Alphabet City

Stephen T. Johnson (1995), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Find letters all around the city, in signs, on buildings … everywhere! Can you spot the “A” shape in the slide of a sawhorse? Or spy a “D” in outlined park planters? Does the profile of a stoplight form an “E”? Maybe a wrought iron curlicue reminds you of a “G”? Perhaps you see the letter “S” in the concrete scrollwork on the side of a building? Well, you can! Johnson has created an entire alphabet hidden in the architecture of the city. Using pastels, watercolors, gouache, and charcoal on hot pressed watercolor paper, Johnson produces a series of unbelievably photo-realistic paintings that mimic real landscape and cityscape. This Caldecott honored book is brilliant in its imagery and content! Parents and educators can use this book as an introduction to letter knowledge (alphabet recognition). Simply trace the letters with your fingers while saying the name of the letter – or use this book as inspiration and go on your own tour; walk your own neighborhood locating all kinds of shapes and letters found in the environment around you!

Reviewed by Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Q is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game by Mary Elting or Alphabet Adventure by Audrey Wood

Other books by this author: City by Numbers, A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet, My Little Red Fire Truck, My Little Pink Princess Purse, and My Little Yellow Taxi

Between the Lions

PBS Kids (2000-2011), 30 minutes

Audience: Pre-K

Format: television show and website

Funded by the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready to Learn grant, PBS Kids produces a variety of television shows for children with an emphasis on reading and early literacy skills, such as Between the Lions, a puppet show featuring a family of literate lions. Main characters Lionel and Leona (cubs) and their parents read a couple stories (examples include Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and I miss you Stinky Face) whilst intersected by other animated vignettes highlighting certain letters, words, and vocabulary from supplemental character skits such as Gawain’s Word, Information Hen, and Word Cup Masters. Using puppetry and simple animation –this show manages to be both educational and entertaining.

As an accompaniment or supplementary tool to their television programming, PBS Kids offers companion computer games that foster literacy skills. Kids can try several Between the Lions inspired games, examples include Fuzzy Lion Ears (kids can pretend they have fuzzy lion ears –listening to words they can match the missing sound to the correct letter and make the word whole again), Pounce! (children can practice word matching by “pouncing” or clicking on each appropriate word) or Word Play (where words are displayed and animated to act out their meaning –for instance the word “vanish” actually disappears or the word “pop” bursts off the screen). Combining clear instructions with a simple interface makes digital games easy to use and appropriate for young children. Although interactive games can be simulating for kids and engage their literacy skills, parental involvement cannot be circumnavigated; parents are still encouraged to model these skills.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this TV show, you may like: Reading Rainbow, Olivia, Sesame Street, or Toddworld

Other television shows by PBS Kids: Curious George, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Caillou, Sid the Science Kid, WordGirl, and The Electric Company

Fortunately

Remy Charlip (1964), 40 pages

Audience: Pre-K

Format: picture book

“Fortunately one day, Ned got a letter that said, ‘please come to a surprise party.’ Unfortunately the party was in Florida and he was in New York. Fortunately a friend loaned him an airplane.” Can you guess what happened next? Well, don’t be so sure …. every other page will keep you on the edge of your seat! As this adventure unfolds, readers can follow along as Ned faces a series of lucky and unlucky coincidences … but, don’t worry this story happens to end on a high note! Throughout the book, Charlip cleverly alternates between fortunate and unfortunate situations resulting in a very exciting and imaginative storyline. Charlip’s illustrations further highlight each opposing scenario by alternating between colorful illustrations (emphasizing the fun, friendly, positive nature of fortune) and gray tones that accentuate the unfortunate circumstances. A very witty twist on the world of opposites, children will love the fanciful and haphazard life Ned leads.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: What's Up Duck?: A Book of Opposites by Tad Hills or That’s Good! That’s Bad! by Margaret Cuyler

Other books by this author: Thirteen, A Perfect Day, Where is Everybody? and Hooray For Me!

