Animalia

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Kids will love this spectacular illustrated book.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the challenging vocabulary is well supported by vivid artwork. Young children will be eager to point out letters they recognize and to hunt for hidden objects.

What's the story?

Amazing animals act out alliterative actions on each busy page in this groundbreaking alphabet zoo. Some, like horrible hairy hogs, mimic humans; others, like lions lounging in a library, are out of their element. ANIMALIA takes readers on a leisurely march through the alphabet--leisurely, because it's improbable that anyone will hurry through this spectacular oversized illustrated book.

 


Is it any good?

 

Sesame Street long ago changed the process by which previously prim alphabet primers were packaged, but nothing prepared parents and pedagogues for the phantasmagorical pictures in Graeme Base's ANIMALIA. Creatures bask, cavort, devour, frolic, juggle, monitor, navigate, preen, queue (the author is British), slither, vocalize, yodel, and zigzag.

This book succeeds on several levels: First, it is an alphabet book that will sustain interest and guarantee frequent return visits. Second, it celebrates the richness of the English language, introducing vivid, vigorous verbs amid abundant adjectives and adverbs and nimble, notable nouns. Third, it further encourages language development by peppering background landscapes with loads of objects, inviting children to stab their fingers at the page and triumphantly call out each object's name.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about letter sounds. After hunting for hidden objects in the book, trying hunting for objects in your home, at the park, or while riding in the car or on the bus.


This review was written by Mark Nichol
Parent of 6 year old
September 17, 2009
 
Perfect for any child who can read
This book is wonderful way for children to practice their reading skills at a young age. The illustrations are beautiful and just looking through the book without reading anything is just as entertaining. (Even more!) I recommend this book for any child.

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Teen, 17 years old
February 7, 2009
 
No plot!
The art is wonderful and intricate, and kids will most likely love it (I did) but the "no plot" thing is annoying. Not very filling.

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This review was written by Mark Nichol
Author:Graeme Base
Illustrator:Graeme Base
Book type:Non-Fiction
Genre:Alphabet
Publisher:Abrams
Publication date:January 1, 1986
Number of pages:32
Hardcover price:$18.95
Publisher's recommended age(s):4 - 7

This review was written by Mark Nichol
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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