  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2012 PreS-K—This cheerful alphabet book has lively illustrations and kid-focused entries like "giggle givers" and "ice cream lickers." Kids of multiple ethnicities romp together in a neighborhood park, providing a nice sense of community. They play on monkey bars, in a fountain and a sandbox, etc., and in the final layout, they've collapsed together on a couch for a nap. The endpapers are an entertaining bonus, providing a map of the residential block and park where the different letters are represented. Children will enjoy tracing their fingers over the dotted route and recalling the action matched with each letter. The book is printed on earthy brown paper, and the artwork is rendered in a mix of thick black lines and rich colors in ink and pastels. A fun, educational, and socially thoughtful purchase.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/02/2012 *Starred Review* Longtime team Schaefer and Morgan offer one of their best books to date in a fun, fresh take on the ABCs. Especially important in the title is the “ers.” Those three letters make the children in the book doers, and the audience will be delighted with the things they do. The first spread shows children leaving two brownstones. One group has a pigtailed older sister pulling along blond twin brothers. From the other building come two African American siblings of about the same age as the girl. First, the “Arm linkers” sit outside. “B is for Book readers,” so the sister and the twins start reading away. “C is for Color drawers,” and the brother and sister duo chalk a lion on the sidewalk. Wandering through the alphabet, we learn that these children are “Hot dog eaters,” “Piggyback riders,” and “Race runners.” A couple of the actions may be a bit confusing (“Owie getters”), but kudos for the “Xylophone plinkers.” In Morgan’s terrific artwork, the children cavort around sandy-colored pages looking a little like moving woodcuts with their black outlines around bright colors. There’s lots of exuberance on display here, but there’s also plenty for teachers and parents to point to when it comes to wordplay. The lettered map on the endpapers adds a nice note. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Loading...
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