A Is for Apple

by Tiger Tales, Georgie Birkett (Illustrator)

This brilliant, innovative book offers an engaging new way for children to discover and learn basic concepts of the alphabet. By running their finger along large, grooved letters, children can explore each shape. Colorful lift-the-flaps on every sturdy page further reinforce easy learning. Each board page features a capital letter that a child can trace with their finger, a flap to lift to find a surprise, and bright illustrations!

The bright and graphic illustrations include cuddly animals and familiar objects. Also, included are helpful hints on how to extend the fun with guessing games, writing exercises, and more!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Education, Kids, Juvenile, Nonfiction

26 pages, Board book

First published June 5, 2011

Reviews

[Ann]

Fun interactive book

[Tracy]

My husband and I both love this book. We have plenty on our shelves that are alphabet books..."A is for...B is for", we also have alphabet flash cards, alphabet apps on our i pads. This book is the best in that it has a large recessed letter on each page that your toddler can trace with her finger, so you get some pre-writing skills, and a fun activity to do while you are reading. Also there is a flap to open on each page with another letter word underneath. My two-year old made it all the way to the letter R before moving on to another activity. I can definitely see her growing with this one.

[Elizabeth]

When I was taught to write my letters, we learned to connect the parts of the letter so as to lift the pencil as little as possible. For example, an uppercase A would be a diagonal up, a diagonal down, then lift the pencil to cross the A. This book starts both diagonal "legs" at the top. We also (I think) learned to retrace parts of the letters so as not to lift the pencil (although it's possible that I'm conflating printing and cursive; of course, with D'Nealian, which is what I learned, the overlap is intentional).

My point is that this book's method would have been incorrect in my kindergarten class. (But, it's been decades since I was in kindergarten, so there have probably been dozens of different philosophies between then and now, and not just about handwriting. For instance, my kindergarten taught phonics, and I already mentioned learning cursive...)

[Luke Dostal]

I did not read this, but my wife read it to our niece. She read it at a slower pace to her than I would have preferred, but the content was very informative and I learned a lot. Would recommend this as a read.

[Andrea Palmerin]

Tiger Tales’ book, A is for Apple, illustrated by Georgie Birkett lets the kids learn the letters of the alphabet and shows them what are some of the words that start with those letters. For example “K is for Key and kite.”

Letting the children use the interaction of trace and flip the flap to see how the words meant to be written and see that there is more than one word that starts with that same letter helps the kids learn effectively their ABC's. Using small words that they normally use helps their minds to know the order of the alphabet. This book is a great tool for little kids to effectively learn the alphabet and start thinking of other words that can help them remember it.

[Danielle]

*Review to Come*

The Short:
One of the best alphabet books out there. Great for learning and teaching how to write as well.

[Rachel]

"A Is for Apple" is an absolutely adorable and engaging alphabet book perfect for preschoolers. Each page combines tactile learning with visual fun, featuring capital letters that children can trace with their fingers and flaps to flip—revealing an object that begins with that letter. It’s an interactive experience that keeps little learners curious and involved from start to finish.

The hands-on design is what makes this book so special. Young children love being able to do something as they learn, and tracing the grooves or lifting the flaps helps reinforce letter recognition in a fun, memorable way. The bright, colorful illustrations and sturdy construction make it ideal for frequent use at home, in the classroom, or in a homeschool setting.

Overall, this is a super cute and educational book that makes early literacy feel like play. A must-have for any preschooler’s bookshelf!

[James]

The book allows parents or, in our case, grandparents,to teach not only the alphabet but guide a child in the making of the shape of the different letters.

Methinks it is a wonderful way to educate a child in this most rudimentary knowledge but one upon which the rest of learning is built.

There is also a flap on each page which hides another object beginning with the letter being considered for example the page "L is for Lion" contains a flap which a picture of a lamp beneath and on the reverse the words "and lamp". The book this gives the child opportunities to speak interact and increase vocabulary.

[Pamela Hatch]

Introduction to the alphabet, letter shapes, and object identification. Each page focuses on one letter of the alphabet: Capital letter is indented in the paper with visual numbering showing how to make the letter. Image also shows the lower-case letter and simple sentence: Zz if for Zebra. The bottom of the page has an image of the word (in this case a Zebra). There is also a tab that the young reader can flip that shows another object beginning with the same letter -- "and Zipper" (also with an image).

There is no storyline -- just letter and object identification in a well-conceived format.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner]

This is such a simple, fun book! I was reading it with a two-year-old and he loved lifting the flaps to see what was hiding underneath them. He is not very chatty and is still learning words, so it was so neat to hear him say some of the words that were under the flap!! I highly recommend this for anyone with a little one learning the alphabet or even still learning to say words. There are just enough to keep them engaged, and not so many that they lose interest before you are ready to go to the next page. Well-done, with beautiful illustrations.

