Kid's Book Blog

Animals in Groups from A to Z
by Marjorie Blain Parker and Joseph Kelly
Ages:4-8

This is a great alphabet book that shows animals and relates the name of that animal group. It is interesting to find out all the group names, like a bask of crocodiles and a crash of rhinos.

What really makes this book are the incredible illustrations. Instead of calling the pictures illustrations, I want to say artwork. They are gorgeous and lifelike, except for the humor that the illustrator finds in words. For instance, for a run of salmon the artist puts little jerseys on the fish as if they were in a marathon and for a school of x-ray fish the artist puts mortarboards on the fish. It is funny and cute and wonderful.

The vibrant illustrations and textured colors  boldly leap off the page against a background of ample white space. The sheer fun of the rhythmic text and the large alphabet letters work well for a read-aloud audience, but the busy, engaging details of the peas in their various worker modes are better suited for one-on-one exploration that young children will want to pore over again and again.—

By Brian P. Cleary

Ages: 4-8

Here are 26 ways to say goodnight!Fans of Brown and Katz’s A Child’s Good Morning Book may want to close their days with this companion alphabet lullaby: “A is for Aaaah when a small kitten sighs / B is for Baaaaaa when the lambs close their eyes.”

Katz’s interpretation of Brown’s text is joyful and energetic and features her trademark, round-faced, multicultural children, rendered in collage-like art, bouncing around a sunshine-bright room before they finally catch their Zs in a very realistic bedtime pattern. Likely to be just what little not-yet-sleeping beauties will want.

Adorably illustrated alaphabet story all about heading off to bed! A simple read aloud for naptime or evening bedtime! Another wonderful story from beloved author Margaret wise brown and with the added bonus of Karen Katz beautiful illustrations. This book can be shared over and over with all your little ones!