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The Alekizou: and His Terrible Library Plot!
The Alekizou is a mischievous creature. Join him and his friend the Wise Owl on a rollicking adventure to the library where they unexpectedly learn how important vowels are. Since he can’t read, The Alekizou gobbles up those tasty vowels, ruining the books and making it impossible to speak. Find out how The Alekizou enlists the help of children and American Sign Language to fix the big mess he has made. Celebrating literacy and libraries, The Alekizou makes being a book worm cool.
- GenresPicture Books
38 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2020
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 21, 2020
Thanks to the author and marketing team for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the pictures and the font in this book. I think these are important factors in a picture book, so the book started of with kudos for that. When I started reading, I found out the book is in rhyme, which I'm such a big fan of. It invites children while reading and also teaches them about words that sound the same.
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
The playfulness in this book is amazeballs. There is playin with rhyme, playing with words, vowels and sign language. This book screams creativity, creativity, creativity.
I loved the pictures and the font in this book. I think these are important factors in a picture book, so the book started of with kudos for that. When I started reading, I found out the book is in rhyme, which I'm such a big fan of. It invites children while reading and also teaches them about words that sound the same.
A longer review can be found at BiteIntoBooks
The playfulness in this book is amazeballs. There is playin with rhyme, playing with words, vowels and sign language. This book screams creativity, creativity, creativity.
January 2, 2020
The Alekizou can’t read! Jealous of the fun he sees children having at the library, he breaks in and steals all the vowels. Without them, books and speech don’t make sense. Luckily, the children know sign language and use it to create replacement letters. A fun picture book with rhymes reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, this also teaches children vowels and basic signing. (Out on April 6th.)
December 31, 2019
The Alekizou is a rather odd-looking creature with a bump on his head. While that bump does incredible non-human things, this fellow seems to also have a human side.
The story, which is told in verse, has more words than most picture books. However, it shouldn’t really matter since it’s aimed at children old enough to have longer attention spans.
Even though Alekizou’s fine feathered friend, the owl, tries to interest him in learning, Alekizou has other things on his mind. He is far more interested in fun and games. But that comes with a price. The poor creature can’t write, spell, count, or read.
Now here’s something interesting. When he spots people, both young and old, coming out of a building carrying armloads of books, he’s not happy. Not happy at all! We humans might say that he is a bit jealous and feeling somewhat lonely.
And so the library plot begins. Since he can’t read books and has no need for them he will destroy them. That way he won’t feel so lonely. Kids will want to play more and not spend so much time studying and reading.
That night he quietly makes his way to the library and gobbles up all the vowels from the books. Why only vowels, you ask? Those are the letters that look like tasty beans and gumballs.
With no vowels in the words, all of the books are fairly worthless. But the bigger problem is the fact that all vowels have disappeared, not just the ones in the books. No one can communicate. A word might sound like “HLDW!” when someone tries to speak.
What to do? What to do? The Alekizou ends up using American Sign Language and enlisting the help of children. But does that mean everyone now has to communicate using sign language? Or is there a better solution?
My thanks to City of Light Publishing for a digital copy of this book. My thoughts are my own and posted voluntarily.
What Concerned Me
While this is a small concern, I didn’t like the face on Alekizou. He looked a little too scary.
What I Liked Most
This is such a fun story to introduce vowels, sign language, teamwork, and more.
It even shows the local library as a place that makes people happy! Now I ask, how can you go wrong with a book that promotes libraries?
More reviews at https://pickagoodreview.com
The story, which is told in verse, has more words than most picture books. However, it shouldn’t really matter since it’s aimed at children old enough to have longer attention spans.
Even though Alekizou’s fine feathered friend, the owl, tries to interest him in learning, Alekizou has other things on his mind. He is far more interested in fun and games. But that comes with a price. The poor creature can’t write, spell, count, or read.
Now here’s something interesting. When he spots people, both young and old, coming out of a building carrying armloads of books, he’s not happy. Not happy at all! We humans might say that he is a bit jealous and feeling somewhat lonely.
And so the library plot begins. Since he can’t read books and has no need for them he will destroy them. That way he won’t feel so lonely. Kids will want to play more and not spend so much time studying and reading.
That night he quietly makes his way to the library and gobbles up all the vowels from the books. Why only vowels, you ask? Those are the letters that look like tasty beans and gumballs.
With no vowels in the words, all of the books are fairly worthless. But the bigger problem is the fact that all vowels have disappeared, not just the ones in the books. No one can communicate. A word might sound like “HLDW!” when someone tries to speak.
What to do? What to do? The Alekizou ends up using American Sign Language and enlisting the help of children. But does that mean everyone now has to communicate using sign language? Or is there a better solution?
My thanks to City of Light Publishing for a digital copy of this book. My thoughts are my own and posted voluntarily.
What Concerned Me
While this is a small concern, I didn’t like the face on Alekizou. He looked a little too scary.
What I Liked Most
This is such a fun story to introduce vowels, sign language, teamwork, and more.
It even shows the local library as a place that makes people happy! Now I ask, how can you go wrong with a book that promotes libraries?
More reviews at https://pickagoodreview.com
March 21, 2020
The bright, bold cover and illustrations were the first thing to catch my interest, and when the rhyming fun started, it was hard not to enjoy this fun read.
