Trevor Laurence Jockims | The Children’s Book Review | February 15, 2014
Z is for Moose
Story by Kelly Bingham; Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Reading level: 4-8
Hardcover: 32 Pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (February 28, 2012)
What to expect: Animals, Alphabet, Humor
A fresh and funny twist on alphabet books that will have parents and children laughing.
Moose is so excited to be in this ABC book that the letter M is simply too long to wait. Already at the letter A—for Apple—Moose can be seen peaking around the corner of the page, anxious to make his entrance. By the letter D he has jumped in front of a patient Duck, scaring him out of the way. At this point, a funny and tumultuous battle ensues between Moose and Zebra (cleverly cast as a referee, stripes and all), as Moose—awkward, clumsy, but loveable—makes his way up and down the pages, bumping into an Elephant, mugging in front of a Hat, and even hiding inside the pouch of a Kangaroo.
When his big moment finally comes, and the page is turned to the letter M … there’s a Mouse on the page! The Zebra, sounding like a heartless casting agent, dismissively says, “I’m sorry. We decided to go with the mouse this time.” At this point, all bets are off, as Moose tramples past an Owl, a Pie, and a Queen. Thankfully, the Zebra sees how much it means to Moose to be in the book, and even though Moose thinks it’s too late, it isn’t: On the page for the letter Z, Moose and Zebra stand together to describe the last letter of the book: “Z is for Zebra’s friend, Moose.”
Kelly Bingham is to be credited for writing an ABC book that enlivens a genre that is pretty difficult to make new, and also for using humor to teach. Illustrated with playfulness by Paul O. Zelinsky, Z is for Moose is a great book for children who know their alphabet well enough to understand the humor of a Moose trying to enter before his letter has come up.
Add this book to your collection: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Reviewed by Trevor Laurence Jockims.
Discover more picture books on The Children’s Book Review illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.