Alphabet Soup [Hardcover]

Scott Gustafson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Otter invites his friends to bring their favorite ingredients for an alphabet soup house-warming party.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Otter finds a big old soup pot in his new home and invites 26 friends to a potluck house-warming party, asking each to bring a food that's soup-worthy. From Armadillo with his asparagus, to Zebra with his zucchini (" "zactly what zee zoup needz!' "), they all contribute to a hearty meal and a lush, lively alphabet book. Gustafson's beautiful paintings are dark and soft, and his striking use of light adds drama and depth: Koala's kumquats and krill are breathtaking as she shows them off against her cobalt blue kerchief. And the fungi in Mole's mushroom mine seem magical, illuminated by the beam from mole's miner hat. The artist creates interest via textures, colors, and a nod to the eccentric and exotic here and there, without undue clutter. Humor, which touches most of the illustrations, is especially rich in the case of Reptile (roasting his rutabagas ranch-style) and Frog (grinning as she flips her flapjack right off the page). Effective layouts back up gorgeous design to produce striking, cohesive images with the ability to unite, for readers, the letter and the word it begins. The large, handsome illustrations make the book a prime candidate for story time use. Its sophistication and beauty, on par with Grahame Base's Animalia (Abrams, 1987), offer primary graders who long ago mastered the alphabet plenty to think about and a story to enjoy. --Liza Bliss, Leominster Public Library, MA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Scott Gustafson's first artistic inspirations were Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons. He pursued animation at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and Columbia College, but the discovery of book illustrations by N. C. Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, and Norman Rockwell galvanized him. His previous books include The Night Before Christmas, The Nutcracker, and Peter Pan. With Greenwich Workshop Press, he has created two original titles, Alphabet Soup and Animal Orchestra, as well as Classic Fairy Tales.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: The Greenwich Workshop Press (January 9, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867130253
• ISBN-13: 978-0867130256
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Gustafson is an artist who attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. He originally had ambitions of becoming an animator, but has worked primarily as an illustrator for the past thirty years. He has illustrated a number of children's books including The Night Before Christmas, Peter Pan, and Nutcracker. Other titles include Animal Orchestra, Alphabet Soup, Classic Fairy Tales and Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose, published by The Greenwich Workshop Press. Recently he has also tried his hand at writing, and his new book, Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe is his first illustrated novel published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. In addition, he has worked on film projects for DreamWorks and PDI and has created character designs for the animated TV show, Chugginton. His illustrations also appear in limited-edition prints and on collector plates, greeting cards, and gift wrap. Scott has been awarded a Chelsea award by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists for Classic Fairy Tales and an Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Children's Picture Book.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars breathtaking, August 23, 2004

By 

N. Dineen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alphabet Soup (Hardcover)

I am a Scott Gustafson fan and so is my husband and my nearly 3-year-old son. We bought this book as a Christmas gift for my son at a local gallery (as well as couple of others and a print) two years ago. I too had a hard time finding it at chain bookstores. This is by far my son's most favorite book--not only did he learn all his letters from it, but he tests his parents knowledge by asking us questions from the book, ie, "What does the zebra bring for the soup? Zuchini!" I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in original and intelligent art.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average ABC book!, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Alphabet Soup (Hardcover)

The review from Horn books said that this book "doesn't work" but I definately disagree. It is funny, charming, and beautifully illustrated. It is more advanced than most alphabet books; perfect for children who need work on their alphabet, but are past the common "A is for Apple" type book. My five year old son loved this. We both giggled and read it over and over again. It also has a warm underlying message about friendship. Makes a nice gift.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical "Alphabet Soup" is a Treat, March 16, 2000

By 

Vanessa Prouty (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alphabet Soup (Hardcover)

"Alphabet Soup" is a beautifully-illustrated, whimsical book that beginning readers will enjoy. Unlike other alphabet books, this book encourages discussion about animals and foods, as well as some pretty funny situations. My favorite letter in the book is "W" for "Wing Walking Weenies", with hot dogs doing death-defying tricks on the wings of a biplane! It's the best! A highly-recommended book.