Spinnables: The Spinning Alphabet Book [Hardcover]

Betty Ann Schwartz (Author), Michelle Berg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006 | Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Spinnables

Learn the alphabet with the spin of a wheel! simple and vibrant illustrations provide a gentle introduction to baby's first ABC's.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 16 pages
• Publisher: HarperFestival (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060799730
• ISBN-13: 978-0060799731
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,512,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Choice, September 18, 2007

By 

Mary Ellen (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spinnables: The Spinning Alphabet Book (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent choice for a little one but in my opinion, the book should be read with the child sitting on your lap and the adult helping turn the wheels. I would not leave the child alone with this book. As with any special book, it could be damaged quickly if left in the hands of a toddler.

I definitely recommend this book. It is beautiful.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute Concept Falls Short, September 5, 2006

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spinnables: The Spinning Alphabet Book (Hardcover)

From Ape, Airplane, Apple and Alligator to Xylophone, Yo-Yo, Zebra and Zipper, The Spinning Alphabet Book goes round and round to delight preschoolers. Each letter has a wheel that spins to reveal four objects beginning with said letter (X, Y, Z being the only letters to share a wheel). Little hands can rotate the wheel back and forth or all the way around as the child names each object.

While this is a fantastic way to learn one's letters, it falls short in two regards. The spinning wheels work decently enough, but it wouldn't take much effort for a child to pull them off. A friend's twenty-month-old boy got the "A" wheel off in less than a minute--before we grownups could blink.

The other shortcoming is in some of the objects used for the letters. Three- and four-year-olds will know most of the words (apple, cat, dog, elephant, and so on), but there are several words that will be unfamiliar to many children (eggplant, lamp, overalls, quilt, quail, quill). This isn't all bad, as it can introduce new words to more literate children, but as the intention here is to teach the letters and sounds, unfamiliar objects/object names don't serve the purpose.

The Spinning Alphabet Book is a fun little book for parents to share with children, but it may not be as appropriate for little ones that love to tug and who are of limited vocabulary.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
8/21/2006