By: Denise Fleming Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 32 Publication Date: July 25, 2006 Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Release Date: July 25, 2006
An artist’s approach to introducing the alphabetMouse airbrushes the A, buttons the B, carves the C . . . Mouse is hard at work constructing each letter of the alphabet. He dyes the D, erases the E, and folds the F. Mouse works his way right through to Z, constructing an alphabet that surpasses even the wildest artistic imagination.
Amazon.com Review: The only one having a better time than the buck-toothed Mouse in Alphabet Under Construction is Denise Fleming, the gifted writer and illustrator who here brings back the hungry hero of Lunch for a trip through the alphabet and an arts-and-crafts roll call.
Letter by letter, page by page, the playful Mouse "constructs" the alphabet--airbrushing the A, buttoning the B, carving the C, and so on, employing all manner of scaffolds, ladders, and high- and low-tech devices to get the job done. (Clearly Mouse didn't really blow his budget until near the end, on the custom tiles, the X-ray machine, and the welding equipment.) Fleming employs an arcane process that involves "pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils" to create her distinctive style. But fortunately, you don't have to have any idea what that means to enjoy her sense of humor, her vibrant colors, and her boisterous compositions.
Mouse gets messy before it's all over, but he delivers the alphabet on time--and only has to work two weekends! (As a funny touch, Fleming includes a note-covered project calendar that Mouse collapses under as he finishes.) Alphabet Under Construction also includes a fold-out, 42-by-7-inch poster that shows every page, from A to Z. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
A Fun Read Denise Fleming is a fabulous author and illustrator. A fun read for the kids.
not just another run-of-the-mill alphabet book This is a charmingly different alphabet book than most. There is a lot of creativity in it. The title would lead one to think that it is about construction as in bulldozers, contractors, etc. It is however more of a alphabet of home repair. The mouse, Airbrushes an A, Levels an L, Measures an M and Welds a W. The only 2 downsides: 1) not all letters fit the motif (e.g. Vaccuums, XRays and Zips) but those are hard letters to work with 2) I find the whymsical images to be cute but don't care for the style of art
Nice change for an alphabet book With vivid illustrations, it's a nice change of pace to read an alphabet book that uses verbs instead of just nouns. For example the mouse "buttons the B" instead of just showing the word/picture button, butterfly etc. Very cute book and a great learning tool.
A Good Book for Babies and Toddlers but not necessarily Preschoolers Amazon recommends this book for the' Baby to Preschool' age range, but unless your child doesn't know their alphabet, I would say it is too simplistic for a preschooler.
That said, it is a innovative, sturdy book that should delight toddlers and older babies. It shows a mouse hard at work, constructing and improving the letters of the alphabet. He `airbrushes' the A, for example, and `hangs' the H, `yanks' the Y and so on.
The use of a verb that correspond with the letter in question, gives parents/caregivers the chance to point out (i.e. teach) the connection between the letter and it's sound. For example: The mouse *judges* the J. *Judge* has the `juh', j-sound.
In addition, this book offers toddlers the chance to learn about the structure of reading. How text flows from page to page, and left to right. And they will also have a chance to pretend to read by remembering and reciting bits and pieces of the book because the text is not too long.
Four Stars. The artwork is cute and the text is large enough that you won't need glasses (lol). Babies should enjoy the mouse, and Toddlers should enjoy the silliness. Both groups can learn and reinforce their understanding of letters, words, and reading. Parents can emphasize, letter sounds, word construction and memory work.
Creative, Inventive, and Lots of Fun..... Dear little mouse has a big job to do, building the entire alphabet with art supplies and construction tools, and he gets right to work Airbrushing the A, Buttoning the B, and Carving the C. And as he moves quickly, letter by letter, Folding the F, Measuring the M, Pruning the P, Vacuuming the V, or Zipping the Z, little ones will revel in all the creative fun. Author, Denise Fleming's text is kept to a bare minimum, just the letter and construction verb. It's her big, bold, and vibrant artwork, dazzling with entertaining details and engaging humor, that makes this book stand out. Perfect for preschoolers, Alphabet Under Construction is not just another "learn your letters" picture book, but an imaginative and inventive, joyous romp that shouldn't be missed.
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