Apples With Many Seeds

Respite

My instruction load the last couple of weeks has prevented me from keeping up with my regular blog postings. Sorry about that.  But, the student teachers are out in schools doing their practicum so, life in the library  is a little calmer  -- for the moment.

You know a book is going to be good when the cataloguer in the office hands it to you and says, “This is good.”  And, I would have to agree.

Tomorrow’s Alphabet by George Shannon (411 ShT 1996 PIC BK) may be an ‘oldie’ but it’s one that I’ll be promoting in my future workshops.  I think I picked up this title from one of the blogs participating in this year’s Top 10 on the 10^th event so it's a favourite of another children literature aficionado, too. 

Here’ s why we like it.

This is an alphabet book with an interesting premise. 

“A is for seed-- tomorrow’s APPLE”  or  

“B is for eggs—tomorrow’s BIRDS” and

“C is for milk—tomorrow’s CHEESE.”

You can easily see the pattern.  The objects focussed on are pretty typical, nothing too out there.  I particularly liked “U is for stranger—tomorrow’s US.” And, problematic X and Z are “X is for bones—tomorrow’s X-RAY” and “Z is for countdown—tomorrow’s ZERO” with a rocket blasting off into space.

The illustrations are fine but pretty basic.

But it is the premise that really sold this book for me.  I love the potential for getting students to predict both ways, getting them to guess what ‘A’ word comes from seed or what do you need to have before you get your ‘B’ word, birds.  This can easily be extended into a class exercise coming up with your tomorrow alphabet.  Because this has been around for a while already some of you will know it and perhaps used it in your classrooms.  Please drop me a comment  telling us about your experiences

Mine would have to be: “B is for time—tomorrow’s BLOG.”

Today's Nonfiction Monday event is being held at Booktalking#kidlit.