Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet by Paul Thurlby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although this alphabet book contains the typical Dog and X-ray, it also surprises with Fierce and Trapeze. Each letter is integrated into the illustrated object or action, and yes, there is a lot of action. Many of the illustrations also have unexpected surprises, like the road sign beside the Island telling how far away the letter J is, or the single leg on the Q as the “missing” leg presumably gets sucked down into Quicksand.
ESL students can benefit from the simplicity and predictability of alphabet books, but many are too old for the frequently chosen items. Thurlby’s Alphabet mixes it up with some basics and some surprises. Besides, even elementary school students will find Awesome more useful than Apple when trying to make friends.
