Big Digger ABC by Margaret Mayo Illus. by Alex Ayliffe (Orchard/Hachette)
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN:9781408332696
HB RRP $24.99
ISBN:9781408332696
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie
Long-time acclaimed British author, Margaret Mayo has created an
alphabet picture book using names of vehicles which will enthrall little
people, especially boys. Her rhythmic text has as much action as Alex Ayliffe's
lively and colourful illustrations. For example:
Aa Ambulance Busy, busy ambulance
rush, rush, rushing. Whee-ow! Whee-ow!
Loud siren blaring.
Loud siren blaring.
The use of bold letters in wavy or oblique patterns emphasises, for example the speed of the ambulance, and this is repeated throughout - a bulldozer push, push, pushing; a crane hoist, hoist, hoisting; right
through to Z which is represented by a Zooming
Rocket. Mayo isn't afraid to use adjectives instead of the nouns common
in most alphabets, or even a letter in a word rather than at the beginning,
e.g., X is for EXtra Big Wheels.
Narrowboat and Icebreaker
are two unusual modes of transport which may not be familiar to all young
children but they certainly add a further educational element to their reading
experience.
The vivid illustrations of each vehicle are cheerful and appealing
and Alex Ayliffe's award winning style doesn't stop there - the backgrounds
also hold a lot of interest for children to examine and enjoy. E.g., a bright
yellow Helicopter is in the air,
but a ladder is being lowered to someone stranded on a snowy mountain which
faithfully supports the text:
Smart yellow helicopter whirr, whirr, whirring.
Hovering and swaying - look!
Someone needs rescuing.
Hovering and swaying - look!
Someone needs rescuing.
Machine-mad little kids will love the whole concept of this
exciting ABC picture book.
This bright and busy picture book is packed with all the vehicles little ones love, from diggers and fire engines to spaceships and underwater robots.
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