The Noisy Alphabet Book

Agnes C. Farrell is an elementary-school teacher in Richmond, British
Columbia.

From “Ach-oo” to “Zip - Zap - Zoom,” this alphabet book provides
many opportunities for parents to share an enjoyable reading experience
with their children. Whether you have a preschooler learning the letters
of the alphabet or a beginning reader learning its sounds, this book
presents these concepts in an interesting and original fashion. All the
words are onomatopoeic; children of all ages will enjoy echoing them. It
is a very noisy alphabet, indeed.

The letters were illustrated by 13 artists who were allowed to
illustrate two letters however they pleased, as long as at least one of
the printed words was illustrated. As can be expected, these artists
contributed a wildly mixed variety of styles. Some illustrated only the
words chosen for the letter; others added other items beginning with the
same letter.

The illustrations allow the book to become a puzzle. A child can be
challenged to find other things on the page that begin with the
illustrated letter. Fortunately for the adult conducting this quiz, the
back flap has a list of most of the items shown in each illustration.
Don’t be surprised, however, if your child can find more: the editors
admit that they may have missed some, and even a quick look at “B”
will show they missed “bouquet.” Children will enjoy challenging
adults’ observation powers.

Typical alphabet books—which say “A” is for “Apple” or
“Aardvark,” for example—leave little room for discussion. Since
The Noisy Alphabet illustrates more-abstract concepts, each page offers
opportunities to extend children’s vocabularies. What in the “V”
illustration, for example, shows “voice,” “velcro,” and
“vroom”? Or, what might make the boy say “Ugh!” when he
“unwraps” his gift?

Older children may be inspired to write stories about some of the
illustrations, or to look for other examples of the illustrators’
works. They will certainly enjoy sharing them with younger siblings.