Review: Apple Banana Cherry

Apple Banana Cherry

Written by Joy Cowley

Illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller

Publication date: 2000
Publisher: Scholastic New Zealand
ISBN: 1-86943-467-6

Summary/Back cover:
Joy Cowley's wonderful read-aloud rhymes make learning the alphabet so much fun for young readers.

Review:
I have to confess that if it was not for the name Joy Cowley on the cover, I would have completely overlooked this book. What immediately draws me to children's books are the illustrations and I'm sorry to say that I found this book lacking in this department. Some of the illustrations are even scary (Jack the jester, not jolly as the book says but more crazily eerie).

However Cowley doesn't disappoint with her words. Moving through the alphabet, we have wonderful rhymes for each letter and most are fantastic to read out loud, the humour being something both parent and child can appreciate. The favourite in our household is the following;
Oo Orange
An orange rolled into the nest, where the little chickens played.
"oh, look!" cried the chickens, "at the orange mama laid!"

Great fun, only let down by the less than mediocre illustrations.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Review written by QTCass

Review: Alphabeasts

Alphabeasts

Written and Illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller

with help from Kathleen Grimmett

Publication date: 1985
Publisher: Waterloo Press
ISBN: 0-7257-0334-2

Summary/back cover:
The beasts in this book
Aren't in places you know,
Not in jungles or deserts
Nor where there is snow.
They're not in the country
nor even the zoo,
But I hope that you like them -
I drew them for you

Review:
This was given to me and my sister from the author - a family friend.

I would recommend this book for primary age children, it has lots of alliteration. Hubby thinks some of the beasts might be a bit scary for our 3 3/4yr old.

Example:
Gg
The great big Ginormous growls "Grr!" and looks scary,
Hh
but the huge Hunx are just harmless and hairy.

The illustrations are very colourful and bring to life all the made up beasts.

My rating: 3.5 out 5

Review written by Pineapple