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The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town (by Judy Sierra)

common sense media says

Rhyming ABC book is the perfect amount of fun before bed.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a rhyming, playful alphabet book that will help teach young kids their letters, and put them to bed with smiles on their faces. The rhyming examples teach the letter names, more than the sounds they represent.

Educational value: Besides learning the alphabet, kids will start understanding the difference between lower case and upper case letters. And they can think about the different sounds letters represent.
Positive messages: Shows that learning the alphabet is fun. 
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the ABCs. And they can learn the alphabet together and talk about the sounds each letter makes. 
  • Parents and kids will enjoy searching the pages, and even the cover, together to find things that begin with the featured letter. Then they can think of other words on their own.
  • How do the Mom and Dad letters differ from the kid letters? Why? How is that like the regular letters on the page?

What's the story?

What's the story?
While kid letters (lowercase) "skitter-scatter" around, the adult letters (uppercase) try to gather them up and herd them to bed. Some need baths, some just get silly, "m" is mopey, "n" is naughty, and so on.  Finally, all quiets down, and all we hear are the "zzzzzzz's."

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This is a short, simple, happy alphabet book. Kids will like its easy rhyming cadence and the engaging, humorous illustrations. The letters with their funny little faces really come alive, just like real bouncy children. And clever examples, silly details, and patterns make each page enjoyable.

Parents will have fun reading the story with their early learners before bed. Early readers especially will like searching the pages for letter sounds, and coming up with some of their own. Older kids will enjoy the way the letters are decorated and might feel encouraged to draw their own versions of block letters.  This SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET definitely brings a little fun for the whole family.

Dancing, playful letters with spindly little arms and legs and big googly eyes make this book very playful and rambunctious. Done in watercolor, pencil, and collage, the colors are subtle and each page is full of fun.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Judy Sierra
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Publisher: Knopf
Publication date: June 9, 2009
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 3
Read Alone: 6
This review was written by Patricia Tauzer
 
 

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ON: Content is 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
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