ALA Booklist (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2010)

Each picture book in the new Animal Antics A to Z series uses plenty of words beginning with one letter of the alphabet. Though their purpose is providing practice in identifying letters and the sounds they make, they also tell simple, pleasant stories about the students in teacher Alpha Betty's class. In the first book, Alexander Anteater despairs of creating a great act for the upcoming talent show. With encouragement from his dad and help from his friends, he practices until he perfects his unusual balancing act. Full of action and humor, Alley's expressive artwork adds considerably to the story's appeal. An appended page offers a few facts about anteaters as well as suggested activities and games for learning. More fun than most books aimed at teaching the sounds of letters, this picture book is a good read-aloud option for anxious parents and a natural for classrooms that celebrate "A" week. Other picture books available in the series are Bobby Baboon's Banana Be-Bop, Corky Cub's Crazy Caps, and Dilly Dog's Dizzy Dancing.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

Though a couple of the story lines are not terrible, all of these books are crammed with words that include the featured letter, making for a distracting and unsatisfying reading experience. Alley's lighthearted illustrations are more limber than the texts. Unnecessary last-page features include animal facts and phonemic awareness activities. There are five other spring 2010 books in this series.

School Library Journal (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

K-Gr 1 Each book introduces a student in teacher Alpha Betty's class. Alexander wants to be in the talent show so his friends Anna Anaconda and Albert Alligator help him develop a balancing act. Bobby Baboon is carrying bananas to school for a treat and gets help counting and eating them from Bubba Bear, Barnaby Badger, and Buster Buffalo, after a little bullying. Corky Cub and his friend Connie Cougar always wear matching caps. He is sad when she moves away, but his teacher and parents help him make new friends and new caps. Dilly Dog's dangerous dancing drives everyone away, and on it goes. Each book has lots of alliteration and silliness. Some of the writing is a little forced to incorporate the correct letter. Also, the books are unlikely to develop a following among children because the characters do not continue from book to book. Each one concludes with facts about the featured animal and related activities. Reading all 26 books or doing follow-up with each letter will provide continuity, but also potential boredom. Erlene Bishop Killeen, Stroughton Area School District, WI