Book Review: The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z by Ashley Spires

The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z, written and illustrated by Ashley Spires, is the latest addition to The Most Magnificent series highlights all the words little makers need to know.

In this twist on a vocabulary book, the beloved characters from The Most Magnificent Thing walk with readers from A to Z, defining all the words they need to know about making. It perfectly captures the ups (“I is for IDEA. A gift from the imagination that wants to be made”) and the downs (“P is for PATIENCE. Most things don't work the first time … or the third time … or even the twelfth time”) all makers face and includes kid-perfect explanations of key concepts (“B is for BRAINSTORM. When ideas of all shapes and sizes rain onto the page”). It's a fun and clever alphabet journey, sure to inspire magnificent making of every kind! 

The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z is a lovey and engaging picturebook that encourages readers to be creative and persistent in their efforts to make things. I thought the chosen words were clever and on point for the purpose. As always, I thought Spires's art was a perfect match to the text and keeps the reader focus on the book, and their next project. I love the encouraging tone and spirit of this series of books, and I think this alphabet book would be a delightful addition to personal, school, and public library collections. 

Book Review: Doris' Dear Delinquents by Emma Ward

Doris' Dear Delinquents is a picturebook written and illustrated by Emma Ward. It was a silver medal winner of the 2020 Key Colors Illustrators Competition. Doris the gharial crocodile has her motherly hands full with twenty-six misbehaved hatchlings. Follow along on a journey through the alphabet as she tries to bring peace back into her home.

Doris' Dear Delinquents is a charming alphabet book that many adults reading along with young readers will appreciate as well. Doris is a crocodile mom just trying to get her home under control, the the personalities and expected sibling trouble with twenty six energetic hatchlings is making things hard. I could sympathize with her, and still find the situation amusing. I liked the choices for names ad adjectives to show the alphabet, with fun and quirky happenings making it all work. I thought the illustrations were fun and charming, and frankly made my day. I think will be a fun read one on one, alone for emerging readers, or in a group story time setting. 

Book Review: P is for Pterodactyl by Raj Halder, Chris Carpenter, Maria Beddia

P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever written by by Raj Halder and Chris Carpenter,and illustrated by Maria Beddia. Turning the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, this book is perfect for anyone who has ever been stumped by silent letters or confused by absurd homophones. This unique book takes silent letter entries like "K is for Knight" a step further with "The noble knight's knife nicked the knave's knee." Illustrations offer context clues, and alliterative words help readers navigate text like "a bright white gnat is gnawing on my gnocchi" with ease. Everyone from early learners to grown-up grammarians will love this wacky book where "A is for Aisle" but "Y is definitely not for Why."

P is for Pterodactyl is a great picturebook for almost all ages. I think it might be confusing for the youngest readers that are still working on sight words and figuring out the basics, but it might be an entertaining book for family sharing, or in a classroom setting. I can picture an upper elementary, or even higher, class using this book to show how strange our language can be, and get a better grasp on some of those oddities. I have to admit that I found the pronunciation key at the end of the book very helpful, because there were some words that I knew I had been mentally mispronouncing for years, because I had only seen them in books but never spoken. The illustrations are cute and bright, and offer a good amount of context clues to help readers figure things out. 

I think P is for Pterodactyl will be a big hit with a particular group of readers, and will be useful to others. I just do not see it having a broad or widespread appeal.