The power of this wordless book may not be obvious the first time you look at it.  But it is so much fun to find the letters in everyday objects in our environment.  The detail in the pictures is stunning, and the use of the objects to form letters is very clever.  It will spur your child to look for letters everywhere they go.  This Caldecott Medal Honor winner is very different from most alphabet books because it has many characteristics that go way beyond learning the alphabet.  Children will revisit this book for years to come.

 

To enjoy this book to its fullest, active participation is a must.  You can spend several minutes with each page talking with your child about the structures, letters, and pictures.  Each time you look at the book, you will find something else to discuss.  At this age, their imagination is working overtime.

 

When I read this book to my grandson Teddy, I find myself not only talking about the structure in the picture, but going several levels deeper.  For example, the letter F shows a water tank.  We then start talking about how water gets into the tank, and where the water comes from.  The possibilities for exploring new ideas are endless.

 

--Joan