Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
24th out of 127 books
—
74 voters
The Z Was Zapped
A dramatic black-and-white presentation of the alphabet in which the two-time Caldecott Medalist depicts a mysterious transformation of each letter.
Paperback, 56 pages
Published
October 26th 1998
by Sandpiper
(first published 1987)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,321)
Oct 20, 2008
Lara's
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Parents and children 2yrs-5yrs
Shelves:
picture-books
Synopsis
: Something is a foot within the Alphabet Theater! A dramatic portrayal in twenty-six acts, with moments both poignant and painful. This production is sure to capture the attention of all who experience it. With strong associations between words and letters. Could this be an alphabet book in disguise?
Review : Presented in classic theater style, Chris Van Allsburg creates a world of familiar ABC characters that are going through some tough, frightening times. The "A" is being over run by...more
Review : Presented in classic theater style, Chris Van Allsburg creates a world of familiar ABC characters that are going through some tough, frightening times. The "A" is being over run by...more
The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg is a fun interpretation on teaching the alphabet. What struck me at first was written on the first page was, "The Alphabet Theatre Proudly Presents The Z Was Zapped A Play in Twenty- Six Acts". Right off the bat I knew that this was going to be written like a play in some way. I thought this would be perfect for children because a play is very familiar to them. The first page starts out with just a picture of a capital A with rocks falling on top of it. Whe...more
The stage is set for a unique theatrical production in this unconventional alphabet book. Detailed black and white pencil illustrations transport the reader to the vaudeville-like stage of the “Alphabet Theatre.” In a play of twenty-six acts (one for each member of the alphabet), each letter experiences a character specific circumstance. As the title relays, the Z is zapped while other letters endure such conditions as being bitten, hidden, overgrown, and uprooted. The illustration for each act...more
At first glance, it is easy to see that this book was made in a portrait format. I believe this is because the book is acting as if you are watching a stage performance; therefore, each illustration acts as the actor and calls for a portrait style view. Another interesting aspect of the book is that all of the illustrations are in black and white. I believe this was done to create a more serious mood for the reader as well as express a certain level of creepiness and darkness. The font is also v...more
Big Fat Hen. By Keith Baker. Jan 1999. 31 p. Harcourt. $14.15. ISBN: 978-0-613-15736-0. Grades K-3.
Keith Baker's Big Fat Hen is a counting book based on the timeless rhyme “One two, buckle my shoe”. In this colorfully illustrated book, readers are encouraged to count eggs and chicks along with the mother hen. Readers then count the big fat hen's friends and finally count all of the hens' eggs and chicks. Big Fat Hen helps children practice counting to ten as well as offers the challenge of coun...more
Keith Baker's Big Fat Hen is a counting book based on the timeless rhyme “One two, buckle my shoe”. In this colorfully illustrated book, readers are encouraged to count eggs and chicks along with the mother hen. Readers then count the big fat hen's friends and finally count all of the hens' eggs and chicks. Big Fat Hen helps children practice counting to ten as well as offers the challenge of coun...more
This alphabet book is quite a unique production; each letter appears on the right-hand side of the book, then when the page is turned a brief bit of text is given: "The A was in an Avalanche," "The B was badly bitten," and so on. This lends a bit of a wordless-book experience, since the image must be interpreted before the text is read.
It is rendered in black-and-white charcoal, and unlike most alphabet books, the scene never shifts, but their presentation is called "a Play in 26 acts." The arti...more
It is rendered in black-and-white charcoal, and unlike most alphabet books, the scene never shifts, but their presentation is called "a Play in 26 acts." The arti...more
Oh, this picturebook just used the dramatic black-and-white presentation. It's amazing! I don't understand that will children receive this picturebook without colors? But I think it a little bit different because this book's content looks like a story, a dark story. After finishing reading this book, I feel a little bit sad and heart-struck because this progress is too cruel and dark. Though I like black-and-white abstract pictures, it is not very suitable for children to read from my view. Chil...more
Something happens to each letter of the alphabet in this hauntingly illustrated alphabet book. From a teaching perspective, one of the best features of this book is its format. Each letter illustration is on one page, with the accompanying text on the back. For example, the first page shows the letter A on stage with large boulders falling down on top of it. The reader must turn the page in order to read the text," The A was in an Avalanche." The final picture shows the letter Z getting struck b...more
I really enjoyed this book. I had never heard of it before but the picture on the cover caught my eye. I was surprised to find that it was an ABC book because I always thought Chris Van Allsburg wrote more challenging books for older kids. Now that I’ve read this book I would suggest it to any parent or teacher who is trying to teach their child or class the alphabet. One thing I love about this book is that it shows you the picture before the text so you can really look at it and try to guess f...more
At first I wasn't too sure about Chris Van Allsburg but this book made me sure of my admiration.
The Z was Zapped was an easy read. Although this book is primarily about alphabets it is more children that know how to read not for children that are just now learning how to read and if they are this would be great for them to be read to.
I like the Z was zapped because it brought out the pronunciation of the letter not just matching it with another work with the same letter, I thought that was cleve...more
The Z was Zapped was an easy read. Although this book is primarily about alphabets it is more children that know how to read not for children that are just now learning how to read and if they are this would be great for them to be read to.
I like the Z was zapped because it brought out the pronunciation of the letter not just matching it with another work with the same letter, I thought that was cleve...more
Best for kids ages 4 and up
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Letter Knowledge, Vocabulary
From cover:
Never before has the Alphabet Theatre undertaken so difficult and, in some respects, nasty a play ans this. With great personal sacrifice, the Caslon players bring to the stage, for the first time anywhere, "The Z was Zapped." Playwright Chris Van Allsburg has crafted a drama with moments both poignant and painful, which is sure to haunt the memory of all who experience it. It has even been...more
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Letter Knowledge, Vocabulary
From cover:
Never before has the Alphabet Theatre undertaken so difficult and, in some respects, nasty a play ans this. With great personal sacrifice, the Caslon players bring to the stage, for the first time anywhere, "The Z was Zapped." Playwright Chris Van Allsburg has crafted a drama with moments both poignant and painful, which is sure to haunt the memory of all who experience it. It has even been...more
The Z was Zapped was a very interesting book! This book was about the basic ABC alphabet. Each page shows each letter of the alphabet doing an action on a stage that starts with the letter being described. This is a great book for children to predict what is going to happen to the letters. The illustrations are amazing, nicely drawn with pencil. Van Allsburg books are always beautiful and interesting books to look at the pictures and understand the book by just looking at the pictures. I thought...more
The book, The Z was Zapped, by Chris Van Allsburg, is an ABC book. It has something happen to every letter of the alphabet. For example, "The K was quietly Kidnapped" or the " The S was simple soaked". I gave this book two stars out of five because it is not the best book for all ages. Children under about six would enjoy it greatly but older than that and it starts to get a little boring. The pictures are very descriptive with what happens to the letter but it would of been nice if the picture...more
Chris VanAllsburg makes beautiful illustrations and I have to say that even if he never wrote a single line in his stories, I would still love them. (Who doesn't love The Polar Express? If you don't - you're dead to me.) This is such a simple concept (an alphabet book), but he takes it to a new level incorporating alliteration and sophisticated vocabulary. There are many uses I can see for using this book starting in Pre-K all the way through 8th grade. It has appeal at every level -- you're lea...more
In terms of alphabet books, I found this one to be highly entertaining and hilarious. The book goes through each letter of the alphabet, and something unpleasant ends up happening to each letter! For example, the D was drowned, the N was nailed, and the Z was zapped. The illustrations are funny and I found my self eagerly turning to the next page to see what happens to the next letter. The one thing I found a little irritating, however, was the location of the text. The text for each picture was...more
This unique "alphabet" book was clever and fun to read. The black-and-white (pencil) drawn illustrations are impressing, mostly because of their ability to convey texture, depth, and fine detail. Chris Van Allsburg include an illustration of each single letter of the alphabet (in 26 "acts") undergoing some type of strange change on a page. Following this page is a short explanation on the next page about the previously shown letter (such as: "The F was firmly flattened"). The alliteration, the i...more
The book is in portrait form. the illustrations have border and most of them are centered. Once again, Van Allsburg used great shadowing techniques in what looks like pencil or charcoal. Looking at the first two pages where the story begins, you know this may be about the alphabet. In fact on the first page, it shows the letter A, with not text so I thought this story wouldn't have any text.....until you turn the page to letter B. The text is on the left again, and the illustrations are on the r...more
This was such a fun ABC book! The way that the book is laid out makes it a great vocabulary builder, a fun guessing game, and an entertaining excercise in observation and creative thinking. The kids had a ball trying to figure what actions were happening to the letters in this book. They usually aren't all that wild about ABC books, but this one is right up there with their favorites (Superhero ABC, and just about any ABC book by Jerry Pallotta). I had a lot of fun with it, too, and the pictures...more
Feb 06, 2012
Destiny
added it
The A was zapped had a different texture then the previous Chris Van Allsberg book i reviewed. The previous book of his i read had a rough tewxture and thick paper but this one is nice a smooth something i can run my hands over. This book is also black and white but some how the pictures were still full of just enough color.The style of the book is portrait although there are no humans in the book making it puzzeling to me. The pictures were basically of a shelf with a shadow underneath it prese...more
"The Z was Zapped" was an excellent book to read. It goes over each alphabet letter, which makes it a good book for kids learning the alphabet. I thought the author was creative on how he did his illustrations for every letter in this book. All the illustrations in the book are done in white and black as well, which is quite fine for a book like this. Each letter in the alphabet in this story had a unique twist to it. For instance, the "M" appears to be melting and the "T" was tied up. The story...more
Van Allsburg is one of my favorite authors. This Caldecott Award-winning author brings a unique perspective to his stories.