Pezzettino

Leo Lionni (1975), 32 pages

Audience: pre-K

Format: picture book

Pezzettino (Italian for little piece) is small compared to all other things. He is convinced he belongs elsewhere, a missing piece to someone bigger and stronger. He tries repeatedly … asking everyone (the Strong-one, the Swimming-one, the One on-the-mountain) if they are missing a piece? But, the answer is always the same; they respond incredulously … how could I be strong, swim, or climb mountains if I had a piece missing? Poor Pezzettino, he is unsure of who he is and where he belongs. But, all that changes when one day he sets sail for the Island of Wham where Pezzettino discovers a truth ... that he belongs to no one else, but himself! Celebrated children’s author and illustrator, Leo Lionni created a timeless classic sure to be enjoyed for future generations. Pezzettino, is a tremendously uplifting tale with an inspirational moral – to thine own self be true!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Shape by David Goodman, If by Sarah Perry, One by Kathryn Otoshi, The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle

Other books by this author: An Extraordinary Egg, It’s Mine!, Inch by Inch (Caldecott Honor), Swimmy (Caldecott Honor), and Frederick (Caldecott Honor)

Super Why!

PBS Kids (2007-present), 24 minutes

Audience: pre-K

Format: television show

PBS Kids’ Super Why! stages a quartet of characters: Whyatt, Pig, Red Riding Hood, and Princess Pea who have adventures in Storybook Land. These friends transform into Super Readers with reading readiness powers: Alpha-Pig, Wonder Red (word power), Princess Presto (spelling) and Super Why (power to read) as they search out clues and solve problems using words, letters, and reading skills. This program asks for viewer participation using open-ended questions to add interactive elements, examples include “what letter comes after P?” and “what sound does “F” make?” These prompting techniques can be beneficial, helping to build a child’s vocabulary and phonemic awareness.

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this TV show, you may like: Blue’s Clues or Dora the Explorer

Other television shows by PBS Kids: Word World, Martha Speaks, and The Cat and the Hat Know a Lot About That!

The Black Book of Colors

Menena Cottin (2008), 24 pages

Illustrated by Rosana Faria

Translated by Elisa Amado

Audience: All ages

Format: picture book

This is quite possibly the most unusual and innovative children’s books I’ve ever seen. Originally written in Spanish as El Libro Negro de los Colores, this book has now been translated into several other languages, including English, French, and German. Printed in black ink on black paper –this book explores Tomas’s world of color –without actually using any!

For most sighted people it’s impossible or unfathomable to imagine seeing through taste, touch, or smell. Well, this book explores just that … what would it be like to experience color using alternative sensory experiences? Take yellow, for instance, “Thomas says that yellow tastes like mustard, but is soft as a baby chick’s feathers.” The color red is another story ... “red is sour like unripe strawberries and as sweet as watermelon. It hurts when he finds it on his scraped knee.” As the story builds, each color is uniquely described and accompanied by an image for a multisensory experience. A truly fascinating way to explore color! Text is printed in Braille at the top of each page, then translated in crisp white lettering at the bottom; line drawings are engraved and embossed into the paper (creating a textured-image experience). A complete Braille alphabet is included at the end the book.

This book works double duty as an educational tool to discuss the senses, such as touch, smell, taste, etc and as a way to explore color ... for instance, have children close their eyes and describe colors ... what is blue? what is green? Using these techniques I bet you'll discover a whole new world of color!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Is it Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? by Tana Hoban or Through Grandpa’s Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan

Other books by this author: Numeros/Numbers, Equilibrio/Balance, and Al Reves/Upside Down

Good Dog, Carl

Alexandra Day (1996), 40 pages

Audience: babies, toddlers

Format: Board book

“Look after the baby, Carl. I'll be back shortly" says mother as she leaves Carl, her trusty Rottweiler to babysit Baby Madeline. Moments later readers are treated the duo's busy afternoon of dancing, eating, getting into mother's makeup drawer, even swimming in the fish tank ... after all the ruckus, Carl dutifully cleans up the mess, gives baby a bath, and puts baby back safely in the crib. When mother returns, little does she know ... the wild adventure Carl and the baby have had! Children will delight in this book's absurdity! The images are endearing and sweet, easy for pre-readers to follow along and create their own stories. Although this is a wordless picture book ... the narrative is just as engaging as a traditional text. Day's characters reappear in a series of Carl books - highly recommended for babies and toddlers!

Reviewed by: Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Tuesday (Caldecott award) by David Wiesner, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson, or Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola

Other books by this author: Carl’s Sleepy Afternoon, You’re a Good Dog, Carl, and Carl Goes Shopping