The Alekizou is a unique looking creature, who enjoys playing and fun more than anything else in the world. But this has its price. The Alekizou can't read. When he sees people coming out of a library, laughing and having fun, he gets a bit jealous. Wanting the kids to play with him, he eats all vowels and no one can read or speak. This wasn't what he expected would happen, and now, he has to somehow fix it again.
The Alekizou is quite an odd creature, but it's this which definitely grabs attention. His desire to play is easy to relate to...especially for those who maybe aren't so fond of learning themselves. Although he makes the mistake of being jealous and causes a huge problem, the lack of true evil content makes him sympathetic and it's hard not to cheer for him, hoping he can fix things again. His emotions and actions are something young readers will identify with and understand.
The rhymes flow pretty smoothly and weave with clever word play. It's not a book for younger listeners, but works great for those ages 7 and up, since there is quite a bit of text and the word choice as well as the word play are a little too advanced for the younger end of the spectrum.
While this is obviously a tale which celebrates reading, libraries, and words, there's the nice addition of ASL (American Sign Language). This is a rarity for picture books, and I was thrilled to see it used in these pages. This will especially draw young readers is and help increase their understanding of this type of communication as well.
I received a complimentary copy and really enjoyed diving into the tale.
The Alekizou is a unique looking creature, who enjoys playing and fun more than anything else in the world. But this has its price. The Alekizou can't read. When he sees people coming out of a library, laughing and having fun, he gets a bit jealous. Wanting the kids to play with him, he eats all vowels and no one can read or speak. This wasn't what he expected would happen, and now, he has to somehow fix it again.
The Alekizou is quite an odd creature, but it's this which definitely grabs attention. His desire to play is easy to relate to...especially for those who maybe aren't so fond of learning themselves. Although he makes the mistake of being jealous and causes a huge problem, the lack of true evil content makes him sympathetic and it's hard not to cheer for him, hoping he can fix things again. His emotions and actions are something young readers will identify with and understand.
The rhymes flow pretty smoothly and weave with clever word play. It's not a book for younger listeners, but works great for those ages 7 and up, since there is quite a bit of text and the word choice as well as the word play are a little too advanced for the younger end of the spectrum.
While this is obviously a tale which celebrates reading, libraries, and words, there's the nice addition of ASL (American Sign Language). This is a rarity for picture books, and I was thrilled to see it used in these pages. This will especially draw young readers is and help increase their understanding of this type of communication as well.
I received a complimentary copy and really enjoyed diving into the tale.
April 24, 2020
My Review: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, the following is my honest review and opinion. This was presented to me as a Seussian book featuring libraries and supporting literacy, and it certainly delivered on it! It is as goofy as you would expect, with a rather unusual character. The images are bright and bold for the littles who may not fully grasp the story, but the story is still fun and interesting for the older children, a great story to read for all. A word of warning though the tongue will get twisted and tangled reading aloud once Alekizou starts his devious plot consume all the vowels. It was such a fun book to read and I definitely would recommend giving it a try.
December 15, 2020
My Review: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, the following is my honest review and opinion.
This is a very imaginative character with a problem triggered by curiosity that leads to some humorous twists and turns. The bright colors and most-unusual creature will captivate some kids, but may confuse some others. There is definitely fun to be had with this tale.
This is a very imaginative character with a problem triggered by curiosity that leads to some humorous twists and turns. The bright colors and most-unusual creature will captivate some kids, but may confuse some others. There is definitely fun to be had with this tale.
August 10, 2020
It has been quite awhile since I’ve read a book geared for K-3rd grade! This was pure delight. Children will love the story and the vibrant illustration. Kudos to the Buffalo, New York author.
December 31, 2019
I was emailed by the City of Light Publishing company, asking if I would read this new Children's book by Nancy Turgeon. I of course said yes as I have two children of my own and used to be a Preschool Teacher. They sent me the PDF and I opened it, ready to read.
The colors are bright which catches the eye and the character is quite a funny looking guy that I didn't quite expect. I enjoyed the book and loved that the author incorporated ASL but I definitely didn't read it to my daughter as she is in Kindergarten and this book I would peg for older kids like 2nd grade and up. But I did enjoy it.
It gave me a sort of Grinch vibe but The Alekizou didn't really understand what he was doing when he took the vowels whereas the Grinch knew what he was doing when he stole Christmas.
I say give it a go and read it yourself. I liked it, the writing is well done, the illustrations are bright and fun, and it has a great language that is so underrated, ASL. Yes I am bias about ASL but that is only because I took it as my second language through HS and college and I think we need more books about ASL and fun books like this that has ASL in it.
The colors are bright which catches the eye and the character is quite a funny looking guy that I didn't quite expect. I enjoyed the book and loved that the author incorporated ASL but I definitely didn't read it to my daughter as she is in Kindergarten and this book I would peg for older kids like 2nd grade and up. But I did enjoy it.
It gave me a sort of Grinch vibe but The Alekizou didn't really understand what he was doing when he took the vowels whereas the Grinch knew what he was doing when he stole Christmas.
I say give it a go and read it yourself. I liked it, the writing is well done, the illustrations are bright and fun, and it has a great language that is so underrated, ASL. Yes I am bias about ASL but that is only because I took it as my second language through HS and college and I think we need more books about ASL and fun books like this that has ASL in it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews