Alphabet Under Construction

by Denise Fleming

An artist's approach to introducing the alphabet

Mouse airbrushes the A,
buttons the B,
carves the C . . .

Mouse is hard at work constructing each letter of the alphabet. He dyes the D, erases the E, and folds the F. Mouse works his way right through to Z, constructing an alphabet that surpasses even the wildest artistic imagination.

A bright, beautiful concept book from best selling picture book Denise Fleming.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Construction, Storytime, Art, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Denise Fleming has written and illustrated many children’s picture books, including In the Tall, Tall Grass, Shout! Shout It Out!, and Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy. She won a Caldecott Honor for In the Small, Small Pond. Denise creates her colorful illustrations by pouring colored paper pulp through hand-cut stencils. She lives in Toledo, Ohio.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/denise...
http://www.simonandschuster.com/autho...

Reviews

[Emily Oyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denise Fleming has a very intriguing way of portraying her work through her images, which is exactly what she does with her book Alphabet Under Construction. Although this book has very little text, she makes sure her pictures tell her story for her. She used very vivid images to keep young and beginning readers interested. These images are very bright and colorful to keep the reader fascinated. The images in her book are not the ordinary images used by most authors. Fleming has her one sense of style that when her images are displayed, people know whose images they are. The artwork has so many different elements that it makes you want to stare at the picture more to get exactly what the image is trying to say. The primary goal of this book is teaching kids the alphabet; in doing so the text contains uses of different verbs showing how you can construct a certain letter. Fleming allows a very unique and different learning experience for beginning readers and writers to help them remember the mnemonic devices and how those verbs can be used. There are multiple lessons that can be taken out of this book and is a great resource when teaching children about the alphabet. I would highly recommend this book for students who are just beginning to read and are willing to learn about the alphabet. I believe students will be very willing to learn because of her intriguing images and how she displays her art throughout her book.

[Curtis Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming is a fun alternative to the "A is for Apple" alphabet book. A little mouse constructs each letter of the alphabet. "Mouse airbrushes the A, buttons the B, carves the C..." and so on. I like that each letter is represented by an action verb rather than a noun. Some of the verbs, though, may be a bit tough for a preschool age child to understand. Each illustration really focuses on the letter being showcased, but I find the color palette to be drab making the images unrememberable. The theme of the book is really fun, but I'm sure better ABC book are out there.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate this book because the pages have come loose from the binding, even though it's not a book we've looked at that often. It's an average ABC book~~absolutely no plot to keep a child interested. It does have lots of good verbs, though: "Roll the R, Saw the S"

[Sarah Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Nonfiction- Concept book
Awards: N/A
Source: Townsend Memorial
Audience: Pre-K - 2nd
What is the topic of the book? The topic of this book is the alphabet. It is used as a concept book because it teaches students their ABC’s in a fun way. This book also presents students with new vocabulary that helps them to describe actions, feelings, and textures.
How is the topic presented in a child-friendly way? This topic is presented in a child-friendly way by having fun illustrations and telling a story about “mouse.”
What type of text features are available in this book? There are not any text features such as subheadings or table of contents within this book. However, each page is dedicated to its own letter in the alphabet so I suppose that the letters can be considered subheadings.
How and when could this book be used with children? This book could be used for independent reading for a child who is trying to advance their vocabulary and gain better reading skills.

[Dara Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for a fun and simple introduction to the letters of the alphabet. This book illustrates a mouse "building" the letters of the alphabet, accompanying verbs that start with the letter being taught to add an extra learning opportunity. The illustrations are created with abrasive colors and a sense of chaos to match the outlandish idea of a mouse constructing these letters in unique ways. (Ex: the mouse vacuuming the letter "V")

I love the simple but creative idea of a mouse helping teach the reader the alphabet while "building" the letters onto the page. With each turn of the page, the reader discovers the next letter of the alphabet in order along with a verb and a description of the verb in action drawn onto the page. For those who know the alphabet and can expect what letter comes next like myself, it is still fun to see what verb will be attached to the letter and how the mouse is going to construct it.

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book many many years ago and still remember it from an alphabet curriculum that I developed....however, rereading it today, I wasn't as impressed with what I remembered.

Still an OK offering of a mouse and his tools fixing up the alphabet...so the alphabet is represented by an action the mouse does on the letter that actual starts with that letter (action/verb)...for example saws the S, tiles the T....so in all actuality the book is one long sentence.

The last page shows a calendar with all the spaces marked off as he completed each task...a great way to talk about calendars and "to do" lists.

NOTE: Some of the entries don't seem to fit the toolbox fix-it motiff...such as ices the I, judges the J

Pair with -- Old MacDonald Had a Woodshop / by Lisa Shulman

For more action/verb alphabet fun...try Chris Van Allsburg's The Z was Zapped.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awards the book has received: N/a
Appropriate grade level: PreK-K
Original summary: An artist's approach to introducing the alphabet "Mouse airbrushes the A,
buttons the B, carves the C . . ." Mouse is hard at work constructing each letter of the alphabet. He dyes the D, erases the E, and folds the F. Mouse works his way right through to Z, constructing an alphabet that surpasses even the wildest artistic imagination.
Original review: This book is wonderful for teaching young kids the alphabet. They get a clear example for each letter in the alphabet.
1-2 possible in-class uses: Teaching the alphabet.

[Jhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is offers a very entertaining way of portraying the alphabet. This book is a more creative alternative to learn the alphabet, rather than “Z is for Zebra”. On each page, a tiny mouse works on each letter of the alphabet. Each letter is represented by an act of construction to the each letter. This book has amazing illustrations to go with each letter of the alphabet that show to the mouse working hard on each letter of the alphabet. I would recommend this book to children in preschool and kindergarten. Younger children would be engaged in the illustrations and try to figure out what the little mouse is going to do next.

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Summary: This book goes through each letter of the alphabet. Mouse does something new to each letter using a word that starts with that particular letter!

Review: This book is adorable and the pictures are wonderful. I would love to have this book in my classroom library in a kindergarten setting.

As for an activity to do with a book like this; I would have my students take the first letter of their names and make mouse do some other construction on that letter.
Another activity would be to have each child have a letter from the book and recreate the a picture of the construction that mouse has done to that letter.

[Blaire Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denise Fleming did a wonderful job with this book. The Alphabet Under Construction tells the story of a mouse and how he constructs each letter of the alphabet. Each page is vibrant and big and incorporates objects/words that start with a specified letter. Denise uses bright colors which makes the story super fun and interesting to look at. While words are minimal the pictures definitely do well in telling the story. The mouse is illustrated working hard to bring this alphabet together and you can see it on every page. I really liked how at the end she drew a calendar that was written by the mouse and it shows the progress he made and the relief he got once he was finally done.

[Shana Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alphabet Under Construction, a story by Denise Fleming, tells the simple story of a mouse "fixing up" the alphabet. He starts by airbrushing the letter A, adding buttons to the letter B, carving the letter C, and goes all the way through the alphabet until the letter Z. The book has illustrations that will keep children interested and wonder what happens next. This book is a great way to introduce the alphabet and introduce verbs that start with each letter. The book does not have much text, but the colorful pictures make the book easy to follow along with. I think this book would be great to add to a lesson plan with students "constructing" their own letters of the alphabet.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Physical and creative, that's Denise Fleming's way of providing an alphabet book.

Another way to describe her approach here is hands-on , as in the fancy term kinesthetic.

So this book teachers letter recognition with the approach of MAKING the letters, Mouse physically making them, through gluing and kinking and measuring.

Utterly brilliant!

Not surprising, given that no less than Denise Fleming has conceptualized, written, and illustrated this picture book for preschoolers.

Not surprising, but this book is still delightfully full of surprises. Of course, I give this title FIVE STARS.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following a tiny mouse as he constructs the alphabet, this book is full of color and goes through the alphabet from A to Z. The book is a great alternative to the usual ABC book because instead of using fruit the book uses different kinds of construction on the alphabet. The book does not have too much text but the books illustrations tell most of the story. This book would be a great book to have on the classroom shelves because students could easily learn about the alphabet and read aloud following the little mouse constructing the alphabet.

[Kalynne]

Date: 04.15.24
Attendees 50
Theme: Construction
Introduction and announcements: My Hand Say Hello

Book one: Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming

Song/rhyme/game one: Here’s a House

Book two: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Song/rhyme/game two: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill

Book three: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

Song/ rhyme/ game three: Johnny Had One Hammer

Activity: Giant Lego free play

[Jenna Argast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alphabet Under Construction is an ABC book by Denise Fleming. This book is about a mouse who uses different ways of construction to write the letters of the alphabet. For Example, A is airbrushed and C is carved. The illustrations were very bright; the colors yellow and green were incorporated a lot in this book. This book can help students learn the ABCs very easily. I would recommend this for a very young age group such as kindergarten.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alphabet Under Construction by Denise Fleming
This is a fun and entertaining book that will help teach your young one the entire alphabet. The Alphabet Under Construction follows a mouse around as he erases, glues, judges, x-rays and so on the alphabet letters. These whimsical, colorful, and creative illustrations will keep you wanting to see what’s next. I think this will be a great book for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because each page has a letter and the mouse is building each letter of the alphabet. I like how each sentence has a word that starts with the letter that is being built, I found it very creative. The pictures are cute and the letters are bold and the main focus. I would use this book in teaching my children about letters in the alphabet and a word that is associated with each letter.

[Isabel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denise Fleming’s Alphabet Under Construction is a great choice for introducing and teaching the alphabet to very young children ages 0-5 years. It features a mouse that busies itself fixing up a letter of the alphabet on each page. Big, bright illustrations and minimal text allow children to really focus on each letter, page by page. Fun and adventurous, it can easily be implemented into a baby/toddler or preschool storytime or read to a child individually.

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cute approach to the ABCs-for every letter. The mouse constucts the letter in a method that starts with that letter (e.g., Airbrushing letter A, Buttoning letter B,...). I especially loved the Work Schedule at the end! Very reminiscent of a manufacturing floor work schedule with planning ahead and notes to order more supplies. What a cool way to celebrate manual work, artistry, and craftsmanship.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little mouse who is hard at work constructing alphabet letters (leveling the L, measuring the M, nailing the N) is charming and the kids laughed at these amusing illustrations.

This is an ABC concept book so there’s not much of a story.

Good for kids who are learning their alphabet and who like mice, construction, and humor.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Mouse is busily constructing the alphabet. He’s airbrushing the A, buttoning the B, and carving the C.

Young readers will have fun discovering how Little Mouse creates each of the letters of the alphabet. Bright illustrations fill the pages of this picture book and help young readers recognize and learn the names of each of the letters of the alphabet.

Recommended.

[Mary Greer Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome introduction into language and literacy book on the alphabets. The bright colors jump off the pages as the alphabets are being airbrushed, dyed, nailed, and zipped in descriptions of each letter for young learners. A good and very attractive read to get young children engaged and discussing the letters of the alphabets.

[Kimberly Medley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very colorful and uses many designs and patterns for each letter. Alphabet Under Construction can introduce alphabet knowledge to children and increase their vocabulary. An activity with this book that teachers could utilize would be having the children see what other same letter words could represent that letter. For example, the letter C we would cook the C.

[Hailey Crater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright 2002
Concept
Theme: Connecting the alphabet with construction

My favorite parts of this book was when the author would creatively illustrate each picture towards the text, which made the listener more engaged in the book. In my future classroom, I will use this book to introduce my students to the construction field and how it relates towards our everyday lives.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another cute book for a younger child learning their letters. The illustrations in this book are also interesting because each letter has an object matching the letter painted onto the page. The mouse is the main character and each page he is building a letter in the alphabet. The last page is too cute because he’s tired after literally constructing 26 letters.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mouse constructs each letter of the alphabet with a different crafty approach: from tiling to quilting and sculpture to baking.

A cute ABC book with a focus on crafts; and it introduces some words children might not be familiar with. Good storytime option for 3-5 year olds.

Storytime:
Alphabet
Making Things

[Amanda Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this story isn’t a favorite and doesn’t really have a plot, the mouse building the alphabet is a fun way for kids to learn the alphabet. The way the author writes the story “nails the N, okays the O” etc. makes it a fun read aloud book.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just looking at the front matter pages and full book jacket made me smile. This is one of the cutest books ever. I loved this book a lot. It’s a unique approach to presenting the alphabet and great for kids to learn from. I highly recommend this book; it will leave you smiling and happy as can be.

[Rebecca Coelho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a more basic alphabet book with few words, but also very niche, in a good way. My child brought this home from library from school and my husband, who works in construction, was amused reading it. I feel this a good book for handy dads to read to their younger children.

[Trenea Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alphabet under construction is a creative way to read about the alphabet to children. This book is very colorful and not wordy perfect to read to young children. This book is perfect when teaching children about the alphabet and words that begin with different letters in the alphabet.