What do you think?
Rate this book
ABC: Letters in the Library
A single lovingly written, playfully illustrated book introduces children to both the alphabet and the library, through wonderfully descriptive, alliterative language. ABC Letters in the Library puts a fresh new spin on the traditional ABC lesson, and is an ideal tool for teachers & librarians. It's ABC's for Bookworms-to-Be.
What better place to introduce young ones to the alphabet than in the library? Whimsical illustrated letters come alive and spark young readers' imaginations. Lively poetic text is perfect for reading aloud! Authors prance down aisles alphabetically. Browsing bookworms read beautiful books. Children discover new worlds around every corner! Delightful drawings will develop their vocabulary. From humming computers to the snug story nook, every spot of the library is explored in this exhilarating, eye-popping, but most importantly educational book.
What better place to introduce young ones to the alphabet than in the library? Whimsical illustrated letters come alive and spark young readers' imaginations. Lively poetic text is perfect for reading aloud! Authors prance down aisles alphabetically. Browsing bookworms read beautiful books. Children discover new worlds around every corner! Delightful drawings will develop their vocabulary. From humming computers to the snug story nook, every spot of the library is explored in this exhilarating, eye-popping, but most importantly educational book.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2004
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 20, 2015
ABC Letters in the Library by Bonnie Farmer
Audio book but I'm pretty sure it shows the picture the letter represents.
Alpha list of library related terms. Love h for hush the best.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Audio book but I'm pretty sure it shows the picture the letter represents.
Alpha list of library related terms. Love h for hush the best.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
October 1, 2021
While there is value in alliteration, this book was maybe a little ambitious in its efforts to include alliteration in as many pages as it could.
Without looking at its date of publication, we can tell that this book is older because of its problematic depictions of librarians (all white and female, of course) - "sHH"ing and "Hush[ing] all talk," and emphasizing that inquisitive kids only ask questions quietly, while ironically believing that the same "Librarian's friendship Leaves Lasting Impressions." Darn right, the wrong impressions. There's also a teacher who "tsks" loud teens, just turning them into a typical teen trope (don't mind my alliteration here). The author could have used "thesaurus" or "title" for the letter T...
I do like the nod to volunteers being valuable, and exhibits of young artists' work in the library. I'm sure it wasn't intended by the author, but I don't think it was wise to include "pages become pillows as stars shine above. Zzzzzz." Inviting the oportunity for drooling on and wrinkling library book pages is definitely not recommended for responsible book care 😂
Without looking at its date of publication, we can tell that this book is older because of its problematic depictions of librarians (all white and female, of course) - "sHH"ing and "Hush[ing] all talk," and emphasizing that inquisitive kids only ask questions quietly, while ironically believing that the same "Librarian's friendship Leaves Lasting Impressions." Darn right, the wrong impressions. There's also a teacher who "tsks" loud teens, just turning them into a typical teen trope (don't mind my alliteration here). The author could have used "thesaurus" or "title" for the letter T...
I do like the nod to volunteers being valuable, and exhibits of young artists' work in the library. I'm sure it wasn't intended by the author, but I don't think it was wise to include "pages become pillows as stars shine above. Zzzzzz." Inviting the oportunity for drooling on and wrinkling library book pages is definitely not recommended for responsible book care 😂
December 19, 2020
A love letter to libraries but weirdly not a favorite book for me. Perhaps it's the tumblebook version that I'm used to but the story just seems to drag on a bit.
It is used in our kindergarten library curriculum.
It is used in our kindergarten library curriculum.
March 1, 2020
Cute...a little difficult to read... but cute abc book.
June 27, 2025
A good book for demonstrating alliteration!
The ABCs are there, too, but better for a child who's learned them all and just enjoys a review.
The ABCs are there, too, but better for a child who's learned them all and just enjoys a review.
October 13, 2011
What I first noticed when I read the hard copy, was the fact that there are no end papers. The Illustrations in the story are simple and colorful and the reader is introduced to that by a simple girl holding books on the title page, and then open books that encompass the dedications. Once inside the story, the letters are each given a sentence or phrase that is accentuated by the main letter being a different color. For example: Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically. The images surrounding the main letter are fun and playful and look easy to manipulate with motion. Some of the main letters do not have strong sentences, but the illustrator compensates by filling the art with things that start with that letter. This story is cultural neutral and could take place in any library, in any city. The only similarity with the people is that the children have round faces while the adult’s faces are long and pointy. Being that I am working for my library endorsement, I did notice that the librarians are all modern, with different looks, and not all female.
As for the digital version, the first thing I noticed was the narrator’s voice. To me this story needs energy and excitement, unfortunately the narrator is soft and slow. When highlighting the sentences for the reader, they use the same color as the accented letters and they highlight the whole sentence at once. To me this takes away from the point of the book which is to show the ABC connection. For example: Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically. Where I saw a lot of potential for motion and affects, the digital version has a simple rocking motion for selected parts of the illustrations. However, the images do fall apart and then rebuild to make the next letter. There is a better flow to the book in the digital version then in the hard copy. The letters and illustrations each have their own screen shot. In the hard copy, some have a full page while others share a page making it more challenging for the eye to follow.
The online support that comes with the digital version is a bit challenging. The story itself is geared to lower elementary grades; however the crossword puzzle had me scratching my head. The lesson plan is a bit of a stretch. They have the students’ play a musical chairs game only they substitute chairs for letters. When the music stops, the children are to think of a word with that letter. I would much rather see this book read by the librarian during the beginning of the school year as an introduction to the library. The students can then look around the library and find things that start with specific letters.
Overall, I do like the book. The playful illustrations will grab the students’ attention. The challenging dialogue means this story is definitely more suited as a guided oral story. Either the traditional or digital versions can be used to introduce the library to young patrons.
As for the digital version, the first thing I noticed was the narrator’s voice. To me this story needs energy and excitement, unfortunately the narrator is soft and slow. When highlighting the sentences for the reader, they use the same color as the accented letters and they highlight the whole sentence at once. To me this takes away from the point of the book which is to show the ABC connection. For example: Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically. Where I saw a lot of potential for motion and affects, the digital version has a simple rocking motion for selected parts of the illustrations. However, the images do fall apart and then rebuild to make the next letter. There is a better flow to the book in the digital version then in the hard copy. The letters and illustrations each have their own screen shot. In the hard copy, some have a full page while others share a page making it more challenging for the eye to follow.
The online support that comes with the digital version is a bit challenging. The story itself is geared to lower elementary grades; however the crossword puzzle had me scratching my head. The lesson plan is a bit of a stretch. They have the students’ play a musical chairs game only they substitute chairs for letters. When the music stops, the children are to think of a word with that letter. I would much rather see this book read by the librarian during the beginning of the school year as an introduction to the library. The students can then look around the library and find things that start with specific letters.
Overall, I do like the book. The playful illustrations will grab the students’ attention. The challenging dialogue means this story is definitely more suited as a guided oral story. Either the traditional or digital versions can be used to introduce the library to young patrons.
Read
February 15, 2016Title: ABC: Letters in the Library
Author: Bonnie Farmer
Illustrator: Chum McLeod
Genre: Alphabet/ABC Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Library
Opening line/sentence: Aa - Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically.
Brief Book Summary: This book progresses through each letter of the alphabet relating it back in some way to the library. It uses large amounts of alliteration and some humor throughout its' 26 pages.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: –Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
PreSchool-Grade 1–Festive cartoons embellish this abecedary of library services. Farmer's letter-by-letter alliterative exercise captures vignettes from "Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically" to "A librarian's friendship leaves lasting impressions" and "Story time spreads smiles on small students' faces." The author includes admonishing loud teens and reminds readers that "Overdue books keep all others waiting." J, U, X, Y, and Z feature only one word to commemorate the oversized letter on their pages, and some vocabulary surpasses the intended readership. With a multicultural cast and a fine balance for expressing imagination and reality, the illustrations are a bit stronger than the text, but the book effectively serves to encourage language play–and a visit to the library.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: --Midwest Book Review, April 2005
"The vibrant images...add a visually compelling touch to this free-spirited introduction to the alphabet."
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Most of the reviews I found for this book were very similar to the two posted above. Everyone seems to really enjoy this book and I do as well. I love the combination of an ABC book with an informative book on libraries. It has humorous pictures and uses alliteration quite well.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: There is no plot contained within this book as it changes with every page turn & the appearance of a new letter. While some of the words may prove too difficult for early readers, the book does an excellent job at letter identification. On each page there are at least 3-4 words that begin with that pages' given letter.
Consideration of Instructional Application: A great activity to pair with this book would be for students to be able to create a class alphabet story book. Each student would receive a letter then write a story using it and illustrate their story. We could also take a tour of our local/school library.
Author: Bonnie Farmer
Illustrator: Chum McLeod
Genre: Alphabet/ABC Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Library
Opening line/sentence: Aa - Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically.
Brief Book Summary: This book progresses through each letter of the alphabet relating it back in some way to the library. It uses large amounts of alliteration and some humor throughout its' 26 pages.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: –Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
PreSchool-Grade 1–Festive cartoons embellish this abecedary of library services. Farmer's letter-by-letter alliterative exercise captures vignettes from "Aisles of authors are arranged alphabetically" to "A librarian's friendship leaves lasting impressions" and "Story time spreads smiles on small students' faces." The author includes admonishing loud teens and reminds readers that "Overdue books keep all others waiting." J, U, X, Y, and Z feature only one word to commemorate the oversized letter on their pages, and some vocabulary surpasses the intended readership. With a multicultural cast and a fine balance for expressing imagination and reality, the illustrations are a bit stronger than the text, but the book effectively serves to encourage language play–and a visit to the library.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: --Midwest Book Review, April 2005
"The vibrant images...add a visually compelling touch to this free-spirited introduction to the alphabet."
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Most of the reviews I found for this book were very similar to the two posted above. Everyone seems to really enjoy this book and I do as well. I love the combination of an ABC book with an informative book on libraries. It has humorous pictures and uses alliteration quite well.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: There is no plot contained within this book as it changes with every page turn & the appearance of a new letter. While some of the words may prove too difficult for early readers, the book does an excellent job at letter identification. On each page there are at least 3-4 words that begin with that pages' given letter.
Consideration of Instructional Application: A great activity to pair with this book would be for students to be able to create a class alphabet story book. Each student would receive a letter then write a story using it and illustrate their story. We could also take a tour of our local/school library.
September 30, 2013
Picture Book Project
Category: Tumblebook #2
Source: Tumblebooks
This story was a neat way to combine various concepts into one story. The book discusses the different features and activities that can be found in the library, teaching children about what to expect while visiting a library. The story also includes alphabet concept as well as alliteration. Again, for this tumblebook, I loved the animation of the very colorful and vivid illustrations. I also liked how the words being read were highlighted to keep young readers focused on what was being read if they did not know how to read. I'm happy to be introduced to "Tumblebooks" as I really believe they will be a great tool to use in reading, especially for various learning types. I would like to use this story when introducing the class to a library and if they have already visited a library, the story could be used to introduce students to the different services a library has to offer. We could also discuss the appropriate behavior that should be displayed while visiting a library. Overall, I enjoyed the story (as I do most of the stories!), and look forward to using this story as well as other tumblebooks in my classroom.
Category: Tumblebook #2
Source: Tumblebooks
This story was a neat way to combine various concepts into one story. The book discusses the different features and activities that can be found in the library, teaching children about what to expect while visiting a library. The story also includes alphabet concept as well as alliteration. Again, for this tumblebook, I loved the animation of the very colorful and vivid illustrations. I also liked how the words being read were highlighted to keep young readers focused on what was being read if they did not know how to read. I'm happy to be introduced to "Tumblebooks" as I really believe they will be a great tool to use in reading, especially for various learning types. I would like to use this story when introducing the class to a library and if they have already visited a library, the story could be used to introduce students to the different services a library has to offer. We could also discuss the appropriate behavior that should be displayed while visiting a library. Overall, I enjoyed the story (as I do most of the stories!), and look forward to using this story as well as other tumblebooks in my classroom.
October 15, 2014
Farmer, B., & McLeod, C. (2005). ABC Letters in the Library. Montreal: Lobster Press. Retrieved from http://asp.tumblebooks.com/library/as...
Tumblebooks
LOV
This is a book on the ABC's that could be used to teach young children about the alphabet. Although I would use the book in my classroom, I would prefer to use the Tumblebooks version versus an actual copy of the book. The book would effectively teach the alphabet however I was not as intrigued by the illustrations or the selection of words that accompanied each letter. Students would probably enjoy the bright colors but the word choice may not be suitable for all pre-K or Kindergarten students. The Tumblebooks version would be fun and interactive for students and could be used in lessons that incorporate technology.
Tumblebooks
LOV
This is a book on the ABC's that could be used to teach young children about the alphabet. Although I would use the book in my classroom, I would prefer to use the Tumblebooks version versus an actual copy of the book. The book would effectively teach the alphabet however I was not as intrigued by the illustrations or the selection of words that accompanied each letter. Students would probably enjoy the bright colors but the word choice may not be suitable for all pre-K or Kindergarten students. The Tumblebooks version would be fun and interactive for students and could be used in lessons that incorporate technology.
October 5, 2014
Farmer, B & McLeod, C (2009). ABC: Letters in the Library Canada: Lobster Press.
Library of Virginia
Picture Book Project (Alphabet)
I loved the use of colors to highlight the letter being used in the sentence and how you can mute the sound or have the sound on to have the book read to the students. This is a great Tumblebook to use to teach young readers not only the alphabet, but it can be used with grades 1-2 to enhance vocabulary and reading skills. I would definitely use this in a Kindergarten class when teaching letter sounds and the alphabet. The bright colors will definitely capture the attention of the readers and the illustrations used to represent the letters will bring about some smiles and laughter.
