Check It Out

Books recommended for young readers by Susan Patron, senior librarian, Los Angeles Public Library:

Some of the most inventive books for children of all ages feature the alphabet as a game, a puzzle or the framework for an unusual story.

Babies and toddlers: “Alphababies” by Kim Golding

Babies adore looking at pictures of babies. Golding’s clever collage technique and rhymed text present babies interacting with each letter.

--

Preschoolers: “Alphabatics” by Suse MacDonald

Watch each letter gradually change: M becomes a mustache; S becomes a swan. Handsome graphics distinguish this playful learning tool, which won a Caldecott Honor award.

--

Kindergarten: “Annie, Bea, and ChiChi Dolores” by Donna Maurer, pictures by Deny Cazet

A typical kindergarten day, with Buddies, Counting, Drawing, Erasing . . . activities and funny events for each letter of the alphabet.

--

First and second grade: “Tomorrow’s Alphabet” by George Shannon, illustrations by Donald Crews

For children who know the alphabet well enough to play with it, there’s a guessing game for each letter.

--

Third grade: “Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet” by Ann Whitford Paul

Kids learn fascinating bits of early American history from quilt patterns (Anvil, Buggy Wheel, Churn Dash) for each letter of the alphabet. With Jeanette Winter’s colorful detailed drawings.

Storytime

Some of the books to be read on KCET’s “Storytime,” Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

“Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is sorry later. (Themes: trust, consideration of others.)

--

“Turnip Soup,” by Lynne Born Myers and Christopher Myers

George faces a troublesome Komodo dragon that has slithered into his family’s root cellar and is eating their vegetables. (Themes: friendship, feelings of fear.)