Alphabet books are boring. I think they are boring even to the very young, for whom they are written. This offering, however, is compelling. Each letter is presented in Van Allsburg sculptured art. One has to turn the page to reveal the exquisite text. After the first few, the reader gets with the program and can begin trying to figure them out almost as though they were reb...more
Alphabet books are boring. I think they are boring even to the very young, for whom they are written. This offering, however, is compelling. Each letter is presented in Van Allsburg sculptured art. One has to turn the page to reveal the exquisite text. After the first few, the reader gets with the program and can begin trying to figure them out almost as though they were reb...more
I decided to add some of the books I'm reading these days...even if they are picture books! I'm writing lesson plans around these wonderful books which are great for all ages. I've started bringing home a picture book most nights to read with Jimmy - this genre is really not just for little kids.
Van Allsburg is a brilliant illustrator. I love that he first has an illustrator of the next letter in the alphabet, and the words don't appear until the next page so it gives the reader time to think an...more
Van Allsburg is a brilliant illustrator. I love that he first has an illustrator of the next letter in the alphabet, and the words don't appear until the next page so it gives the reader time to think an...more
Of course this is a great book... It is Chris VanAllsburg! "The A was in an Avalanche" this is the kind of language that can be found in this nontraditional alphabet book. The book is in black and white and the vocabulary is rich and entertaining. When opening the book there was a picture of A and then on the page about A is a picture of B. So you see, the matching picture comes before you read about the letter. This leaves room for prediction and adds a little suspense. Very creative read that...more
Each letter of the alphabet is depicted coming to some alliteratively appropriate misfortune in this fun take on alphabet learning. Van Allsburg structured this cleverly - on the first page you see rocks falling on the A, but it isn't until you turn that page that you see "The A was in an avalanche". It follows in the same pattern for the other letters, with the descriptions facing the next letter, not the letter they describe - so readers have a chance to guess what the descriptions will say be...more
I like Chris Van Allsburg's illustrations and I would have really loved this creative picture book except for the fact that the description of what happens to the letter was on the next page, which had me flipping back and forth. I didn't want to confuse my pre-schooler by reading about the A when she was now looking at the B. For older kids, they might enjoy guessing what happens to the letters before flipping the page, but it just seemed like it was inviting confusion for a pre-reader who is l...more
ABC Book: Chris Van Allsburg did not disappoint in this fun alphabet book. Cleverly written the form of a theatrical production, each letter is present to the reader in the some type of predicament. The reader can try to guess how the author describes the letter’s situation on the following page in a simple sentence. Even though the author crafted each description using alliteration, this is not your typical “A” is for apple alphabet book. Instead, the read finds the “A” in an avalanche, the “K”...more
The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg happens to be a vert unique book. It was an alphabet book that ran into twenty-six mishaps before reaching the zapped Z. When I opened the first page it was just the letter A with rocks falling over it. I immediately thought the reader was going to have to make inferences throughout the twenty-six letters. I was partially wrong because as we flipped the page the illustrated text was behind each picture. I wonder why Chris Van Allsburg set the book up to be...more
The Z was Zapped” is another surreal book from the creative mind of Chris Van Allsburg, the well-known author of “Jumanji.” In this book, the Alphabet Theatre introduces a play where all twenty-six letters of the alphabet are somehow involved in some kind of unfortunate mishap. “The Z was Zapped” will surely be an instant treat for children who want to learn the alphabet in a more creative way.
Chris Van Allsburg has done a magnificent job on both the writing and the illustrations in this book....more
Chris Van Allsburg has done a magnificent job on both the writing and the illustrations in this book....more
The Z was zapped was a good alphabet book. It was an interesting how they had it written like a play. The problem I did see with the book was that some of the letters were warped so much that you could not tell what letter they were. Therefore, I would not recommend this book for children who are learning the alphabet but maybe children who are learning to read. The illustrations in here make the story and the story makes the illustrations so the book has a nice mix.
I think this is an interesting book for children who already know their alphabet. I don't think it is good for kids who are learning their alphabet because the letters are often distorted and the words about the letter can't be seen at the same time as the letter itself. This would be confusing for a child to who is learning the alphabet to be looking at one letter and hearing about a different letter. I especially worry about already ambiguous letters like "M" and "N."
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18, 1949, the second child of Doris Christiansen Van Allsburg and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947.
Chris’s paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named East End Creamery and after they bottled the milk (and made the ot...more
More about Chris Van Allsburg...
Chris’s paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named East End Creamery and after they bottled the milk (and made the ot...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
