Kipper's A to Z : an alphabet adventure /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Kipper and Arnold are on an alphabet adventure! What can they find for each letter? They find ladybugs for L. And toys for T. But what begins with X ? That's a hard one. Kipper and Arnold need your help!

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Creepy crawly critters and recurring jokes feature in this sprightly ABC tale. In a teaser, ahead of the title page, the eponymous pooch tells a zebra, "We won't need you till much, much later." Inkpen thus signals his plans to eschew a formulaic abecedarian approach and introduces the letters in inventive ways, giving his volume a rollicking spontaneity and a story line. In some cases, the author subtly slips the spotlighted letter into the narrative, which follows Kipper and his pig pal, Arnold, as they encounter bugs, animals and other objects, most of which Arnold places in a box (e.g., "He opened his box and put the interesting insect inside"). Other whimsical touches include the reemergence of creatures introduced on previous pages; inventive use of type (as on the spread introducing h, when the text forms an arc shaped around a hill); the intermittent appearance of the earnest zebra, who wants to know if it's his turn yet (to which Kipper replies, "No, not now!... You don't begin with N"); and one quite waggish omission: "Kipper couldn't think of anything beginning with K. Can you think of anything?" Yet likely the strongest selling point here is Inkpen's signature charming, childlike art, which offers endearing images of these expressive young animal characters at every turn. Adorable, breezy, clever, this is the alphabet book of choice. Ages 3-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Inkpen's familiar dog and his friends Arnold (a pig) and a zebra take children on an alphabet adventure, searching for things that begin with each letter. Large, black upper- and lowercase letters decorate each page as the story uses words that begin with that letter to describe the action. After a small picture before the copyright page of Kipper telling the zebra, "We won't need you till much, much later," the book begins: "This is Kipper's little friend, Arnold. Arnold has found an ant. Aa is for ant. And Arnold." On the next page, Arnold has a box, in which he tries to put the ant (and various other small insects the friends encounter as they proceed through the alphabet), and both follow the buzzing bumblebee to the next page, etc. The book's excellent format includes plenty of white space, Inkpen's colorful and uncluttered cartoon illustrations, and large type. The text includes several tricks to spur a child's interest-the ant appears and disappears throughout the book; the "K" word is left to readers to guess when Kipper and Arnold can't think of one; the zebra keeps popping up to see if it's his turn. An appealing concept book with childlike humor, this will be wonderful for small-group or one-on-one sharing.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Ages 3^-7. Some alphabet stories lose their audience in elaborate contrivances that twist the story to fit the letters. Inkpen keeps things simple, flexible, and fun, so children can sound out the letters as they follow the story in big type and clear, active pictures. Kipper the dog and his friend Arnold the pig try to find various creatures, from ants and bumblebees to wiggly worms. Along with animals, they often find sounds and actions for the letters ("Ss is for Splish! Splosh! Splash! And six squishy slugs"), and when an animal doesn't fit, Kipper and Arnold find something that does ("Uu is for under the umbrella" ). The little zebra is a running gag throughout ("Is it my turn yet?"), and there are other laughs to make kids feel they are in on the jokes. Those who know Kipper from Nickelodeon will welcome him in this playful book, which will be fun to reread and join in. --Hazel Rochman

Horn Book Review

Kipper the dog and his friend Arnold the pig find an ant, which they put in a box. After a caterpillar comes along, they're off in pursuit of things beginning with each letter of the alphabet. The large black type set on white pages is striking, and a loose story line will hold interest, but it's Inkpen's gentle illustrations of the animal friends (particularly an impatient zebra) that have the most impact. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Canine Kipper squires his piglet friend, Arnold, from "Aa is for ant" to "Zz is for Zebra" in a big, playful, alphabet story that is just the ticket for turning pre-readers into new readers. Inkpen adds a bit extra to most of the literary encounters: "Cc" is not just for caterpillar, but Crawly caterpillar; "Nn is for No, not now" (said to the zebra); and "Xx" for Xugglybug, an "interesting insect" picked up at "Ii." The best moment is when the audience is invited to help Kipper out when his mind goes blank at "Kk." Young children will also painlessly discover an array of additional concepts as, for instance, Kipper and Arnold go up and down a hill, discover that an elephant is too big to fit into Arnold's collecting box, or learn that the first letter of "gnat" is silent. Acres of white space surround the large-type text and simply drawn figures without overwhelming them, making this equally suitable for sharing with one child or a group. Just about the cutest puppy in a favorite series achieves a stellar new success. (Picture book. 3-5)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Mick Inkpen is one of the top-selling picture book artists and writers in the world whose stories have sold millions worldwide. His most popular characters are Kipper and Wibbly Pig.

He is a winner of the British Book Award for the best illustrated book, for Lullabyhullabaloo, and the Children's Book Award for Threadbear. Kipper won a BAFTA for best animated children's film in 1998.

(Bowker Author Biography)