Abigail Spells [Library Binding]

Anna Alter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Can Abigail spell her way to the top?

Abigail is good at many things. She can dance the cha-cha, make up stories to tell her best friend, George, and strike a fabulous pose. But there is one thing she loves to do most of all: Abigail loves to s-p-e-l-l. When her school announces the annual spelling bee, Abigail spends her days practicing with the help of George, but things don’t go according to plan. Can George convince Abigail that winning isn’t everything?

Anna Alter’s gentle text, which contains fun words to spell throughout, and gorgeous illustrations make for a perfect match in this endearing story of friendship.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Abigail, a young chicken, and her best friend, George, a bear, have all kinds of fun together. They like to cha cha, and George enjoys the stories that Abigail tells. But there’s one thing that Abigail does very well all by herself: spell. After Abigail hears about a school spelling bee, all she does is practice spelling. One of the neat things about this book is how it uses every opportunity to show Abigail spelling words—while brushing her teeth, eating her lunch—all of which might get children interested in spelling, too. When the big day comes, though, Abigail’s nerves get the better of her, and with a misspelling of “elephant,” she’s out. She is in a funk, and George despairs, until he tells her a story about two friends. What makes this different from so many happy-enders is that the story recognizes that defeat is part of life. The pictures, executed in acrylics and simple shapes, neatly capture both actions and emotions. Grades K-2. --Ilene Cooper --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Anna Alter graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has written and illustrated a number of children’s books, including What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe? and Francine’s Day. She lives in Boston.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375956174
• ISBN-13: 978-0375956171
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 10.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,556,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anna grew up surrounded by beautiful books and has wanted to create them ever since. She likes to tell stories that celebrate the small moments in life. Events and experiences that could go unnoticed, but when looked at very closely, tell us about who we are and the world around us. Anna also likes to make books that inspire kids to be creative and tell their own stories!

Anna always knew she wanted to write and illustrate books, so she attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied illustration. After graduating in 1997, she moved to Boston to work for Houghton Mifflin Company, in the children's book design department. She began submitting her stories and illustrations to publishers shortly thereafter, and has been working in children's publishing ever since. Anna also enjoys sewing curtains, growing paperwhites, and practicing standing on her head in yoga class.

In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Anna has taught art and book making to audiences of all ages: she has worked as a preschool teacher, held art classes for grade schoolers, and taught a course on children's book illustration at the Montserrat College of Art.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming!, December 5, 2009

By 

Teacher and Mom of 3 (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Abigail Spells (Hardcover)

Abigail Spells is a charming story of friendship, with added appeal for teachers and parents because the plot centers on Abigail practicing for and competing in a spelling bee. My 5 yr old loves to spell out loud all the words interspersed in the story. Highly recommended for ages 4-7!

5.0 out of 5 stars Abigail Spells, January 9, 2012

By 

Joe - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Abigail Spells (Hardcover)

My grandaughter "Abigail" lives this book since the title has her name in it. She is 7 years old, and loves to read it each day. The pictures are very nice and it's easy enough for her to read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gentle lesson is presented, June 18, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abigail Spells (Hardcover)

Abigail is good at many things, from dancing to storytelling - but she loves to spell most of all in Anna Alter's Abigail Speils. She's thrilled by her school's annual spelling bee: unfortunately she doesn't ace it like she expects. Isn't winning everything? A gentle lesson is presented.