A@@ My Name Is Alice
Picture Puffin Books Series
on Goodreads (279)
What’s inside...
The antic never quite quit as a parade of animals sell their wares in this wildly illustrated version of the familiar alphabet ditty and ball-bouncing game. Young readers will delight in meeting such characters as Barbara, the bear with balloons for sale in Brazil; New York Ned, the newt who owns a noodle emporium, and finally the zipper-selling Zambian zebra and zebu, Zelda and Zach.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the different characters in the book make you feel when they shared their stories?
Why do you think the author chose to have each character's name start with a different letter of the alphabet?
Which character's story did you enjoy the most and why?
How do you think the characters are similar to or different from each other?
What new things did you learn from this book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about each character by asking them to draw their favorite scene from the book.
Use the alphabetical arrangement of characters to play a fun game where you and your child come up with new names or objects that start with each letter.
Discuss the importance of diversity and uniqueness as depicted through the various characters, relating it back to people they know or situations they’ve experienced.
After reading the book, ask your child to create an additional character that could be included in the story, encouraging their creativity and understanding of the book’s structure.
Relate the stories in the book to real-life situations to help your child connect with the characters and enhance comprehension and empathy.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Learning the Alphabet
Explanation: Through a series of playful alliterations and delightful illustrations, each letter of the alphabet is introduced effectively.
Real-World Application: Children can utilize this approach to strengthen their understanding and memory of the alphabet, which is fundamental in their reading and writing skills development.
Example Lesson: Celebration of Diversity
Explanation: The book showcases a diverse range of characters and names from different cultures, emphasizing inclusivity.
Real-World Application: This can help children appreciate and respect multiculturalism in their own communities, promoting inclusivity from a young age.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: The quirky alliterations and scenarios encourage creative thinking and broaden imaginative horizons in young readers.
Real-World Application: Children can apply imaginative thinking to their playtime activities and storytelling, fostering creativity that aids in problem-solving and expressive skills.
Example Lesson: Phonetic Awareness
Explanation: The repetitive and rhythmic alliterations help children recognize phonetic structures and sounds.
Real-World Application: This recognition supports early spelling and phonics skills, crucial for early literacy development.