B is for Beach: An Alphabet Book
This rhyming alphabet book is narrated by award-winning Hawaiian singer Leilani Rivera Bond, whose pleasing music-filled voice lingers over verses introducing the alphabet in a Hawaiian setting: "H is for Hawai'i/ with miles of ocean on every side/ the beautiful islands of H/ are known far and wide." In the background a ukulele trills, and children's voices weave in and out, participating in the read-along. At the end, a school choir sings the familiar alphabet song with Bond, before she invites everyone to sing the Hawaiian letters to the same tune. The sturdy book has colorful, inviting illustrations that are simple yet offer lots about Hawaii to soak up while listening to the alphabet rhymes. The book even has ukulele page-turn signals.  J.C.G.  © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine--Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine