The Bird Alphabet Book
Jerry Pallotta, author
Jerry Pallotta is an award-winning author of children's alphabet books and imaginative fiction. He has written many books for Charlesbridge, including The Icky Bug Alphabet Book, Dory Story, and The U.S. Navy Alphabet Book. Jerry's books appeal to children of all ages because of the beautiful illustrations, witty text, and accurate descriptions found in all his work. Jerry lives in Massachusetts with his family. "Alphabet books constructed around a theme helpfully provide an extra clue for deciphering the word in question. Jerry Pallotta is the king of this subgenre..." —The Horn Book
Read more about Jerry.
Edgar Stewart, illustrator
Edgar Stewart, a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, is a professional designer and illustrator. He has illustrated several books including The Furry Alphabet Book and The Bird Alphabet Book. Edgar lives with his wife, Annie, in Vermont.
Read more about Edgar.
Book Links
Through colorful illustrations and breezy but informative text, students are introduced to a variety of birds from around the world. Other alphabet books by the author feature reptiles, flowers, dinosaurs, frogs, bugs, and other subjects.
Birder's World
Why am I reviewing a kids' book? Because I've found one that is superbly and accurately written and illustrated. I test-drove it with my two-year-old, and it cruised along smoothly. If you don't have a two-to-six-year-old ((the age range for which this book is appropriate), use the kid next door, or down the street, or grandkids. Better yet, make an excuse to contribute a copy to your local library. You will enjoy the art and humor, maybe learn a new bird or two or at least learn something about the biology of some old friends!
Each page of The Bird Alphabet Book is devoted to one letter and is illustrated by a bird whose name begins with that letter. For example, "A" is for Atlantic Puffin and is illustrated by a group of Atlantic Puffins on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Of course, one of them has a mouthful of fish—arranged with head and tail alternately protruding from the Puffin's beak as is typical of puffins. Pallotta throws in a bit of humor, and a good lesson, by presenting "B" for bat, but recanting with an explanation for why bat are not birds. The red-footed and Blue-footed Boobies replace the bat. Some choices are naturals: "R" is for Roadrunner. Others are not such likely picks: "W" is for White-faced Scops-Owl. "X"? "X" is for... well I'll let you read it for yourself.
—Jerome A. Jackson
Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-88106-451-3
Ages: 4-7
Page count: 32