Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores: A School Day Alphabet (Orchard Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Donna Maurer (Author), Cazet Denys (Illustrator), Denys Cazet (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Orchard Paperbacks

A high-energy look at a regular day of Counting, Drawing, Erasing, of Snack Time, Tickling, Untangling--given a particularly playful spin because these three friends are who they are. It makes no difference to them that one is a bear, one a dog, and the third a hippopotamus. The teacher, for that matter, is a cat. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With its minimal text and big, bold type, this amiable alphabet book is ideal for youngsters just starting to sound out words. Except for a very few entries ("untangling," "vamoose"), the single word or brief phrase used to exemplify each letter is easy enough for beginning readers to decipher. Maurer's first book centers on the three animal friends who ride the bus to kindergarten ("all aboard"), embrace one another upon arrival ('"buddies"), engage in some typical school activities ("counting," "drawing," "erasing") and so on, until their day--and the alphabet--is finished, and Annie and Bea struggle to get Chi Chi Dolores into her jacket ("zip"). Cazet's ( "Never Spit on Your Shoes" ; A Fish in His Pocket ) wry watercolors portray some highly comical shenanigans: for Show and Tell, Chi Chi Dolores opens a jar full of slimy, sluglike creatures ("icky") that slither all over the room; and the trio of pals engage in a rather unorthodox art project as they are pictured "painting" their shoes. Kids will love it. Ages 3-5.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-- A day at kindergarten is presented through the letters of the alphabet, beginning with "all aboard" (the bus) and ending with "zip" (up your coat). A five-year-old's sense of humor is given full play in "tickling," "giggling," and "kicking a ball" (that bounces off the hippo's behind) as three goofy-looking animals engage in typical school activities. As an alphabet book, however, some of the choices are confusing. For example, kids are shown playing a game of tick-tack-toe to illustrate "x -ing" and resting on their nap mats for "q uiet." The watercolor cartoons done in muddy browns, lime greens, and yellows contribute to the slapstick humor. Tamara Phillips's Day Care ABC (Whitman, 1989) shows similar activities in color photographs. For other humorous alphabet books try Steven Kellogg's Aster Aardvark's Alphabet Adventures (Morrow, 1987) or Jane Bayer's A, My Name Is Alice (Dial, 1984). --Caroline Parr, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (NY) (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531070921
• ISBN-13: 978-0531070925
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores: A School Day Alphabet, June 22, 2000

By 

Kathryn L. Lannoye (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores: A School Day Alphabet (Orchard Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This energetic alphabet book follows three friends, Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores, through a day of kindergarten. I teach a bilingual kindergarten and use this book during the first week or two. Both the children and I love it.