Book of Shadowboxes, the: A Story of the ABC's

by Laura L. Seeley

Welcome to Laura Seeley's enchanting world of shadowboxes, where the ABC's spring magically to life. Each shadowbox is filled with richly colorful creatures, objects, and people drawn in Seeley's intricately engaging style. The vibrant illustrations and bouncing verses delight and instruct.

Genres: Childrens, Poetry, Kids, Picture Books

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Glenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful gift to give or to one to have in your home!

[Erica Trollope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will help learn letter but also help phonological awareness!

[Megan Bumgardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sentimental about this one. It is magical! Beautiful illustrations and fun rhymes. The I spy part of the book is great too.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rhyming ABC book with a poem for every letter, this book by Laura Seeley has some stunning illustrations patterned after shadow boxes. Each box accompanies a letter poem on each two-page spread and is full of things that start with that letter. The rhymes help children memorize the poems and the highlighting in the poem of every instance of the letter in question with a bright color raises awareness of phonics. I can see this book being used for beginning readers as well as older children who are learning how to write and spell (for example: the G poem contains the word "gnome" and acknowledges that the g in that word is silent). As well as being beautiful, each illustration has hidden items in it. There is a clue below each poem so that kids can spend time delving into the images to find their secrets. At the back of the book there is even a checklist of more objects to find in each illustration. This is a book that could entertain kids in multiple ways as they learn the alphabet, enjoy the poems, and spend lots of time looking for things in the illustrations.

[Ericka · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st-5th Grade

Seeley created a whole world in her version of the ABC's. Her illustrations are filled from front to back with many details. Each page has boxes filled with the letters objects and plenty of other objects (surprises) drawn into each page. Even the text has a fun font and colors with everytime the letter is written put in bold with color. The text of the story is very flowy following the sequence of the ABC's. The story actually beginned with an intro before shadow told his ABC's and ended with a conclusion. Children can relate to this story because it is a fun way for them to learn words associated with their ABC's.

Art/Language Arts

Lesson Idea: write out a list of words for each letter of alphabet.

[Brandee Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child this book absolutely fascinated me. I love to find the pictures that matched the text. It's great for a young beginning reader and a delightful way to learn your ABCs. A ghost takes you through the alphabet a page at a time, and there's always something hidden in the pictures that aren't meant to be there! Kind of like if there was a Where's Waldo's ABCs book existed this would be it.

[Taylor Hainley]

This book is a great children's ABC book. This book teaches children the letters and their sounds with different rhymes. I think this book makes learning the alphabet more fun for the students. I would use this in a kindergarten class and would keep it in my classroom library for them to reference.

[Alexis Smith-Gaddis · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Book of Shadow Boxes: A Story of the ABC's" by Laura L. Seeley uses different rhymes to teach letters and their sounds. This children's alphabet book helps to not only teach each letter, but incorporates the sounds each letter makes in a fun way. This is a great book in my opinion for the classroom to teach students their letters and letter sounds.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ABC book presents a poem for every letter and therefore is an ABC book, a poetry book and also a picture book at the same time. With the rhymes and pictures as a support, it is easy for kids to learn the ABC from this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Book of Shadowboxes: A Story of the ABC's" is an ABC book, a poetry book and a great picture book at the same time. It contains to every letter of the alphabet a nice rhyme with words that start with the certain letter. Additionally, nice illustrations complement every poem.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

not for HCL

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute ABC book with fun illustrations and a search-and-find game for each page. I like the rhymes and the emphasis on letters throughout the words, not just the starting letter.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated alphabet book.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book since I was THREE YEARS OLD. and I STILL have it memorized.
Enough said.
I am saving it for my kids to read one day :) <3

[Logan]

Great book for poetry and alphabet work!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

i like these poems!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated alphabet book--fantastic!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are so special. My sons love looking for all of the hidden items in the shadowboxes. And the poems are just so fun to read! Thank you Santa...wink wink!

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best/weirdest way to learn the alphabet.

[Tyler Spence]

This book takes children through ABCs with pictures and examples.
I would have my children write some things from a letter that they pick.