Tickets to Ride: An Alphabetic Amusement

by Mark Rogalski

Welcome to an amusement park unlike any you've seen before. From Alligators in the Air, through to the Zebra Zeppelin, the reader is provided with an elegant ticket that admits them onto rides at turns thrilling, mysterious, spectacular-and always breathtaking to look at. In fact, picking a favorite amongst these 26 stunning illustrations proved so difficult, we've decided to release this book with six different jackets, each highlighting a different piece of this astonishing artwork. And even after the first perusal, both children and adults alike will go back over these images again and again in search of the items hidden cleverly within them. At the end of the book, a detailed map of this incredible park is also included for hours more of fascinating fun. Tickets to Ride is the debut of a major new talent in children's picture books. We invite you to tender your ticket and come along for a remarkable ride.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, International

64 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2006

Reviews

[Sheri]

What a fun book that inspires imagination! Love the illustrations and the catchy rhymes. I feel like I'm on the midway calling out the fun to be had on The Hippo Hop or the Lion Up. The hidden ducks and numbers gets kids (and adults) thinking in new ways. (I still haven't found all the hidden ducks!)

[Katt Hansen]

This is one of those books that bears going back over a couple of times in close examination. While the pictures are wildly imaginative, there's also hidden objects to find later making this a book that will be enjoyed by the inquisitive child. There's no real storyline, which is my key complaint, but the illustrations invite you to linger as you ask the question, "What would it be like to ride on this one?"

[Jennifer Heise]

A new classic to add to the treasured collection of visually fascinating picture books out there. Right up there with David Wiesner and Grame Base, etc.
My six year old and I really liked poring over this together, trying to decide which ride was the best. (I think the Jellyfish Jumper but maybe the Rocket Rabbit-- he wavers between the Bumper Bears and nearly everything else.) These zany amusement park rides definitely spark the imagination, though one might wonder how safe some of them are! The text is somewhat hard for aging eyes to read but the rhymes and rhythm are good. The added picture puzzle part is a fun for me, but my son won't let me look for the numbers or the duck in the pictures-- he found that too frustrating.)

[Laura]

This book has great illustrations and each page has a hidden number(1 through 26 to correspond with each page associated with a letter of the alphabet) and a hidden duck that you have to find...that was my son's favorite part. This book kept my son entertained for at least 45 minutes while I did laundry and he has picked it up several times since then. The rhymes leave much to be desired for this adult but my son couldn't care less. Definitely pick this one up for your little people.

[Nikki]

Whimsical and fun, this book has a catchy rhyming cadence. My children spent a great deal of time studying the colorful, engaging illustrations--even after multiple readings. They enjoyed imagining themselves on each of the rides... with the possible exception of the bat ride.
Great book!

[Ann-Marie]

An alphabet book! An amusement park book! AND an eye spy book! How can you go wrong? I LOVE the pictures and the rhymes (once memorized) are really fun to read. A great read, but also hours of fun pouring over looking at all of the details.

[Madeline Smoot]

This book has some of the best illustrations I've ever seen. It's a fun book that is a plesure to read.

[Shantell]

Very cute alphabet book. Fun little poems for each letter and a hidden duck in every picture!

[Mckinley]

A beautifully illustrated amusement park with spectacular animal rides arranged a-b-c.

[Tabitha]

Amazing illustrations with fun poems on an alphabetical journey through an imaginary amusement park. Includes a map of the amusement park. I enjoyed every ride.

[Gator]

Fantastic artwork and great rhymes. This is well worth the purchase and the time to read to the kids.

[Heather]

Very fun alphabet book. My boys (5 & 7) loved imagining going on the rides and locating the rides on the map in the back.

[Meredith]

So many creative enrichment options. Love the map at the back.

[Christina]

3.5 stars. Imaginative alphabet-style book of imaginative rides in an amusement park, with sleek computer-animation-style illustrations. I'm not sure children would enjoy the text, but the pictures make up the balance. They could stand alone, but each also has hidden picture an number for kids to find.

[Heather]

This book had some interesting illustrations and some neat rhymes but it didn't have enough to really go where it could have. We thought the duck would be on every page to find, but he wasn't. A one time read only for us.

[Elizabeth]

I especially liked the text and the left-side-of-each-spread illustrations. (How is that for oddly specific?)

[Heather]

The kids love it. Great letter learning book where every letter has an amusement park ride, and a hiden friend to find. My daughter chants many of the rhymes.

[Shaina]

My kids loved this book. They liked finding the pictures hidden on every page. We read it over and over and over and over.....

[S10_Jessica Oster]

format: picture book, poetry
age: fun for all ages! reading level for grades 3 and up
protagonist: n/a

[Emma]

tickets and carnival rides and it rhymes.

[Carissa]

The story reminds me of Graeme Base's "Animalia" in that there are animals used for the alphabet in funny, rhyming ways.

[Krittle Belle]

Enjoyed the art, search and find aspect

[Michaela O'dowd]

Beautiful illustrations