- ABC's from the Wilds of Africa by Warren Ackhurst, African Animal World, $17.95
- African Animal Alphabet by Beverly and Derek Joubert, National Geographic Little Kids, $18.95
JANUARY 27 is Family Literacy Day in British Columbia and it is a good time to think of ways to promote reading.
It is a well-documented fact that children who are read to on a regular basis are much more likely to develop good literacy skills. It is never too early to begin, especially since the very young need to develop emergent literacy skills to prepare them for what will hopefully be a lifetime of reading. One good way to do this is to familiarize them with the letters of the alphabet. There are many different types of alphabet books from which to choose. Some involve word play, some focus on beautiful art, and some use the letters as a way to gather and present information. The simplest formats usually have one letter per page in unadorned typeface, often in both upper and lower case and with an accompanying phrase and illustration utilizing the letter.
Two such brand new books showcase African animals; one with photographs and one with paintings. ABC's from the Wilds of Africa provides one lovely, realistic painting for each letter and a brief, interesting paragraph about the selected animal. Who knew that seagulls can drink both salt and fresh water or that giraffes can go for up to two weeks without water?
Author Warren Ackhurst includes a few unusual animals, such as the duiker and the now-extinct quagga. National Geographic's African Animal Alphabet uses the company's signature detailed photographs in an alphabetic format. Interesting snippets of information are given about each animal, as well as a short descriptive paragraph that uses lots of alliteration to reinforce the sound of each letter. An appendix provides additional information.
Closer to home, Canadian Rockies ABC depicts mountain landscapes using painting and collage. The illustrations are delightful and the book will resonate with B.C. kids who are all too familiar with mountains. Kevin Major's Eh to Zed is another homegrown title, which offers an eclectic compilation of Canadian place names, cultural icons, animals and famous people with charmingly detailed illustrations. It's a browser's delight.
Or consider the whimsical Dr. Seuss's ABC with its irresistible text that demands to be read aloud. Likewise, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom's catch verse chronicles in a playful way what happens when alphabet letters try to climb a coconut tree. And then there is the visually stunning Into the A, B, Sea, with its gorgeous paintings of marine life. Contrast this with the tiny Mouse Letters with its amusing line drawings in which the letters themselves form part of the story. For babies, who can resist the alluring combination of Margaret Wise Brown's text and Karen Katz's illustrations in Sleepy ABC? Finally, learn what goes on in a favourite family institution with ABC Letters in the Library. This is but the tip of the iceberg as there are literally hundreds of alphabet books currently in print. Visit you local library and have a look.
Some of the popular ones are as follows:
- ABC Animal Jamboree by Giles Andreae
- ABC Kids by Basher
- ABC Letters in the Library Animal Antics A to Z by Anita Lobel
- An Annoying ABC by Barbara Bottner
- Canadian Rockies ABC by Max Elliott
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr
- Dr. Seuss's ABC by Dr. Seuss
- Eh to Zed by Kevin Major
- Into the A, B, Sea by Deborah Lee Rose
- Little Bird's ABC by Piet Grobler
- Mouse Letters by Jim Arnosky
- A Pacific Alphabet by Margriet Ruurs
- Sleepy ABC by Margaret Wise Brown
- Zoo Flakes ABC by Will C. Howell
Fran Ashdown is the children's librarian at the Capilano branch of the North Vancouver District Library. She is willing to sing the alphabet song to anyone who wants to listen. For more library information check out www.nvdpl.ca.
