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AlphaBest: The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives
Sometimes regular adjectives just aren't enough. With AlphaBest, kids will learn a whole alphabet's worth of zany, zanier, zaniest adjectives! An easy guide at the back explains the rules of forming comparatives and superlatives so kids can compare anything using just the right words.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
About the author
Helaine Becker
98 books78 followersHelaine Becker has written over 70 books, including the #1 National bestseller, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree,and its sequel, Dashing through the Snow, Sloth at the Zoom, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, the Looney Bay All-Stars chapter book series, non-fiction including Counting on Katherine, Worms for Breakfast and Zoobots (all Junior Library Guild Selections), Monster Science, You Can Read, Lines Bars and Circles, and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She also writes for children’s magazines and for children's television. Her show Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab was a finalist at MIP.com Junior in Cannes.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.
Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.
She has won the Lane Anderson Award for Science Writing for Children twice,once for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea and once for The Insecto-Files, and the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Canadian Booksellers Association for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree. She has also won three Silver Birch awards and a Red Cedar award.
Helaine Becker holds U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She attended high school in New York, university in North Carolina (Go Blue Devils!!!!) and now lives in Toronto with her husband and dog, Ella. She has two really handsome sons.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 20, 2019
Genre: Nonfiction - Concept Book
Awards: None
Audience: Preschool-3rd grade
A: The book is all about comparative and superlative adjectives.
B: The book uses illustrations to show the different words in a way that entertains children. One page is for the different forms of the word and the pictures show the change in description from one word to the next.
C: There are not many text features in this book, however there are elaborate illustrations and varied font types. In the back of the book, there is a page for the teacher or adult with more specific direction for teaching this concept.
D: This book could be used when teaching children the proper word to use in a situation. Children can find the illustration that matches what they are trying to say and then identify the correct word form to use. This could be a book available in stations for children to look at independently after it has been read aloud to the class and the concept has been introduced.
Awards: None
Audience: Preschool-3rd grade
A: The book is all about comparative and superlative adjectives.
B: The book uses illustrations to show the different words in a way that entertains children. One page is for the different forms of the word and the pictures show the change in description from one word to the next.
C: There are not many text features in this book, however there are elaborate illustrations and varied font types. In the back of the book, there is a page for the teacher or adult with more specific direction for teaching this concept.
D: This book could be used when teaching children the proper word to use in a situation. Children can find the illustration that matches what they are trying to say and then identify the correct word form to use. This could be a book available in stations for children to look at independently after it has been read aloud to the class and the concept has been introduced.
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February 16, 2016Title: Alphabest: The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives
Author: Helaine Becker
Illustrator: Dave Whamond
Genre: Alphabet Book
Theme(s): Vocabulary, Alphabet, Comparison
Opening line/sentence: Angry
Angrier
Angriest
Brief Book Summary: Through eye-catching, colorful illustrations this book takes the reader through the 26 letters of the alphabet in an amusement park. Each page starts with a word and continues with comparatives and superlatives of that word beginning with the same letter. The illustrations and words are very appealing to children.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2012 (Vol. 80, No. 15))
An alphabetical romp through an amusement park strives to illuminate comparatives and superlatives. A bumbling klutz of a superhero chases a villain through an amusement park, the text consisting of 25 comparatives and superlatives describing their attacks on each other and the sights, sounds, textures and tastes of the park. ("Unique," appropriately, stands alone.) "Clever" is the superhero following a footprint trail. The villain is "cleverer," slipping onto a Ferris-wheel–like ride. But the superhero is "cleverest," setting the ride to "hyper drive," which sends the dizzy villain flying. The story may take readers a while to catch on to, and not all the comparatives and superlatives make the most sense, or are the best of examples (the "yummy" page is all junk food). Backmatter gives a down-and-dirty version of the rules for forming comparatives and superlatives, but it is not a comprehensive guide; exceptions are not noted, and the rules given will lead to many incorrectly formed words. Whamond's ink-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations are the true stars, his over-the-top scenes carrying the story with lots of humorous details that are sure to have kids chuckling. Expressive body language and facial expressions, especially pop-eyes, make the characters come to life. The imaginative twist at the end makes this more likely to be picked up for a repeat reading, but not necessarily for the grammar lesson.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature)
Something can be icy, icier, or the iciest, as shown with humorous illustrations in this large book that helps the reader understand the use of comparatives and superlatives. The zany cartoons illustrate how a hero tries to catch a villain at an amusement park amid all the people, rides, and shows. A ride on a roller coaster shows the difference between quick, quicker, and quickest. The hero has snacks that are yummy, yummier, and yummiest, and wins prizes that are fuzzy, fuzzier, and fuzziest. There is no narrative, and the pictures tell the story along with the comparative words that are in large print. Brief dialogue and some words used as sound effects such as plop, splat, and bonk, are included throughout the book. The ending reveals that the two characters are friends. A page at the end of the book contains information about how to teach children to form comparatives and superlatives. The text would be a good teaching tool and children could also read it independently. The cartoon antics should appeal to young children as they learn how these types of words are used.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews discuss this books appealing nature to young children because of the illustrations and use of a superhero. With young children, this book is more of a read and re-read book. Due to its layout of the text it may be hard for some children to understand and could cause their understanding of grammar to be incorrect. However, as the second review noted, there is a page at the end where a teacher and/or parent can use to instruct the class correctly on comparatives and superlatives. This is definitely a book that needs to be used a certain way to avoid incorrect grammar usage.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The plot may be difficult for some young readers, as they may not understand what is happening throughout the book as the superhero chases after the villain. However, young children love superheroes, which does make it appealing. The organization and style is different from traditional books but the illustrations are very eye-catching. This book represents language learning all throughout, but in a style some children may not understand.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used directly after read-aloud during a writers workshop mini-lesson. In the back of the book the author incorporated a page on how to teach students comparatives and superlatives. While the students are still gathered around the reading area the teacher can give a mini-lesson on how to use these words in writing and how to correctly form them using the back page. This can be done as a group through participation and writing on an easel for all of the class to see. To check the students understand the teacher can then let them work individually or send home a worksheet to practice.
Author: Helaine Becker
Illustrator: Dave Whamond
Genre: Alphabet Book
Theme(s): Vocabulary, Alphabet, Comparison
Opening line/sentence: Angry
Angrier
Angriest
Brief Book Summary: Through eye-catching, colorful illustrations this book takes the reader through the 26 letters of the alphabet in an amusement park. Each page starts with a word and continues with comparatives and superlatives of that word beginning with the same letter. The illustrations and words are very appealing to children.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2012 (Vol. 80, No. 15))
An alphabetical romp through an amusement park strives to illuminate comparatives and superlatives. A bumbling klutz of a superhero chases a villain through an amusement park, the text consisting of 25 comparatives and superlatives describing their attacks on each other and the sights, sounds, textures and tastes of the park. ("Unique," appropriately, stands alone.) "Clever" is the superhero following a footprint trail. The villain is "cleverer," slipping onto a Ferris-wheel–like ride. But the superhero is "cleverest," setting the ride to "hyper drive," which sends the dizzy villain flying. The story may take readers a while to catch on to, and not all the comparatives and superlatives make the most sense, or are the best of examples (the "yummy" page is all junk food). Backmatter gives a down-and-dirty version of the rules for forming comparatives and superlatives, but it is not a comprehensive guide; exceptions are not noted, and the rules given will lead to many incorrectly formed words. Whamond's ink-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations are the true stars, his over-the-top scenes carrying the story with lots of humorous details that are sure to have kids chuckling. Expressive body language and facial expressions, especially pop-eyes, make the characters come to life. The imaginative twist at the end makes this more likely to be picked up for a repeat reading, but not necessarily for the grammar lesson.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Vicki Foote (Children's Literature)
Something can be icy, icier, or the iciest, as shown with humorous illustrations in this large book that helps the reader understand the use of comparatives and superlatives. The zany cartoons illustrate how a hero tries to catch a villain at an amusement park amid all the people, rides, and shows. A ride on a roller coaster shows the difference between quick, quicker, and quickest. The hero has snacks that are yummy, yummier, and yummiest, and wins prizes that are fuzzy, fuzzier, and fuzziest. There is no narrative, and the pictures tell the story along with the comparative words that are in large print. Brief dialogue and some words used as sound effects such as plop, splat, and bonk, are included throughout the book. The ending reveals that the two characters are friends. A page at the end of the book contains information about how to teach children to form comparatives and superlatives. The text would be a good teaching tool and children could also read it independently. The cartoon antics should appeal to young children as they learn how these types of words are used.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews discuss this books appealing nature to young children because of the illustrations and use of a superhero. With young children, this book is more of a read and re-read book. Due to its layout of the text it may be hard for some children to understand and could cause their understanding of grammar to be incorrect. However, as the second review noted, there is a page at the end where a teacher and/or parent can use to instruct the class correctly on comparatives and superlatives. This is definitely a book that needs to be used a certain way to avoid incorrect grammar usage.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The plot may be difficult for some young readers, as they may not understand what is happening throughout the book as the superhero chases after the villain. However, young children love superheroes, which does make it appealing. The organization and style is different from traditional books but the illustrations are very eye-catching. This book represents language learning all throughout, but in a style some children may not understand.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used directly after read-aloud during a writers workshop mini-lesson. In the back of the book the author incorporated a page on how to teach students comparatives and superlatives. While the students are still gathered around the reading area the teacher can give a mini-lesson on how to use these words in writing and how to correctly form them using the back page. This can be done as a group through participation and writing on an easel for all of the class to see. To check the students understand the teacher can then let them work individually or send home a worksheet to practice.
November 25, 2012
AlphaBest The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives by Helaine Becker is a picturebook that explores the concept of comparatives and superlatives (as you might have guessed from the title). The book is set at an amusement park where some characters are beset by zany, zanier, and zaniest situations to give solid and understandable examples of how the rules of forming comparatives and superlatives work.
AlphaBest The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives is a fun and colorfully illustrated book that really brings the examples to life and makes learning fun. I think it would be great in the classroom or home setting to help children understand the concepts and use of comparatives and superlatives. The exploits of the characters and fun illustrations are worth exploring even without the education agenda
AlphaBest The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives delivers on its intentions to entertain while educating. I would recommend this book to parents and educators trying to explore this concept, because the English language is hard enough with all of its wacky rules and acceptations to those rules, we might as well have a little fun along the way.
AlphaBest The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives is a fun and colorfully illustrated book that really brings the examples to life and makes learning fun. I think it would be great in the classroom or home setting to help children understand the concepts and use of comparatives and superlatives. The exploits of the characters and fun illustrations are worth exploring even without the education agenda
AlphaBest The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives delivers on its intentions to entertain while educating. I would recommend this book to parents and educators trying to explore this concept, because the English language is hard enough with all of its wacky rules and acceptations to those rules, we might as well have a little fun along the way.
May 3, 2014
I read Alphabest by Helaine Becker, in exchange for review by Netgalley.com. The book was published by Kids Can Press The book was a quick read and I read it to my kiddies. It taught kids how to compare items. I also loved the graphics. It was a fair scene. The characters interacted with each other throughout the book. I liked the scene where the kid got slimed (Letter S), the showered (W for wet, wetter, wettest), and then in the end, the kid and the kid, who slimed him were sharing some snacks together.
Each page shows a superlative or comparative, and it also features the alphabet from A to Z. Brad was really into this book. I love this book.
Each page shows a superlative or comparative, and it also features the alphabet from A to Z. Brad was really into this book. I love this book.
September 29, 2013
This is an ABC book of comparatives and superlatives. The story is told in the illustrations, as a series of events that happen at a carnival. Text includes only adjectives: Angry, Angrier, Angriest. Brave, Braver, Bravest. Clever, Cleverer, Cleverest. (Which I actually think is incorrect. "Cleverer"? I don't think so.)
There's nothing spectacular here, but teachers could possibly use it in teaching kids when to add -er and -est, when to add another consonant before the -er or -est (hot, hotter, hottest), and when to change a y to an i before adding the suffixes (angry, angrier, angriest).
There's nothing spectacular here, but teachers could possibly use it in teaching kids when to add -er and -est, when to add another consonant before the -er or -est (hot, hotter, hottest), and when to change a y to an i before adding the suffixes (angry, angrier, angriest).
November 16, 2012
AlphaBest combines two important concepts into one humorous and entertaining picture book. The text consists only of comparatives and superlatives, one for each letter of the alphabet. Starting with Angry, Angrier and Angriest and moving on through to Zany, Zanier, and Zaniest many different adjectives are learned. The best part of the book is the illustrations! They are bright and colorful and full of eye-catching scenes creating an "I Spy" like adventure for the reader!
October 28, 2012
I like adding alphabet books to my collection and this one was unique as it introduce a triplet of comparatives with each letter. Really good for working on words especially structural analysis as it releaes to adding er and est. It also introduces interesting tier two adjectives for use in writing.
September 13, 2012
alphabetical superlatives
September 24, 2012
Pictures don't always illustrate the words well.
November 23, 2012
Fun, funner, funnest.
January 20, 2013
Although a picture book focused on language, interpretation and self telling would work great with this book of few words. An abc adventure in a park where the hero is trying to catch the villain.
March 23, 2013
Fun read aloud book...Kids love! Silly, funny, and they don't realize- educational.
September 26, 2014
The illustrations are really fun.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews