ZigZag

by Julie Paschkis

Help ZigZag the alligator get his vowels back in this playful picture book from beloved author-illustrator Julie Paschkis!
There's nothing ZigZag enjoys more than tasting his words as he uses them, plays with them, and enjoys them, for ZigZag is a lover of words! But one day, excited and energized, he gulps down all his vowels while exploring and enjoying the word "tambourine." Without A, E, I, O, and U, ZigZag's life is turned no more lovely tambourines, only tasteless and dull tmbrns; no more tart green apples, only disappointing ppls. Poor ZigZag can't even get any sleep in his comfy, cozy bed, which is now a too short bd. But vowels are all around ZigZag, from his grandmother's satisfied "Aaahs" to his best friend Beanie's amazed "Ooohs." Can you help ZigZag find his vowels again? This is a wonderful romp through language that reminds readers to taste their words, even at the risk of swallowing them—for how else to know if they are sweet or bitter; salty, crunchy, or smooth? It is also a companion volume, with a twist, to Paschkis's The Wordy Book .

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Language

44 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2023

About the author

I was born in 1957 and grew up in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. I have a brother and two sisters. My parents encouraged us to make things, to read, to draw and to play outside.

I attended Germantown Friends School, Ringerike Folkehogskole in Norway, Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, where I got a BFA. I have a teaching certificate from UW and I taught art to children for several years, mostly at the Bush School.

Since 1991 I have been painting and illustrating full time. I have had many shows of my paintings and of various other work (including cut paper, embroidery and bread). I illustrate books. I design fabric and make quilts. My work flows in many directions, but all of the ideas and creations are connected. The work I do in one area inspires the work in others. Ideas beget ideas.

I live in Seattle with my husband Joe Max Emminger. He is a painter.

I still like to make things, to read, draw and play outside.

Reviews

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paschkis's brightly colored joyful illustrations carry and connect the story of alligator who loves working with letters and sounds. When the alligator swallows "tambourine"~~ which you'll note contains all the vowels ~~ suddenly words are brng (boring) without the all-important vowels - his bd is too short for sleep and other vowelless disasters. Paschkis's high color paintings swirling around the pages with letters and images demanding attention. A fun work of art for readers and even for children learning the alphabet (with help from an adult).

[Jilanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is chockablock with delicious wordplay and phenomenal illustrations while introducing an unusual aspect of neurodiversity (for a children's book), synesthesia, a topic that's briefly explained in the back matter. In this case, an alligator tastes words, but the descriptions also cross over into color and sound. So much fun! And a lively read aloud experience. Kids will love this alligator who can't help his voraciousness, and swallows vowels, changing all of the things he loves into irritating things containing only consonants. So he must find a way to get those vowels back. The storyline is ingenious, and toward the ending the reader is asked to help Zigzag in the recovery of one last vowel. But, true to his nature, he falls for the same deliciousness at the end. Poor Zigzag. The page of back matter, contains additional activities for kids in identifying vowels. I also think it's great for older kids to see if they can decode the words in the text that don't contain vowels, instead of relying on an adult reader. Great book! Highly recommended!

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about words, wonderful words. This alligator enjoys eating words, or tasting them. He has synesthesia, his senses are mixed, so he tastes words. She has some wonderful words in this. I do love some words.

I do disagree with the author on Bulb. She says it tastes purple, but no. It short and muddy. It's a brown word. Precocious is a purple word I believe. Anyway.

The alligator actually swallows the vowels and then words have no vowels. It's so interesting to see these words like ppl with no vowels. That's apple btw. A brilliant study on the words.

She gives games to play in the back with words like words spells with all the vowels such as tambourine. Fun right.

The artwork is fine. The animals are cute, accept the creepy alligator. I don't get children's author's using alligators. Whatever. It didn't say what was used to create the art, but it looks like pen and acrylics.

Kids into learning words will enjoy this.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright, busy illustrations show Zigzag, an alligator with synesthesia, enjoying all kinds of words. He tastes them instead of hearing them when he reads. Everything is good until he accidentally swallows the word tambourine, which has ALL the vowels! Now everything just looks, feels, sounds, and tastes wrong because there are no vowels. Zigzag's bed is too small because it's just bd. He loves to read but now every bk is brng. Will Zigzag be able to get his vowels back?

This is a great group read aloud with kids who are old enough to understand what vowels are and how they work.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming continuation of this author/illustrator's love of words. Zigzag the alligator loves the taste of words and accidentally gulps down all the vowels. Life is boring without them and so he sets out to get them back. Absolutely Delicious! Sprightly as ever, Paschkis' illustrations move things along in an animated fashion. The marvelous lettering is a highlight.

[mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just lovely. Prompts discussions about vowels, synesthesia, and how different words can make us feel. The illustrations are beautiful too, with a sweet vintage vibe. Like a picture book read-alike of Mark Dunn’s Ella Minnow Pea.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at what happens when an alligator eats all the vowels

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever story, fantastic word play, and fun illustrations!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight for anyone who loves words, the magic of reading, and the mystery of synesthesia.

[Zoë]

Delicious picture book. Even without synesthesia, words are very tasty and crunchy and slippy and roll and tumble off the tongue. Each page elicits this tactile delight.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this wonderful companion to Paschkis's The Wordy Book, an alligator with a vorcious appetite for words take readers on a delightful romp through language reminding them to always taste the deliciousness of their words to know if they are sweet or salty, smooth or crunchy, or glum or happy smooth.