[Elizabeth]

This is a letter trace and flip book, so I would use this for alphabetic awareness and fine motor skills. The large letters on each page shows the direction in which the child can use their finger to trace. It also allows the child to use the flap to reveal what starts with the letter on the page. I would ask the child to repeat the letter and ask if they know what other object starts with the letter A/B/C/etc.

[Mama Bearian]

Each letter in this book is made with a cutout to allow for tracing the letter with your finger. There are even arrows and numbers to help you know what part of the letter to trace first (as if you were writing it). In addition, each page has an item and phrase (like “A is for apple.”) but also a flap that reveals another item that starts with that letter. This is a great interactive option for an alphabet book!

[Marcy Smith]

This is a great book when teaching children their ABC's. Throughout the book they are able to interact with it, and touch, feel and move things to see the letter in various textures. I gave this book 4 stars because it simply is a good book especially for children ages of 2-4. It's simple and light and perfect for children at this age because they are just learning how talk and start to write so it's not too jumbled with words.

[Alix Kopf]

Copyright Date: 2011
Genre: Concept
Theme: Educational, Alphabet
My favorite part is the pop-outs in this book. Each letter has two things that start with that letter and a pop-out for children to be engaged. I think it is a fun additive for children which makes them more excited to read this book. This is a great book for younger children who are still learning their letters.

[Kristen]

Both my kids loved any books with flaps to lift starting when they were between 1 and 2. They loved the words for each letter, especially as they started to recognize familiar objects. My son is three now and likes to practice tracing the letters on the tracing tracks and finding letters he recognizes

[Meredith]

This board book teaches the letters of the alphabet with same-letter illustrations for each letter.

The format features die-cut finger trace trails and lift-the-flap.

This is probably one of the best alphabet books I have read. It has the standard A is for …, B is for …, C is for … format, but the construction allows for the reader to trace each letter with his/her finger. It also has lift-the-flaps with a second word for added interest.

Non-traceable lowercase letters are included next to the traceable uppercase ones. 90% of all print is lowercase, which makes teaching the alphabet in lowercase more beneficial than uppercase.

[Angela Rueger]

This is a good way to introduce young children to capital and lower-case letters. I also like the fact that two words are given for each letter rather than just one. And the child (or the adult reader) must open the window to find out what the second word is for each letter. It's an engaging little book.

[Haley Kilgour]

I think this book has a lot of merit when it come to teaching kids letters. It gives the letter and two examples of things starting with it. But to make it interactive for kids, one item is hidden under a flap. It also shows how to write the letter with your finger, which can go a long way towards helping kids learn to write.

[Alexis Cohen]

I enjoyed this book because it helps children to learn the alphabet but it is also interactive. It allows children to trace the letters in the book on tracks. It also shows children words that begin with each letter.

[Diana]

very nice interactive alphabet book. each page features a letter and the capital and lower case letter is shown. you can trace the capital letter and it says A is for Apple and you lift the flap and it says and ant. nice illustrations

[Yailene_Reads]

Read a book day for my toddlers! My students wanted to read a book on the alphabet. We purchased this one as it has small flaps the students can open to incorporate small muscle development along with language skills. Good read for my toddler class.

[Mary]

This book is great, except for the paper flaps that seem like they could be ripped off by a mild gust of wind. We've had to tape multiple pages back together so far. Otherwise, we love the traceable letters and the letter examples.

[Amanda]

Is there a child around that does like lift the flap books? This sturdy board book is great for little hands, and it has the added flaps. I wish it was a little higher contrast, but overall a great addition to a young library.

[Alison]

Good word association choices to correspond with each letter.. flaps to open may be torn or bent by child without adult supervision, though. Artistic content is dull.

[Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee)]

Love that this has grooves for my son to trace his letters

He loves that there are flaps to lift.

It’s a win-win

[Vese Aghoghovbia]

Lovely way to learn the alphabets. My daughter loves it and the flaps

[Tabi Hunt]

Copyright 2011
Genre fiction-concept

This is an excellent book for students learning how to correctly write each letter. I loved the numbered instruction on each page for proper letter formation.

[Shelby]

A perfect book to learn your alphabet. Great for tracing and learning common items that start with that letter.

[MacK]

Me: fine a, b, c book

Alex: I know how to trace these from my learning game

Owen: Flaps!! Who cares about letters!! There are flaps!!

[Megan]

Love the lift-the-flap design and the recessed track for tracing the letters. Makes a nice and quiet activity book.