Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky illustrates Kelly Bingham's outrageously funny, critically acclaimed, and boundary-breaking story about a moose, a zebra, and the alphabet! Zebra wants to put on a show as simple as ABC, but Zebra's friend Moose has other (unexpected and hilarious) ideas!
Zebra thinks the alphabet should be simple. A is for Apple. B is for Ball. Easy! But his friend Moose is too excited to wait his turn, and when M isn't for Moose (Mouse gets the honor), the rest of the letters better run for cover. Exuberant and zany storytelling brings to life two friends and one laugh-out-loud comedy of errors that's about friendship, sharing, and compromise. The incomparable Paul O. Zelinsky's artwork is bursting at the seams—literally—with child appeal. Breaking the borders of the page, and creating the art both digitally and traditionally, Zelinsky turns convention on its head. The result is a picture book that is innovative, hilarious, and begging to be read over and over again.
Named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful.
Picture Book That Made Me Laugh
By Daniel R. Gehring
Every once in a while our library staff discovers a picture book we pass around and share. This is one of those books. It's funny. No spoilers from me, although I will say this book has a couple of surprises, one funny, one heartwarming in store for you. This would be a great book to share with youngsters that are already familiar with the alphabet. This is not a book to learn the alphabet; its a book to play with the alphabet.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful.This one is going on my "forever" shelf
By Jennifer Donovan
I "know" Paul O. Zelinksy as the illustrator of Emily Jenkins' Toys Go Out books. Those books have a nice cover in color, and a few full-page black-and-white line drawings throughout. The artwork is cool, but the highlight of those books is the sparkling text.However, in Z Is for Moose, written by Kelly Bingham, Zelinksky's artwork and Bingham's text are seamlessly integrated, creating a one-of-a-kind experience.Before I had even read one word of it, I was charmed by the illustration on the pages before the title page (which I'm sure have a name, but I know it not). It gives the reader a peek at the characters, like a curtain being raised on a play.It starts off as your typical picture book. A nice clear picture and "A is for Apple," but what is that zebra doing peeking into the frame? B and C are business as usual, but "D is for Moose" has the moose posing proudly and the zebra referee saying "You are on the wrong page," and pushing him out of the frame causing "E is for Elephant" to say "Look out!"The moose continues through, trying to find his place, with the zebra continually admonishing him to move. By the time he gets to the M page (making cameo appearances on most of the other pages leading up to it, even saying on L "Here it comes!"), he is shocked to find that "M is for Mouse."He throws a tantrum, upsetting O, P, and Q, and takes a crayon in his own hand (hoof), adding antlers to R's Ring and S's Snake as Zebra works hard to protect the other entries. When Moose realizes that he's not going to be in the book, and it's too late, Zebra takes pity on him and shares his own entry with his friend.I give this book my high recommendation. It's not for preschoolers only. The same set who enjoy Mo Willems `and Melanie Watt's work will likely want this book on their "keep forever" shelf.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful.Instant Classic!
By Lou Hamilton
Who would have thought that an ABC book could be hilarious?! Well, this one is. You will actually enjoy reading this to your little ones. Take this romp through the alphabet with magnificent Moose and zealous Zebra, and enjoy the adventure with someone you love.
