Albert's Alphabet

by Leslie Tryon, Leslie Tryon (Illustrator)

Overview

Albert the school carpenter has been assigned a task that seems virtually impossible! He has to build an alphabet for the walking path on the school playground. All twenty-six letters! And by three o'clock! How is he ever going to finish on time? Does he even have enough materials?
Luckily, Albert is one clever carpenter. He not only finishes on time, he builds what could be the most ingenious alphabet ever!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689717994
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/01/1994
Series:	Albert (Aladdin)
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,021,073
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	BR (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Leslie Tryon is the author of the Albert books and several others for young readers. She is also the illustrator of Alma Flor Ada's Dear Peter Rabbit and With Love, Little Red Hen. She lives in Carmel Valley, California.

Leslie Tryon is the author of the Albert books and several others for young readers. She is also the illustrator of Alma Flor Ada's Dear Peter Rabbit and With Love, Little Red Hen. She lives in Carmel Valley, California.

Editorial Reviews

When Albert the duck gets a note from the principal asking him to build an alphabet on the school playground (``We must have it by three o'clock''), he is not flustered and sets to work immediately. Plan in wing, resourceful Albert attacks his materials with confidence and vigor. The vignettes depicting the creative ways in which Albert fashions the letters, with the clock ticking in the background, are ingenious in themselves, as are the finished products. Occasional aerial views reveal more of Albert's mechanics and expand the book's excellent spatial qualities. Tryon continues the suspense established with Albert's deadline: after the letter ``N,'' ``Albert used all of his lumber. What will he use now?'' Readers need not fear, since firewood, stovepipes, topiary and even--in a gloriously inventive finale--the workshop itself are employed to the fullest as this diligent duck completes his mission just in time. The challenge inherent in trying to second-guess Albert in his constructive quest makes this a useful tool for preschoolers. Unlike traditionally static alphabet renderings, the activity here is interesting enough to invite many repeat readings. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-- Albert, a goose who is the school carpenter, takes on the challenge of building a kind of alphabet par cours e for the walking path on the playground. His careful attention to detail, his thrifty use of material, and his inventiveness will give older preschoolers lots to admire in each letter. The almost entirely wordless book encourages concentration and sequencing (each page is divided into four smaller drawings, like a comic strip). Aerial views and close-ups require (and reward) attention. Children will enjoy Albert's ingenious solution to the problem of ``Z,'' and those curious about carpentry will derive particular pleasure from the many watercolor and ink drawings.-- Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, VA

School Library Journal