Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC [Hardcover]

June Sobel (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet--and they'll walk the plank if they're missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won't (ahem, can't) rest until they've found an A, a Z, and everything in between.

June Sobel's hilarious text and Henry Cole's adventurous animal pirates harmonize in an irresistible book for alphabet-learning, pirate-loving kids everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–These animal pirates decide that they need more than the letter R (R's not enough./We need other letters/to help make us tough), so they set off to find the remaining 25. Led by a crocodile captain (with a hook, no less), the band of buccaneers searches far and wide to complete their mission. Some letters are found near items that begin with that letter, e.g., an anchor, gold, or a parrot. Others are in situations that involve the letter in action–Q is questioned, U is underwater. Still others are described, as in the case of the nimble N. Some alphabet books struggle to incorporate X, but as any young pirate knows, X marks the spot on a treasure map. The rhyming text is more suited to reading aloud as it includes a number of words that would have beginning readers asking for assistance. The colorful cartoon illustrations encourage children to participate by finding the sought-after letters, which appear in bright red uppercase in each scene. This alphabet adventure is sure to capture audience attention at a pirate-themed storyhour, and it will be enjoyed by individual borrowers.–Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. "R-r-r-run for your lives, all ye alphabet letters!" Some swashbuckling pirates are plundering the ABCs, and they won't stop until they capture every letter, right down to z. The animal buccaneers dig for doubloons, discover a chest of gold, find x marks the spot, and drop anchor, capturing the letters a, d, and g along the way. Meanwhile, the alligator captain threatens to show the pirates the plank if they don't bring him the alphabet. This rollicking, rhyming, seafaring caper is an inventive alphabet book, and Cole's comical illustrations put wind in the sails of the clever quest. A rip-roaring yarn that offers a treasure chest of ideas for classroom activities. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152167323
• ISBN-13: 978-0152167325
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

June Sobel was born in New York City and grew up in the Long Island suburb of Oceanside, New York. She graduated Skidmore College and has an MFA in Painting from Stanford University. The birth of her son renewed her interest in the read aloud magic of picture books. June loves the challenge of creating books that awaken the wonder of words and pictures in children as well as keep the child alive in adults. She wrote her first book B IS FOR BULLDOZER illustrated by Melissa Iwai when she couldn't find an ABC book on construction for her truck obsessed three year old. Her subsequent books are SHIVER ME LETTERS - A PIRATE ABC illustrated by Henry Cole and the THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. June lives in Westlake Village, California with her husband, son and a scrappy Norfolk Terrier named Dudley. She likes to devour great books, laugh, attempt to stand on her head, eat Sprinkles cupcakes, watch romantic black and white movies and kayak on glassy waters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our favorite alphabet book yet!, May 29, 2006

By 

monkey mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC (Hardcover)

Our two sons (5 and 2) absolutely love pirates, so we were immediately drawn to this book when we saw it. The whimsical pictures and interesting writing sold us on the book. It isn't written in your typical sing-songy alphabet book rhyme, although the rhyme and rhythm are still there. As parents, my husband and I love the way the kids have to "search" in the pictures to find the letters - for instance, the "S" is in the curve of the blade of a pirate sword and the "O" is a life preserver. Our 2 year old giggles every time we reach the ending (but I won't give that away!) You just can't go wrong with this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Whimsical and so much fun!, May 5, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC (Hardcover)

June Sobel is the author of B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC. Henry Cole has illustrated more than forty books for children.

What young child isn't captivated by pirates? In Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC, the gang of swashbuckling pirates are ordered by their captain to capture the alphabet. The pirate ship sets sail to search out and seize all the letters of the alphabet. They are determined that no letter will escape!

Sobel's delightful adventure is told in rhyme and children will ask to be read the story over and over again. A by-product is that it is written in such a way that it will contribute to children learning the alphabet. The illustrations are fun and whimsical and greatly add to the story.

Armchair Interviews says: Have some fun reading to your children and help them learn at the same time.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute Alphabet Book, June 11, 2006

By 

A. M. Schroder "anilawc" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC (Hardcover)

This is a cute alphabet book for the preschool set. The letters are cleverly disguised although by no means hidden. My three year old enjoys reading this as pirates have become popular recently with him and his friends. "R said the Captain!" (instead of "argh")