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Jerry Pallotta's Alphabet Books
The Furry Animal Alphabet Book
This fact-filled text with richly-detailed illustrations introduces not only the alphabet but also the wonders of the mammal world.
What mammal jumps ten feet high to avoid hungry lions?
What monkey almost always gives birth to twins?
What mammal has a nose so large that it has to be moved out the way just to eat?
What mammal has eyes that are bigger than its brain?
Jerry Pallotta and Edgar Stewart deliver an intriguing book which will fascinate young children.
What mammal jumps ten feet high to avoid hungry lions?
What monkey almost always gives birth to twins?
What mammal has a nose so large that it has to be moved out the way just to eat?
What mammal has eyes that are bigger than its brain?
Jerry Pallotta and Edgar Stewart deliver an intriguing book which will fascinate young children.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1990
5 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
269 books118 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 1, 2023
Jerry Pallotta’s “The Furry Animal Alphabet Book” is one of my favourite childhood books. I forever have his images of musk ox and naked mole rats stored in my consciousness. It was enjoyable reading this book again as an adult. The art is spectacular and there are a lot of unique animals mentioned. Of course, the last two pages of the book are my favourite. I would highly recommend this book for all children.
April 6, 2017
Another wonderful Pallotta alphabet book that allows the reader to search many different kind of mammals thus specializing the group to those that are furry. As a result readers get to meet some old possible favorites while at the same time getting to meet some possible new favorites including those with fun names that some young readers may need help with when reading this particular book.
Like his other books, the author uses short sentenced paragraphs that are sometimes fun and sometimes educational to reach his readers as he introduces them to these furries. His combination of both the more common animals and those that are lesser known as well as language use for X gives readers a chance to enjoy those species that aren't normally found in children-oriented alphabet books thus enlarging one's introduction to nature.
All in all a decent book and a good one for the Pallotta collector or the adult who is wanting to introduce their child(ren) to animals. Although the illustrations aren't as stunning as some of the other books they will still help to captivate the reader as they enter the alphabetical world of furry.
Like his other books, the author uses short sentenced paragraphs that are sometimes fun and sometimes educational to reach his readers as he introduces them to these furries. His combination of both the more common animals and those that are lesser known as well as language use for X gives readers a chance to enjoy those species that aren't normally found in children-oriented alphabet books thus enlarging one's introduction to nature.
All in all a decent book and a good one for the Pallotta collector or the adult who is wanting to introduce their child(ren) to animals. Although the illustrations aren't as stunning as some of the other books they will still help to captivate the reader as they enter the alphabetical world of furry.
September 4, 2022
The Furry Animal Alphabet book is a wonderful book to help introduce children to the alphabet. This book could also be used to reinforce what they already know about the alphabet. This is a great book for children who are in Kindergarten-2nd grade. It has very detailed and colorful illustrations that can help keep children engaged in what they are reading. The children are also able to learn new facts about different animals as well. This book could also connect back to the student's science class. This could help introduce them to what they are learning in their science class about different animals. The Furry Animal Alphabet book is a great addition to any classroom library!
December 10, 2018
1. Appropriate level: Kindergarten-2 grade
2. Summary: This fun fact-filled text with detailed illustrations introduces not only the alphabet but also the interesting and different mammal world. Jerry Pallotta and Edgar Stewart deliver an intriguing book which will fascinate young children.
3.Review: This book is great to get the children attention is learning the alphabet. The facts about different animals will keep them interested. The pictures are clear, easy for the children to differentiate the different animals.
4.In class use: The students and teacher can learn a lot about interesting animals from this book. Ask cool questions like,"What mammal jumps ten feet high to avoid hungry lions?" The realistic pictures will help the students identify what animal is which.
2. Summary: This fun fact-filled text with detailed illustrations introduces not only the alphabet but also the interesting and different mammal world. Jerry Pallotta and Edgar Stewart deliver an intriguing book which will fascinate young children.
3.Review: This book is great to get the children attention is learning the alphabet. The facts about different animals will keep them interested. The pictures are clear, easy for the children to differentiate the different animals.
4.In class use: The students and teacher can learn a lot about interesting animals from this book. Ask cool questions like,"What mammal jumps ten feet high to avoid hungry lions?" The realistic pictures will help the students identify what animal is which.
January 13, 2021
Unnecessary. Unlike many of Pallotta's other books, there's not much information that fits into patterns or is memorable; it's pretty much trivia. As usual, no extra matter. Not a bad book... until the end, when he passes judgement on the naked mole rat for being "ugly."
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November 17, 2025This is a good book to read to little ones, although there is a curse word in the book. That was the only part of the book I didn't like, the students that I was reading to, though couldn't read so I skipped over the word like it was nothing.
June 7, 2017
Mommy read this to me while Daddy listened along.
July 4, 2019
I love the art. And there were a lot of interesting animals in this.
November 30, 2019
This is good for fifth graders, especially when researching animals.
July 14, 2022
One of my favorites. Lots of fun facts and animals you haven't heard of and the ending is a hoot.
May 17, 2024
This is a great book. It has animals I have never heard of. This is a great learning book.
August 24, 2024
Voice of the writer is fun. There were many animals I had not heard of and lots of things I didn't know. What a fun book!
March 24, 2019
This is the best picture book.
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March 24, 2016Picture book #10
This book is an alphabet book about mammals with fur. Most of the animals are exotic animals and are a certain breed of an animal. It is not really set up as a story book but does has pictures of all the animals it talks about. It lists the animals and gives some type of information about it.
This book is an alphabet book about mammals with fur. Most of the animals are exotic animals and are a certain breed of an animal. It is not really set up as a story book but does has pictures of all the animals it talks about. It lists the animals and gives some type of information about it.
May 3, 2013
A funny, interesting alphabet book with beautiful artwork. Even grown-ups can enjoy this picture book, and the text is intelligent and not too short - clearly designed for reading aloud.
November 19, 2013
A fun alphabet book that introduces less familiar animals like the Aye-Aye, Ermine, and Springbok.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews