The Letters Are Lost by Lisa Campbell Ernst

The Letters Are Lost (32 pages)

by Lisa Campbell Ernst

RM28

RM24

Ernst, the author of such ebullient favorites as Zinnia and Dot (1992), here offers an alphabet book that is just right for its target audience. The premise is that the wooden blocks, with one letter to a block, were once together in their box. But now they've all gone astray. Where are they? Well, the A is in an airplane, the B has tumbled into the bath, and the L has landed in a pile of leaves.

Each block is prominently featured in the framed paintings that show simple shapes and situations, which are, for the most part, easily identifiable to young ones. Ernst gets high marks for having everything just right: the colors, the size, the appeal.

At the book's conclusion, the blocks are back together but "not for long. Soon they will disappear again. Can you guess where they might go?" An open invitation to have children make up their own scenarios while learning their letters. Fun!  

Children will delight in finding out in this vibrant, charming introduction to the alphabet.