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Z Goes First: An Alphabet Story Z-to-A
The letter Z is tired of being in last place―she wants to go first! So she and her best friend, Y, decide to move to the front of the alphabet.
There are a lot of letters in the way! D blocks the path with his belly (too many doughnuts). I is too full of himself (“I am incredible”). And L, M, N, O, and P stick together like a brick wall. They all teach Z and Y that the full alphabet is lot more complicated than just ABC.
With Mike Perry’s eye-popping artwork and Sean Lamb’s clever twists on everyday letters, this new kind of alphabet book takes you on an unforgettable adventure all the way from A to Z and back again.
An Imprint Book
“Will Z and Y make it to the beginning of the alphabet? Kids will no doubt find their quest a hoot and giggle.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“[Z and Y] no sooner finish their alphabetical ramble than Z wants to start over. So will young abecedarians.” ― Booklist
There are a lot of letters in the way! D blocks the path with his belly (too many doughnuts). I is too full of himself (“I am incredible”). And L, M, N, O, and P stick together like a brick wall. They all teach Z and Y that the full alphabet is lot more complicated than just ABC.
With Mike Perry’s eye-popping artwork and Sean Lamb’s clever twists on everyday letters, this new kind of alphabet book takes you on an unforgettable adventure all the way from A to Z and back again.
An Imprint Book
“Will Z and Y make it to the beginning of the alphabet? Kids will no doubt find their quest a hoot and giggle.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“[Z and Y] no sooner finish their alphabetical ramble than Z wants to start over. So will young abecedarians.” ― Booklist
32 pages, Hardcover
Published May 29, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 15, 2018
I liked the concept but was really confused by the execution. So they went to the front to ask A if they could go first and then went back through the alphabet to...what? If they ask to go first and A says OK they just stay right there and start off the alphabet... Some of the characterizations of the letters was fun, so it wasn't all bad...
July 27, 2018
From the text to the illustrations this was a confusing jumble. I cannot see ever reading this to a child.
January 17, 2020
A cute alphabet story, but... I don't get it. Haha. Illustrations are nice, great alliteration.
February 14, 2018
Lighthearted and poking fun at some of the other letters (like LMNOP who always seem to go together and ALMOST make a word all on their own) or E that is in basically every word, Z realizes that she wants a new position in the alphabet and travels along meeting and getting to know some of the other letters. Not a unique story and not necessarily unique illustrations, it's a book about what else- the alphabet and those are always fun to explore when kids are either learning it or have mastered it.
June 5, 2018
Not terribly original but the illustrations are awesome.
August 22, 2018
Not a terribly original concept and I found it to be more confusing than clever.
September 22, 2019
The book was just OK. It does have an interesting look at the alphabet. I personally wouldn’t have this book in my classroom.
January 16, 2019
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Z Goes First, written by Sean Lamb and illustrated by Mike Perry, a look at the alphabet from the perspective of its last letter.
Being in the alphabet is fine, but Z is simply bored and frustrated with being last! How come she never gets to go first? With her friend Y tagging along, she decides to take a journey to the beginning of the alphabet. The pair meet all of the other letters along the way, from the wisecracking duo of J and K, the inseparable crowd of LMNOP, the narcissistic I, and the imperiously popular E. At last, Z and Y find themselves at the beginning of the alphabet… or where they really there all along?
This was pretty darn cute. In the tradition of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, the story humanizes the letters, even presenting each as having their own unique personality, down to the way they appear (fancy, colorful, emulating words that they begin such as “tree”, etc). Paired with clever wordplay and alphabet-related puns, this gives a simple alphabet book an engaging storyline and plenty of child- and adult-friendly humor, and makes for a fun read. The illustrations are madcap in color and design, but never in a way that feels overwhelming or dissonant. The ending is a bit confusing and abrupt however, and may fly over the heads of younger readers. Still, the length was good and JJ really enjoyed it. Definitely give this one a read (tip: look up the pronunciation for floccinaucinihilipilification beforehand). Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
February 1, 2019
Z Goes First by Sean Lamb, illustrated by Mike Perry. PICTURE BOOK. Imprint (Macmillan), 2018. $18. 9781250123954
BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The letter Z is always at the end of the alphabet and thus always last. On this day, Z decides to shake things up and along with her friend, Y, they head to the front of the alphabet to go first! Along the way they meet up with the other letters and learn a little more about the complicated nature of the English language.
This is one of those alphabet books that is supposed to be funny because they make a lot of letter-based puns (e.g. Y always asks, "Why?" and Q saying a special hello to "U"). The entire concept of this story also confused me because when Z goes to the front of the alphabet, she then for some reason heads all the way to the back of the alphabet. It would make a lot more sense for her to make her way to the front and go through the alphabet backward; I read this multiple times and every time got caught up in this conundrum. I dunno. The illustrations are fun and the puns aren't bad but younger readers will not understand them. I feel like the idea of Z going first is good, but the actual story this author came up with was not spectacular.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The letter Z is always at the end of the alphabet and thus always last. On this day, Z decides to shake things up and along with her friend, Y, they head to the front of the alphabet to go first! Along the way they meet up with the other letters and learn a little more about the complicated nature of the English language.
This is one of those alphabet books that is supposed to be funny because they make a lot of letter-based puns (e.g. Y always asks, "Why?" and Q saying a special hello to "U"). The entire concept of this story also confused me because when Z goes to the front of the alphabet, she then for some reason heads all the way to the back of the alphabet. It would make a lot more sense for her to make her way to the front and go through the alphabet backward; I read this multiple times and every time got caught up in this conundrum. I dunno. The illustrations are fun and the puns aren't bad but younger readers will not understand them. I feel like the idea of Z going first is good, but the actual story this author came up with was not spectacular.
