A fresh take on the alphabet primer featuring striking animals and art.
A parade of alphabetical animals includes some unusual selections in Mackie’s picture book.
This debut title takes readers on a zoological tour through the alphabet, including familiar examples such as “E is for Elephant” and “Z is for Zebra” that are paired with short poems providing details about those creatures’ habitats and habits. What sets this particular primer apart are the wild cards that readers may not have encountered before: N is for the Peruvian Ñandú, an ostrichlike bird, while U is for the wild sheep Urial and V is for the llama’s distant relative the Vicuña. The trickiest letter for any animal alphabet book to pair is X, and Mackie does not disappoint: “X is for Xerus, an African squirrel, exploring and excavating his underground world.” No matter the animal, the message remains consistent that each is beautiful and important in its own way, and that we as humans must take care of the planet we live on. This out-of-the-box take on a well-worn genre will impress both children and parents alike with its surprising animal choices and bold color palette. C.K. Mackie’s vibrant illustrations feature Picasso-like explosions of colors and shapes. This title’s approach provides multiple entry points for discussion, making it eminently rereadable.
A fresh take on the alphabet primer featuring striking animals and art.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 9798990336001
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to...
This entry-level early reader/picture book pairs children with farm animals.
Using a simple, effective template—a full-page photograph on the recto page and a bordered spot photo above the text on the verso—Rotner delivers an amiable picture book that presents racially and ethnically diverse kids interacting (mostly in the cuddling department) with the adult and baby animals typically found on a farm. Chickens, chicks, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, pigs, piglets, cows, and calves are all represented. While a couple of double-page spreads show the larger adult animals—pigs and cows—without a child, most of the rest portray a delighted child hugging a compliant critter. The text, simple and repetitive, changes only the name for the animal depicted in the photo on that spread: “I like the cat”; “I like the piglet.” In this way, reading comprehension for new readers is supported in an enjoyable, appealing way, since the photo of the animal reinforces the new word. It’s hard to go wrong combining cute kids with adorable animals, but special kudos must be given for the very natural way Rotner has included diversity—it’s especially gratifying to see diversity normalized and validated early, at the same time that reading comprehension is taught.
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to like? (Picture book/early reader. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3833-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again.
Cece loves asking “why” and “what if.”
Her parents encourage her, as does her science teacher, Ms. Curie (a wink to adult readers). When Cece and her best friend, Isaac, pair up for a science project, they choose zoology, brainstorming questions they might research. They decide to investigate whether dogs eat vegetables, using Cece’s schnauzer, Einstein, and the next day they head to Cece’s lab (inside her treehouse). Wearing white lab coats, the two observe their subject and then offer him different kinds of vegetables, alone and with toppings. Cece is discouraged when Einstein won’t eat them. She complains to her parents, “Maybe I’m not a real scientist after all….Our project was boring.” Just then, Einstein sniffs Cece’s dessert, leading her to try a new way to get Einstein to eat vegetables. Cece learns that “real scientists have fun finding answers too.” Harrison’s clean, bright illustrations add expression and personality to the story. Science report inserts are reminiscent of The Magic Schoolbus books, with less detail. Biracial Cece is a brown, freckled girl with curly hair; her father is white, and her mother has brown skin and long, black hair; Isaac and Ms. Curie both have pale skin and dark hair. While the book doesn’t pack a particularly strong emotional or educational punch, this endearing protagonist earns a place on the children’s STEM shelf.
A good introduction to observation, data, and trying again. (glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-249960-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
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