  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2010 K-Gr 3—In this sequel to AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First (Candlewick, 2006), Kontis and Kolar reintroduce readers to their cast of alphabet players. The book begins with the letter Z directing the letter H to start the show because, "Halloween can't start with any other letter." Appearing entirely out of sequence, the individual letters then make brief appearances dressed up as characters that begin with their respective letters: "Z is for zombie. N is for nightmare." The tentative letter B attempts to shine, but he continually encounters problems; at one point his buccaneer costume is taken by P (Pirate) and in another scene a blackbird sits on his head. B perseveres and steals the show by delivering the final line of the play, "B is for…BOO!" Kontis's text is rhythmic and comical, and readers who are comfortable with the alphabet will delight in the silliness of this story. Kolar's illustrations are imbued with a sense of nighttime theater magic, and the slightly muted jewel-tone hues set the scene perfectly. A winsome union of humorous text and art, this light, fresh book is an ideal addition to holiday collections.—Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 07/01/2010 In this sequel to Alpha Oops! The Day Z Went First (2006), it’s showtime again for the personified letters of the alphabet, and once more, they take the stage out of order, this time for a Halloween pageant. Dramatizing words such as zombie, nightmare, kraken, vampire, and undead, the letters play their parts, bicker a bit, and comment on the action. The text, vividly illustrated with stylized digital artwork, combines formal alphabetical identification (“O is for ogre. / Y is for yeti”) with the other letters’ informal remarks. Given that the presentation is a bit chaotic and that more sensitive children will want to stop and discuss certain terms and images, this book may be more appropriate for reading one-on-one rather than in a classroom setting. Still, for kids who have outgrown basic ABC books and revel in the spooky side of Halloween, it offers a more engaging experience than your average alphabet book. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. Loading...
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