ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book
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ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book

4.21 of 5 stars 4.21  ·  rating details  ·  75 ratings  ·  17 reviews
ABC reveals a letter and a word on each page.
Board Books, 32 pages
Published June 2nd 2005 by Dutton Books
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(showing 1-30 of 106)
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Erin
Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: children, board-book
When I first received this board book as a gift, I had to suppress a groan. A child’s first alphabet book? This wouldn’t even be interesting the first time I read it through to my 15 month old, but on the 61st reading that he would no doubt insist on, I could be pretty darn sure I would be sick of the alphabet.

I was so wrong! The illustrations, first and foremost, are gorgeous. Each page presents the letter in upper and lower cases, and then features a beautiful main image to rep...more
Tdavis
Tdavis rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for: Baby - Preschool
An ABC board book with a twist! Each letter is represented with one large object (Apple) and the text provides both uppercase and lowercase letters (A is for apple). Also, in the illustrations are smaller objects begin with that same letter and an object that introduces the next letter. This gives the audience an opportunity to expand their vocabulary by finding or having the objects pointed out to them. The board book also has a wordless narrative within the illustrations.

Earl...more
Rachel
Beautifully watercolor-illustrated book with almost folk artwork, made to look like cracked porcelain or a really old painting. Each page features an upper and lowercase letter/vowel with a description, i.e. B is for balloon and the illustration features a large painting of a balloon. Also in each picture are other things that begin with that letter, such as in the B page there is a bumblebee, butterfly and ball. It's almost a game for the kids to name the other items on the page that begin with...more
Emily Patterson Blight
A quietly brilliant alphabet book. Each quirky illustration not only connects, imagistically, to its precedent, but also contains picture references to additional words sharing the same first letter. "Dd" is not only for "dog," but also doughnut, dish, doll, duck, and dance . . . Jay's signature technique in "ABC" engages young children in their language discovery through characteristic warm and bright artwork, in a volume that surely begs re-reading.
Randie
After a few pages, I thought: this is a pretty simple ABC book, nice but simple. But when I took a closer look at the illustrations, I realized that the book was really something special. Every illustration offers a glimpse into the next illustration. Readers will enjoy the fun of searching for clues.
Connie
Connie rated it 5 of 5 stars
I wasn't especially impressed when I first saw this book. A is for apple, B is for balloon, C is for cow, basic stuff. The only thing interesting was "X marks the spot" instead of "X is for X-ray or Xylophone".

Then I realized that I'd seen many of the creatures in Z is for zoo earlier in the book.

So I re-read it. Several re-reads later, I realized that there was a tentative story in this book. Do the women and the man love each other? They write letter...more
Inspired Kathy
Not impressed originally but as I looked closer there is so much detail in this book and a story in the pages.
Courtney
Alison Jay is going on my list for story time authors!
Jenelle
Bright, fun ABC book with delicious graphic images.
Pamela
Pamela added it
Shelves: kids-books
This is one of the boys' favorites.
Erika
Gorgeous!
Ebookwormy
A beautifully illustrated alphabet book that covers kid themes including animals, food and things in the home. The traditional illustrations capture the whimsy of childhood gone by. For the right child, this book will become a hardcover keepsake of learning their letters. My child is not the right child, but this remains a book of interest nonetheless. In the library rotation. Our library book is hard cover with paper pages and has a different cover illustration.
Lisa
Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: children-s-books
I love Alison Jay's illustrations in general, and what makes this book extra fun is searching for all of the various items beginning with the featured letter on that page, as well as references to the next letter.
Jennifer Nydahl
Genre: Concept book
Copyright: 2005
Nicole
Beautiful illustrations but my kids always prefer Dr.Suess' ABCs or On Market Street for an alphabet book.
Waits
Waits rated it 5 of 5 stars
Quite possibly the best ABC book ever made.
Stephanie
Review to come...
Zoe
Zoe added it
Jen
Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: childrens
Shelly
Shelly marked it as to-read
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Sara
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Shelves: natalies-books
Monica Fontenot
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Bennet
Bennet rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: kids
Danica Midlil
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ABC: A Child's First Alphabet Book (Hardcover)
Alphabet: Alison Jay's Abc
Alphabet: A Child's First Abc By Alison Jay

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Alison Jay was born in Hertfordshire, grew up in Derbyshire and studied graphic design in London where she now lives. After graduating she worked in animation for a short while but gradually started to get commissions in illustration. She works in Alkyd a quick drying oil paint on paper and sometimes adds a crackle varnish to give the work an aged appearance. She has worked in all areas of illustr...more
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