Alphabet Mystery

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-A story that invites participation and promotes letter recognition. When Little x disappears from Charley's Alphabet, the rest of the letters search for him, finding him in the castle of Master M. To their surprise, he does not want to be rescued, because he is useful there unlike at home, where Charley seldom uses him. When Master M awakes and threatens to use the letters in soup, Little x comes to the rescue and they all return home safely. There, Charley helps his dad decorate a birthday cake for his mother, and he uses Little x four times-because it is the only letter that stands for kisses. As in Alphabet Adventure (Scholastic, 2001), children will work on a skill necessary to begin reading as they enjoy the story and the bright, three-dimensional-looking digital illustrations filled with detail. Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist PreS-Gr. 2. Charley's letters from Alphabet Adventure (2001) set off on another escapade to find Little x , who was absent from the bedtime roll call. After Little t tattles that x took a pencil and flew away, the other letters hop on a pencil and take off to hunt for him. They find him in a castle, held captive by Giant M, a miserable monster. It seems Little x ran away because Charley never used him. But Little i knows a secret; tomorrow is Charley's mother's birthday, and Charley plans to use Little x . Monster M lets Little x go and allows each letter to choose a gift from his treasure room. As it turns out, Charley makes a cake, spells out "I Love You Mom," and uses Little x four times--for kisses, of course. Visual and verbal puns add to the fun of learning the alphabet, as do the vividly colored, digitally created illustrations that look like animated photographs. Kids will love the "I Spy" aspect of matching letters to the gifts. Julie Cummins Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved * "Every spread is letter-perfect." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review"Visual and verbal puns add to the fun of learning the alphabet, as do the vividly colored, digitally created illustrations that look like animated photographs. Kids will love the "I Spy" aspect of matching letters to the gifts." -- Booklist "Children will work on a skill necessary to begin reading as they enjoy the story and the bright, three-dimensional-looking digital illustrations filled with detail." -- School Library Journal "...a playfully surreal sense of scale, volume and detailing...every spread is letter-perfect." -Publishers Weekly"...Wood's digital illustrations are deliciously crisp and bright..." -Kirkus Reviews From the Inside Flap Little x has disappeared! Can you help us find him?All the little letters from Charley's Alphabet are worried when they discover that Little x has run away. Where could he have gone? And why would he leave his friends behind?As Charley's Alphabet sets off on an adventure to find the missing Little x, children, parents, and teachers will have a great time finding and identifying the "little" letters on every page. Phonics games and a clever story make this the best way ever to learn your a-b-c's. Little x has disappeared! Can you help us find him?All the little letters from Charley's Alphabet are worried when they discover that Little x has run away. Where could he have gone? And why would he leave his friends behind?As Charley's Alphabet sets off on an adventure to find the missing Little x, children, parents, and teachers will have a great time finding and identifying the "little" letters on every page. Phonics games and a clever story make this the best way ever to learn your a-b-c's. Audrey Wood has been writing award-winning children's books for more than 30 years. She often collaborates with her husband, Don Wood (IT'S DUFFY TIME; THE NAPPING HOUSE; KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB; MERRY CHRISTMAS, BIG HUNGRY BEAR), and she has created many bestsellers with their son, Bruce (ALPHABET MYSTERY; TEN LITTLE FISH). Audrey also illustrates books herself, including BLUE SKY (2012); SILLY SALLY; and A DOG NEEDS A BONE. As a fifth-generation professional artist, I grew up with art all around me - in the studios of my parents and grandparents. I have always been very interested in art - it always seemed like a lot of fun.One of the major advantages of growing up in a family of artists is the support you receive while learning your art form. It was also a unique experience. One year for my birthday, my parents made me a kid-sized cardboard castle out of refrigerator boxes in our backyard. It took me a few years to realize that not all my friends' parents were as creative as mine.My initial interest in digital art came about at a young age. I started using Commodore 64's when I was eleven or twelve, and by age thirteen, I could do basic programming. Since then, I was always interested in how companies made computer games, and I think that's what ultimately led me to 3-D design.In 1991, I attended the California Institute of the Arts, where I studied drama and advanced my interest in art created on the computer. Then, in 1993, I decided to enroll in the innovative San Francisco State Multimedia Center, where I pursued my long-standing interest in designing computer programs by studying animation and 3-D modeling.This year I joined my family's creative team and illustrated my first book, The Christmas Adventure of Space Elf Sam. The book took me over two years to make, and it was a true family collaboration. My mom wrote the story and my dad, Don Wood, functioned as art director.I love telling stories with my art, and picture books are just that. And of course, I love seeing the face of a young child, sitting on a bookstore floor, completely immersed in a book that I have created.Aside from being a children's book illustrator, I also surf, snowboard, and sail, which means that I do get to see the sun sometimes. Read more