Review: Learning the alphabet, the animal kingdom, and some very interesting facts
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 7, 2013
Yael Aharoni steps away from her usual charming stories for children and creates an animal and alphabet encyclopedia that will delight the reader as well as the children learning from their parents by means of another well illustrated and cogent book.For every letter in the alphabet Aharoni illustrates that letter with an animal and accompanies the visual alphabet letter with a visual of the animal represented, but goes even further by inserting very interesting facts about that particular animal – an approach that could set a fine example for teachers everywhere!For example, B is for Butterfly (a photograph and a drawing are included) and then the following information: ’The butterfly starts life as a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly. A butterfly’s wings are considered beautiful: they are brightly colored and the pattern and design of the left and right wings are symmetrical. Butterflies fly from flower to flower drinking nectar through a long tongue which is used as a straw to suck the nectar up.’ The amount of information is so thorough that children of all ages can learn at their particular level of education, and coupling the information with the alphabet and the photographs and drawings means that moment of education (and entertainment) will last!Aharoni’s choice of animals to match her alphabet letters is imaginative and creative: I is for Iguana, G is for Gorilla, J is for Jaguar, K for Koala, N is for Narwhale, Q is for Quail, V is for Vampire Bat and so on. All letters of the alphabet are offered with the accompaniments of images and information and entertainment. This is a terrific book for the whole family and another winner from Yael Aharoni. Grady Harp, December 13