Reviewer: TC
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
October 2, 2018
Two subversive letters, Z and Y, decide to upend the status quo. Tired of hanging around with cross old X, they make an attempt to rearrange the alphabet. They climb a ladder towards the beginning and, along the way, chat with every letter.
The text plays with alliteration, fancy vocabulary (floccinaucinihilipifcation, which I certainly had to look up), and a few spelling rules, making this an alphabet book that can be used with slightly older children, including those who have already learned to read.
Observant young readers will feel smart when they get the punch line in advance.
Perry’s illustrations are a riot of color, reminiscent of some 1970s groovy alphabet cards I had as a kid, and a mix of media (pen, ink, gouache, and watercolor) adds texture and interest.
A few of the letters are especially crabby and express themselves negatively, but it’s not, overall, a negative story.
For kindergartens, day cares, public libraries. This would be a fun supplement to any alphabet collection or story time.
The text plays with alliteration, fancy vocabulary (floccinaucinihilipifcation, which I certainly had to look up), and a few spelling rules, making this an alphabet book that can be used with slightly older children, including those who have already learned to read.
Observant young readers will feel smart when they get the punch line in advance.
Perry’s illustrations are a riot of color, reminiscent of some 1970s groovy alphabet cards I had as a kid, and a mix of media (pen, ink, gouache, and watercolor) adds texture and interest.
A few of the letters are especially crabby and express themselves negatively, but it’s not, overall, a negative story.
For kindergartens, day cares, public libraries. This would be a fun supplement to any alphabet collection or story time.
April 26, 2019
A very primitive art style, maybe likened to that of a child. However the story is actually very clever. Granted the personification of alphabet letters is a bit creepy, not necessarily in a good way. And the actual reasoning of the story seems a bit flawed. Why are they going to the front then all the way to the back? Still I liked it. Was fun. I just wish the art had done more to support the story better.
June 13, 2018
I appreciated the puns, but not sure my Kinders would catch the humor, especially at beginning of the year. Also, not sure why Z and Y thought they’d be first as they travelled back to the end of the alphabet. What did I miss here?
September 14, 2019
I hesitate to put this in the concept book shelf, some of the letters are ignored, and the whole reason they go to the front is to be first and they end up last again. There are many other choices for quirky/non traditional alphabet books.
May 31, 2018
Silly, but just okay, ABC story.
July 16, 2018
Y and Z are tired of always being last so they ask ABC if they could go first. A agreed and started to sing their way through the alphabet. When it was all said and done they were back at the end!
July 31, 2018
I wanted the whole alphabet to be backwards in this book, but I'll take it. Z is tired of being last so this time he goes first! Clever wordplay throughout.
November 12, 2018
I liked it but will test it out on target audience and report back
August 2, 2019
Clever concept, although the ending was disappointing. Good read aloud for preschoolers.
July 13, 2018
I liked this book. I thought it was funny and I liked seeing what some of the letters might say.
I recommend this book to young children who are learning the alphabet. It shows them what the letters look like and what sounds some of them make.
I also recommend this book for older children, who might just like to read a fun story.
I recommend this book to young children who are learning the alphabet. It shows them what the letters look like and what sounds some of them make.
I also recommend this book for older children, who might just like to read a fun story.
January 3, 2019
Z is tired of always being at the end, kind of like a child with a last name that begins with Z in line.
So in this story Z and Y are trying to get to the front of the line and explaining their reason to all the letters they pass along the way. Interesting story about the letters and fun for young children to listen to and read the letters.
So in this story Z and Y are trying to get to the front of the line and explaining their reason to all the letters they pass along the way. Interesting story about the letters and fun for young children to listen to and read the letters.
March 13, 2024
This highly creative alphabet book is unusually plotty.
Here's a sample of the colorful tale:
R and S didn't understand why didn't like being at the end.
"We're at the end all the time,": they said.
"R makes things beter. S gives things mass. It's not so bad."
Z disagreed and continued to T.
FIVE STARS for all the spunk and style!
Here's a sample of the colorful tale:
R and S didn't understand why didn't like being at the end.
"We're at the end all the time,": they said.
"R makes things beter. S gives things mass. It's not so bad."
Z disagreed and continued to T.
FIVE STARS for all the spunk and style!
May 31, 2018
What an adorable journey through the alphabet!! Love the bright illustrations and the funny exchanges between the letters! This is a new favorite!
September 11, 2018
Good alphabet book. Cute usage of the letters as Z and Y travel.
March 12, 2021
It's a cute way to see all the letters of the alphabet, with some little puns. Didn't really engage my son's attention but he's a little young yet.
July 18, 2022
If the Alphabet is backwards is it still the alphabet?
July 7, 2023
Very cute and beautifully illustrated book. The alphabet a different way. The puns are adorable. It's a quick and delightful read.
December 13, 2025
The illustrations in this book are really rad but sadly, that does not make up for the hard-to follow, slightly-impolite & wordy storyline. I thought the goal was for Z & Y to go to the front but they spend the whole story, traveling to the end of the alphabet. I would not check this book out again.
July 14, 2021
This book had wonderful illustrations of fonts. It used letter sounds in a humorous way, as each letter used a word starting with itself. I didn't understand why the Z left the front of the line, though, and I couldn't understand why Z didn't just stay there when he got there!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews