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Jerry Pallotta's Alphabet Books
The Bird Alphabet Book
Ready to go birding?
Quick! Can you think of a bird whose name begins with X? Jerry Pallotta found one, and also birds for Q and Z and all the other letters of the alphabet.
But this isn't a simple "A is for Atlantic Puffin" kind of alphabet book. Find out where these birds live, how they survive, and the unique qualities that make them interesting.
Full of facts and fun, this book is sure to intrigue children with its array of feathered friends, from the familiar to the exotic. Take a brilliant tour of the bird world.
Quick! Can you think of a bird whose name begins with X? Jerry Pallotta found one, and also birds for Q and Z and all the other letters of the alphabet.
But this isn't a simple "A is for Atlantic Puffin" kind of alphabet book. Find out where these birds live, how they survive, and the unique qualities that make them interesting.
Full of facts and fun, this book is sure to intrigue children with its array of feathered friends, from the familiar to the exotic. Take a brilliant tour of the bird world.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
121 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
261 books113 followersMy full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta but my mom always called me "Jerry". I was born on March 26, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. My mom's name is Mary, and she came from a family of ten children. My dad's name is Joe, and he came from a family of five children. My grandparents were immigrants of Italian descent. I have the nicest parents in the world. They have always been unselfish and ready to help me, even today. I have four brothers and two sisters: Joey, David, Andrew, Danny, Cindy and Mickey. I have seventy-two first cousins. When I was growing up, there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
My family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when I was young. I went to elementary school at Mt. Trinity Academy, not far from where my publisher is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. I never wrote a book in elementary school, and we never kept journals. In the neighborhood where I grew up, almost every family had seven to nine children. I guess that you could say that there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I went to high school at Boston College High School, a Jesuit all-boys school in downtown Boston. The priests and other teachers were really wonderful. I played football and ran track. I had a great high school experience and I think later it made my studies in college much easier. My sons Neil and Eric graduated from Boston College High School in 2001 and 2003. Neil was named after a teacher I had, Fr. Neil Callahan, S.J. I never wrote a book in high school, and I never wrote for the school newspaper. I was too shy and was afraid of what other kids would think.
After high school I went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. I majored in business, a subject that would help me later in life when I decided to publish my first book. At Georgetown, I met my wife, Linda. In college I was an average student and was captain of the Georgetown University Rugby Team. I never wrote for the college newspaper, and I never imaged writing books. A couple of years later, Linda and I got married and I started to work at an insurance company in Boston. During the first six years of being married, we had four kids. It seemed like there were...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
Today, we spend a lot of time with my 31 nieces and nephews...again...KIDS EVERYWHERE!
I learned valuable skills while talking to people, selling insurance and collecting money. When I came home from work, Linda would ask me to "read to the kids!" I loved reading to my kids and I learned to appreciate children's books. The first few books that we bought were alphabet books and counting books. "A" was always for Apple and "Z" was always for Zebra. One day I decided, "Hey, I can do this!" I had an idea. I would write an alphabet book about the Atlantic Ocean. I spent every summer at Peggotty Beach in Scituate, Massachusetts. I have great memories of lobstering, fishing, mossing, clamming and rowing in my dory.
My first book was written in 1985 when I was 32 years old. I came up with the idea, wrote it, designed it, researched it, edited it and my cousin, Frank Mazzola, Jr. illustrated it. I published it myself under the name of Peggotty Beach Books. What fun! It was first printed on July 7, 1986. I'll never forget that day. The book eventually became the #1 best selling book at the New England Aquarium. I was afraid that only my mother would like it. Teachers and kids told me they really liked my book.
While speaking in schools, teachers also told me they were looking for simple non-fiction nature books. It gave me the confidence to write more. My next book, "The Icky Bug Alphabet Book", has sold more than 1 million copies. My third book, "The Bird Alphabet Book" was voted one of the best books of the year by Birders World Magazine. I now have over twenty alphabet books. My goal has always been to write interesting, fact-filled, fun to read, beautifully illustrated color children's books. Thank you to all my illustrators: Ralph Masiello, Frank Mazzola, Jr., Rob Bolster, Edgar Stewart, Leslie
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 16, 2019
A great book for primary school children to learn about common and not-so-common birds (as well as other flying animals)! I love Jerry Pallotta's sense of humour throughout the book.
August 19, 2019
Very nice paintings of birds by Edgar Stewart. A good selection of birds to showcase.
October 6, 2013
A fun ABC book about birds. My 5 year old and I were predicting ahead of time some of the birds we thought would be in it. She was sure hummingbirds and eagles. I said probably penguin. She was so thrilled to be right, especially about hummingbirds which she loves. I had never heard of an umbrellabird and found that pretty interesting...we laughed at how it looks like it has an umbrella on its head and a big fluffy scarf around its neck. She was very surprised to read about the crocodile bird and worried that the croc would eat it. She giggled and giggled at the blue footed booby and we both giggled at the bat ...that isn't a bird. Well written and entertaining.
May 11, 2019
Pallotta has done a number of these alphabet books and continues to do so even in 2019. With any of these multi titled series, some titles are better than others. This one copyrighted in 1986 holds up well as the subject is birds which is a rather non changing topic. Each bird and yes there is one for x, is giver a short sentence which contains a fact relating to their species. Spoonbills which are quite charming I think do not develop that distinctive spoon shaped bill until they are adult birds.
The bird paintings done by Edgar Stewart are wonderfully detailed adding to a long time significance for this title.
The bird paintings done by Edgar Stewart are wonderfully detailed adding to a long time significance for this title.
October 22, 2024
What a great, fun way to learn the alphabet and to learn about common and not so common birds and a mammal that can fly; a bat. The detailed illustrations done by Edgar Stewart, are simply beautiful, and Jerry Pallotta's explanations were just the right amount of information and humor for adults and children to enjoy. Learning about the Crocodile Bird and how it would fly into the open mouths of crocodiles and eat the leftover food around it's teeth was both enlightening and funny. How clever!
I recommend this book to young and old.
I recommend this book to young and old.
August 21, 2017
Fun! There are several different alphabet books by Pallotta - can't wait to read more!
June 12, 2019
An A to Z book showcasing different types of birds. A good way to learn the alphabet, and about birds; some that fly, and some that walk or run. Good fun and interesting facts.
October 7, 2021
A fantastic kids’ book. My 3-year old loves this book.
May 24, 2023
Pallotta has detailed illustrations of birds for each letter of the alphabet. Each bird has simple facts about it to accompany the illustration. A nice introduction to several kinds of birds.
October 12, 2008
The Bird Alphabet Book, by Jerry Pallotta , illustrated by Edgar Stewart
Intended age group: 4-8 (Readers as young as 2 would also enjoy this book)
Description: An entertaining and educational alphabet book with beautiful illustrations and interesting facts about common and unusual birds.
This book serves a dual purpose. It teaches letters and reinforces the sounds that letters make at the beginning of words. It also builds vocabulary and contains many interesting and entertaining facts about birds. The detailed and naturalistic watercolors by Edgar Stewart are subtly beautiful but also appealing for young children. Clever tactics are used to hook children’s interest: Under the letter B, bats suddenly make an appearance but then are told to leave, while the distinction between birds and bats is explained. “Get out of this book, you bats! Now that that the bats are gone, let’s find a bird whose name begins with the letter B” and the story proceeds to the Blue-Footed Booby.
The Bird Alphabet book is part of a series of twenty similar alphabet books by Jerry Pallotta (with a variety of illustrators), and I was tempted to look for as many as I can find in the library, simply to learn more about animals, plants, dinosaurs and ecosystems in this pleasing way.
While searching (with some difficulty) through many databases for editorial reviews for this book, I noticed it has made its way onto various school science curricula, and an article by Mary Lickter in School Library Media Activities Monthly suggests activities around Jerry Pallotta’s alphabet books. The books are also recommended in How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, by Esme Raji Codell. It has also been praised by birdwatching magazines, for example Birder’s World, which is the only review quoted on Amazon.com. A Library Talk review on the back of the book praises the author’s ability to make science fun, but I was unable to find the full-text version. Perhaps one reason why it was difficult to find reviews of this book is that Pallotta’s many alphabet books are sometimes reviewed as a unit.
Intended age group: 4-8 (Readers as young as 2 would also enjoy this book)
Description: An entertaining and educational alphabet book with beautiful illustrations and interesting facts about common and unusual birds.
This book serves a dual purpose. It teaches letters and reinforces the sounds that letters make at the beginning of words. It also builds vocabulary and contains many interesting and entertaining facts about birds. The detailed and naturalistic watercolors by Edgar Stewart are subtly beautiful but also appealing for young children. Clever tactics are used to hook children’s interest: Under the letter B, bats suddenly make an appearance but then are told to leave, while the distinction between birds and bats is explained. “Get out of this book, you bats! Now that that the bats are gone, let’s find a bird whose name begins with the letter B” and the story proceeds to the Blue-Footed Booby.
The Bird Alphabet book is part of a series of twenty similar alphabet books by Jerry Pallotta (with a variety of illustrators), and I was tempted to look for as many as I can find in the library, simply to learn more about animals, plants, dinosaurs and ecosystems in this pleasing way.
While searching (with some difficulty) through many databases for editorial reviews for this book, I noticed it has made its way onto various school science curricula, and an article by Mary Lickter in School Library Media Activities Monthly suggests activities around Jerry Pallotta’s alphabet books. The books are also recommended in How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, by Esme Raji Codell. It has also been praised by birdwatching magazines, for example Birder’s World, which is the only review quoted on Amazon.com. A Library Talk review on the back of the book praises the author’s ability to make science fun, but I was unable to find the full-text version. Perhaps one reason why it was difficult to find reviews of this book is that Pallotta’s many alphabet books are sometimes reviewed as a unit.
March 19, 2020
Jerry Pallotta's alphabet books are some of my favorites for young children learning to read: interesting words and explanations for each letter, colorful illustrations, and just the right amount of information for a child who loves getting really into something, whether it's birds or sharks or reptiles or jets. Look for his other books, too, like The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book, The Jet Alphabet Book, The Flower Alphabet Book, The Icky Bug Alphabet Book, The Skull Alphabet Book, and many more.
Read
December 9, 2016The Bird Alphabet Book was a fun colorful book that page by page gave interesting facts, about animals that started with that specific letter. It was a basic alphabet book or at least like one you would think of. The pictures were pretty and all the facts were cool. It also had several animals that I had never heard of which was fun to learn about. I think younger kids would love to look at these pictures, but might have a problem sounding out some of the words. This book would be great in a home library center.
February 15, 2015
Pros:
Birds! And the avian art is stunning.
Cons:
Taxonomic inequalities/inconsistencies. Some entries are denoted specifically (that is, down to the species level), e.g. "N is for Northern Cardinal", while others are denoted generically (i.e., at the genus level), e.g. Oystercatcher and Spoonbill.
Still, birds! Any book that gets kids interested in birds is a good one.
Birds! And the avian art is stunning.
Cons:
Taxonomic inequalities/inconsistencies. Some entries are denoted specifically (that is, down to the species level), e.g. "N is for Northern Cardinal", while others are denoted generically (i.e., at the genus level), e.g. Oystercatcher and Spoonbill.
Still, birds! Any book that gets kids interested in birds is a good one.
December 4, 2007
This is an informational book about birds. I like it because it covers such a broad area of content from just the alaphabet to indepth detail of bird species. It would be a great book to incorporate factual information into writing.
November 7, 2014
I loved this book. Informative and fun with great illustrations. This book can grow with your kids, starting with learning their ABCs and continuing into learning to read and identify birds. Can't wait to get more by this author.
July 15, 2015
This is a great alphabet book that focuses on different types of birds that begin with the letters of the alphabet. I enjoyed this book especially because there are great facts about the birds as well as images so that students can learn much more than just a name.
December 6, 2008
We like these fun alphabet books for young children (my older ones liked them too) that introduce you to all different creatures. Perfect living books for science.
April 21, 2009
Beautiful illustrations of birds. Such exquisite designs that our creator made and such humor. It's fun to learn about the odd and fantastic birds out there... and bats are not birds!
February 21, 2011
At this age, she's not super interested in the text, but I am. The pictures are amazing, and it's educational too! Love.
July 29, 2011
great way to learn about birds and learn the alphabet
December 29, 2012
Beautiful artwork and simple, engaging scientific facts about each bird told on the level of the target audience.
March 18, 2013
I have the same feeling about this one as I did about Pallotta's Fish ABC book.
February 10, 2016
Loved this book. I did an after school National Bird Feeding Month program and we talked about birds and we made bird feeders using stale bread and peanut butter. They loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews