Alphabetland: The Story of Y

Children's Bookwatch, April, 2008

Alphabetland: The Story of Y

Rick McAtee, author

Barbara Hammons, illustrator

Turning a New Page

PO Box 91603, Tucson, AZ 85752

9780976203056, $14.95 www.turninganewpage.com

The latest in the educational "Alphabetland" series designed to teach young people about phonics through storytelling that anthropomorphizes the letters of the English alphabet, Alphabetland: The Story of Y tells how the curious consonant "Y" came to be at the center of a destructive conflict between the consonants and the vowels. Both the consonants and the vowels want Y to join them, but neither side thinks to ask Y what she wants! At last the wise old letter Z puts a stop to the fighting, and the letters of the alphabet hear out Y's wish: to be a consonant that sometimes makes special sounds like the vowels. Z decrees, "If Y only wants to be different some of the time, she could borrow one of the vowel sounds we already have. This will work only if the vowels agree to lend one of their sounds. It can not be a new sound." Together, the letters of the alphabet accept this compromise--mostly (there will always be some who say that Y is a vowel because it can make an i or e sound), and work together rebuilding Alphabetland. The simple, engaging color pictures bring to life this delightful allegorical tale in a superb series for reading aloud to young people. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections of children's books.