- Hardcover: 32 pages
- Publisher: Fsg Kids (Sep 23 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0374302448
- ISBN-13: 978-0374302443
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 22.4 x 1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 204 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,827,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Witty wordplay is the centerpiece of a rhyming caper that gives a fond nod to William Steig's C D B! Involving a search for buried treasure conducted by the letters of the alphabet, the story line takes a back seat to nonstop, laugh-out-loud punning and Chesworth's (Archibald Frisby) clever integration of language and art. One morning, the letter "i," while sipping "t" with "sweet Mellow D," hears of buried treasure on a faraway island. He builds a ship ("The Alphaboat must have a crew!/ i, m coming, u, r, too"), and the aforementioned lowercase letters board the vessel preceded by fancy capitals T, C and A ("So everybody knows his place/ the officers are uppercase"). Each page overflows with jokes, ranging from groaners to the sneakily subtle. The sailors squabble as they disembark, "Hey! i before e!" "Except after C"; foul weather is described as a "nasty scrawl" and rendered as a sepia cloud of illegible script ("A cursive storm," wails a passenger via a voice bubble). With a restrained pen and watercolors in natural, muted tones, Chesworth effectively juxtaposes an 18th-century nautical ambience with comical, pun-infused caricatures. This brain-teasing voyage through the alphabet should tickle the newly literate and old salts as well. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-Right from the copyright page ("I dedicate this book to u"), readers will know that they are in for an outrageous adventure as the crew of the Alphaboat sets sail to find a buried treasure. Chesworth's rhymed voyage is chock-full of visual and verbal puns and wordplay that will delight savvy readers. Reminiscent of William Steig's C D B! (S & S, 2000), this book features a full-blown story as the letters go about gathering a crew, ship building, sailing, fighting storms ("a nasty scrawl"), and digging up buried treasure (a dictionary with "`gold' and `silver,' `jewels' and `loot,' and other precious words, to boot"). They sail home around the "Isle of Write," "Pencilvania," "Sands Serif," and "Exclamation Point," and return at the "n" to celebrate their success (which deserves an "apos-trophy"). The "N R G" of the text and the "e's" with which the author/illustrator uses rhymes contribute to the bouncing cadence of the story. The cartoon illustrations will captivate kids as they try to solve the wordplay puzzles in every scene. Each full-color watercolor-and-ink illustration is framed within neat black borders and extends the text with a wealth of visual jokes, hints, and goofy asides. The sophistication of some of the humor may challenge some children, but the abundance of accessible puns will have them examining this literary "I Spy" book to uncover yet another jaunty groaner.
Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great book with a long lifespan!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alphaboat (Hardcover)
This is a clever, funny book that will hold a child's interest for many years. Younger children will enjoy the rhyming story about a group of letters that go treasure-hunting. Children learning to read, write, and spell will enjoy the letter puns in the story and illustrations. Older kids and adults will like finding all the little jokes and puns, like the map showing the "ball point" peninsula and other landmarks.We bought this book about a year ago. After countless readings, it is still a fresh, fun read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Clever!,
By
This review is from: Alphaboat (Hardcover)
What a fun book! Michael Chesworth has filled this high C's adventure with loads of puns and visual jokes that will keep a reader coming back to it again and again. The fact that he was able to do so in smooth, jaunty rhyme makes the book even more impressive. This is one of those great finds, a fresh, intelligent picture book that both kids and adults will enjoy over and over.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews) 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Clever!,
By David LaRochelle - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alphaboat (Hardcover)
What a fun book! Michael Chesworth has filled this high C's adventure with loads of puns and visual jokes that will keep a reader coming back to it again and again. The fact that he was able to do so in smooth, jaunty rhyme makes the book even more impressive. This is one of those great finds, a fresh, intelligent picture book that both kids and adults will enjoy over and over.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful story and hilarious alphabet jokes,
By J. Thurston "mynamyn" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alphaboat (Hardcover)
We recently checked this book out from the library on a whim and loved it so much that we had to buy our own copy! I also bought a copy for a friend who is graduating with a Master's degree in literary editing and copywriting. She has proclaimed it her new favorite book ever. Mr. Chesworth writes a funny story for children while including gags for parents that will keep you laughing. The font jokes, literary references, and phonetic gags have made this my favorite new book to read to my kids. They may not get all of the jokes now, but my 4 year old is recognizing more of his alphabet letters since we've gotten the book.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for older kids,
By Ulyyf "Connie" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Alphaboat (Hardcover)
My five year old niece loves this book, even though she doesn't get most of the jokes (and doesn't even realize that they *are* jokes, in fact).This is a book chock-full of what are, frankly, horrific puns. The storyline is about how the alphabet travels to find treasure, but it's definitely not an abecedarian. It will not teach your child his or her letters. It's just silly fun. Do note that it's a longer book (as picture books go), and that many of the jokes will sail right over the head of younger readers ("We sure spent our times roamin'" springs to mind). As a book for older kids or adults, though, it's completely indispensible. (I read it a lot to myself as the kids nap!) |
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