Library of Virginia
Picture Book Project (Alphabet)
I loved the use of colors to highlight the letter being used in the sentence and how you can mute the sound or have the sound on to have the book read to the students. This is a great Tumblebook to use to teach young readers not only the alphabet, but it can be used with grades 1-2 to enhance vocabulary and reading skills. I would definitely use this in a Kindergarten class when teaching letter sounds and the alphabet. The bright colors will definitely capture the attention of the readers and the illustrations used to represent the letters will bring about some smiles and laughter.
April 21, 2015
I wasn't loving this rather bland book from the letter A, and by H, for "Shhhing librarians hushing", I was loving it even less. And less by T for the "Tsking teacher". And the affair was completely over by Z for "Zzzzz".
Come on, people! These are lame! In all my years as a children's librarian, I have never "shhhed" anyone -- been "shhhhed" quite often, but that is another story. I have never heard a teacher "tsking" a teenager. And Z for Zzzzzz is just la-Z.
Come on, people! These are lame! In all my years as a children's librarian, I have never "shhhed" anyone -- been "shhhhed" quite often, but that is another story. I have never heard a teacher "tsking" a teenager. And Z for Zzzzzz is just la-Z.
October 21, 2014
Farmer, B. ABC letters in the library. Lobster Press
Tumblebooks
LOV
An ABC book that teaches all about the library and how to use its resources. Animated illustrations that engage the reader through movement and audio. I was personally a bit underwhelmed by the narrator. This book could be used to teach young students about libraries and library etiquette.
Tumblebooks
LOV
An ABC book that teaches all about the library and how to use its resources. Animated illustrations that engage the reader through movement and audio. I was personally a bit underwhelmed by the narrator. This book could be used to teach young students about libraries and library etiquette.
February 27, 2015
They have a challenge to read 2015 books in one week at my daughter's school. It is going to be a very nice challenge as I can tell she has been motivated so much to read more books. She wants to see her principle does the chicken dance..:)
This is one of the books we have picked up from the library today so compares to the rest of the books that we have read so far..It is a okay book.
This is one of the books we have picked up from the library today so compares to the rest of the books that we have read so far..It is a okay book.
June 26, 2010
How timely. The letter I is for Internet. N is for napping? Not in my library.
"L - A librarian's friendship leaves lasting impressions." barf
Very cute how on each page there are other things that begin with each letter.
"L - A librarian's friendship leaves lasting impressions." barf
Very cute how on each page there are other things that begin with each letter.
November 3, 2011
I thought this alphabet book all about the library fell flat. I tried it as a read aloud to day with a group of 1st graders and they were asking me when it was going to be over with. The colored illustrations are really nice, but as far as alphabet books go, I've seen much better.
May 16, 2014
I read this for a pre-k class visit today and while some of the concepts are really stretching it just for the sake of alliteration it was really a lot of fun to read with the kids, who "helped" me figure out what letter of the alphabet we were up to.
September 4, 2014
This ABC book will get kids thinking about all the things they can find in the library. For each letter there is a sentence filled with alliteration. The colorful cartoon-like drawings will appeal to kids and their vocabulary is sure to increase as they make their way to the letter "z".
November 5, 2015
ABC Letters in the Library takes place in the school’s library, this book teachers students how the library is organized and how it should be used. Each letter has a sentence that explains something about the library or its books. This book could be read to students before they go to the library.
March 17, 2010
An alphabet book that is all about the library. What more could you ask for? Our girls enjoyed watching this book read aloud on the "Tumblebooks" online audiobook site (tumblebooks.com).
August 30, 2011
enough text that it feels like a story
Colorful illustrations accompany alphabetical list of library-related terms.
Colorful illustrations accompany alphabetical list of library-related terms.
October 5, 2012
Great use of alliteration; also a great way to get students familiar with the library setting.
January 11, 2015
ABC: Letters in the Library by Bonnie Farmer is an abc practice in the library
March 15, 2014
I thought the book was amazing because it teaches children about the alphabet words they would hear in a library.
June 15, 2015
Alphabet skills can be reinforced by reading this delightful book! Young children will love the alliteration and playful feel the author conveys. A must for teachers everywhere!
November 27, 2015
This imaginative book is written more for adults in the sentences written with as many words containing the letter as possible.
October 17, 2014
Fun story with an alphabet review taking place at a library; watched on Tumblebooks.
August 3, 2018
There were too many “new” words for my class.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews