I promise this is my final A to Z reference for the week. I’ll bombard you with letters during the A to Z Challenge in April. As I wrote this post, there were 446 participants. Sign up continues.

Today, I’ve chosen Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet for Perfect Picture Book Fridays.

Alphabet A Paula Wiseman Book
Written and Illustrated by Matthew Van Fleet
Edited and Art Directed by Skip Skwarek
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008

Suitable for:  Ages 2 and up

Theme/Topic:  Alphabet, ABCs

Opening: The title page welcomes you with a cast of animals spelling out Alphabet with their bodies, beaks and tails.

The first page includes: Scaly green Alligators, Bristly yellow Bees, Scratcy pink Cougar tongues, Blue Dragonflies … shimmery.

Brief Synopsis: From the back cover — An amazing ABC safari for Preschoolers! In Matthew Van Fleet’s incredible new multiconcept book, over 100 creatures and plants from A to Z hilariously demonstrate action words, synonyms, opposites, and more. Young explorers are challenged to spot four plants or animals that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Twenty three textures plus foils, flags, pull tabs, and even a scratch-and-sniff scent add to the interactive surprises on every page.”

Link to Resources: K-3TeacherResources.com has some free alphabet posters. The iTunes store has some free apps to download for your iPhone or iPad to practice writing or tracing the alphabet. The Super Teacher Worksheets site has several free alphabet worksheets.

I’ve cut off some of the two-page spread, but wanted you to see inside. Isn’t the artwork a delight?

Why I chose this book: I’m on my A to Z kick this week. The illustrations are beautiful. The textures added to the animals are perfect. The flaps and pulls are in the right place. The book also includes a large ABC poster with 26 pop-ups! Stimulation overload for mom and kiddo. Enzo received this book for his first birthday. I promptly put it away, because he wanted to destroy it. I’m sticking to the age limit on this one. He will see it again on his second birthday.

To find more picture books and resources, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and look for the Perfect Picture Books page.