will admit that a few have actually made me laugh out loud. Plus, the illustrations are so clever and so funny! The illustrations really help make each letter’s story come alive. This definitely is for a little older reader. A reader who is familiar with the alphabet and who will enjoy Jeffer’s quirky humor will get a kick out of this book.

PRE K, EL (K-3) and EL-- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Rebecca H.

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