Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

On a scale from one to 10, what's your favorite color of the alphabet? This book can't decide whether it is a number book or an alphabet book--literally. Its anthropomorphized letters and numbers argue over which is more important for readers to learn--numbers that "count and measure and add and subtract" or letters that enable readers to "spell and read." As they prepare to duke it out, their facial expressions (eyebrows, eyes, lips, teeth and tongues) and white-gloved fists and jabbing fingers speaking volumes, one alligator arrives. The number 1 and the letter A each use this as evidence to support their own case. As proof for both continues to crowd (literally) the pages, the letters and numbers begin to take things in stride. By the end, they present the letters from A to Z and the numbers from one to 26 as a team, concluding that, "This is a book about Numbers…and Letters"…until the last page reveals a new character. "I'm a little lost. I'm supposed to be in a book about colors." Boldt's digital illustrations are zany enough to pull off the plot. Pointy numbers vie with rounded letters, while the animals that arrive are cartoonishly realistic-looking (though their actions and accessories are anything but). Readers won't care whether it's about letters or numbers--they will be too busy poring over the artwork and laughing. (Picture book. 4-7)

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

A band of personified numbers thinks this is a book about numbers; a group of letters disagrees. When one alligator arrives, each side claims him for their purposes. Then two bears arrive... Cleverness abounds, from the meta concept to the closing shot (a blob of red thinks this is a book about colors). The digitally rendered art extends the textual gags.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

On a scale from one to 10, what's your favorite color of the alphabet? This book can't decide whether it is a number book or an alphabet book--literally. Its anthropomorphized letters and numbers argue over which is more important for readers to learn--numbers that "count and measure and add and subtract" or letters that enable readers to "spell and read." As they prepare to duke it out, their facial expressions (eyebrows, eyes, lips, teeth and tongues) and white-gloved fists and jabbing fingers speaking volumes, one alligator arrives. The number 1 and the letter A each use this as evidence to support their own case. As proof for both continues to crowd (literally) the pages, the letters and numbers begin to take things in stride. By the end, they present the letters from A to Z and the numbers from one to 26 as a team, concluding that, "This is a book about Numbers…and Letters"…until the last page reveals a new character. "I'm a little lost. I'm supposed to be in a book about colors." Boldt's digital illustrations are zany enough to pull off the plot. Pointy numbers vie with rounded letters, while the animals that arrive are cartoonishly realistic-looking (though their actions and accessories are anything but). Readers won't care whether it's about letters or numbers--they will be too busy poring over the artwork and laughing. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Numbers and letters struggle for dominance of Boldt-s debut, which joins recent combative abecedaries like Z Is for Moose and A Is for Musk Ox. -Hello!- says an anthropomorphic blue numeral one, greeting readers with a smile. -I-m so glad you chose to read this book about Numbers!- Simultaneously, an orange -A- walks in from the other side of the spread. -Hi! I-m so happy you chose to read this book about Letters!- A giant -WHAT?!!- of disbelief follows, and the 1 and A use new arrivals-like a single green alligator-to support their claims. -That settles it then. Since there is 1 Alligator, this is a book about Numbers,- announces 1. -Did you hear what you just said?- responds A. -Alligator. That starts with the letter A.- Two bears arrive in three cars (with four dinosaurs), and chaos mounts as 13 monkeys in 14 neckties juggle 15 oranges, and so on. Boldt-s illustrations have a dimensional, painterly quality that recalls Adam Rex-s work, and the absurd scenarios, strong-willed personalities, and visual gags will have kids laughing from A to 26. Ages 4-8. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (July)

School Library Journal (Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

K-Gr 3 A blue Number 1 declares this book is about numbers, while an orange Letter A on the opposite page announces it's about letters. An argument ensues as more and more creatures appear on the pages, each one's name beginning with a sequential letter, while the number of individuals, what they are eating, traveling in, or carrying, can be counted or given sequential letter names as well. For example, in one spread, there are 3 cars, 4 dinosaurs have 5 eggs, and 6 toads (er, frogs) provide 7 hungry geese with 8 hot dogs and 9 ice-cream cones. The spreads become more and more crowded as greater numbers of digitally rendered animals engage with increasing numbers of objects. Fortunately, the backgrounds are white; all of the numbers are printed in blue, while the alphabetical letters are in orange, so readers can keep track of what is going on. Finally, all 26 numbers appear across the top half of a spread while the letters appear on the bottom, each with some spot illustrations, and the two antagonists agree, "Of course. This is a book about Numbers&30; and Letters!" While not for children just learning numbers or the alphabet, this offering will provide a fun way for those a bit older to review both. Pair it with Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Wumbers (Chronicle, 2012). Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT