Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Crazy Moose mayhem in freshest alphabet book in years.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
What starts out as a typical alphabet book ("A is for Apple," "B is for Ball") explodes into hysterical mayhem when scene-stealing Moose muscles in on Duck's page to make it D is for Moose, then gets booted off by Zebra, the stage manager/referee with a clipboard. Moose keeps butting in too early; then, when it's finally the M page, he finds that in this book, M is for Mouse, and he goes nuts -- stomping on the pie on the P page, upsetting the queen on the Q page -- and tries to worm his way onto every other letter's page until finally giving up in tears on the xylophone. But then kind Zebra offers him a spot on the last page: "Z is for Zebra's friend, Moose."
Is It Any Good?
This is the most original alphabet book in years. It has great characters, wonderful comic illustrations by Caldecott Medal and multiple Caldecott Honor winner Paul O. Zelinsky, and a wild, funny, and engaging storyline. Kids will love Moose's relentless butting in on familiar pages like "K is for Kangaroo" -- when he shows up in the mama kangaroo's pouch!
There's even a gag with the cover: Lift up the book jacket, and you'll find the "original" cover with the title "Z Is for Zebra" -- before Moose covered up "Zebra" with "Moose."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it feels like to be left out. Can you understand why Moose gets so mad?
Do you think reading a funny story is a good way to help learn or remember the alphabet?
What are your favorite alphabet books?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Paul O. Zelinsky
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Greenwillow Books
- Publication date : March 1, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 7
- Number of pages : 32
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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