What do you think?
Rate this book
Quilt Alphabet
From apples to cows, kettles to scarecrows, warm country images abound in this delightful alphabet poem.
48 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 22, 2017
Text: 2 stars
Illustrations: 3 stars
I'm not sure that riddles written as poems are the best way to teach the alphabet. The word for each letter is not printed anywhere on the page, forcing children to guess what it is, based on the picture and poem. Some of them are not obvious, such as the spread for "Night," which shows a house, car, and trees. Fortunately, all the words are listed on the last page, because I could not guess X, Y, or Z on my own. Turns out X is X-stitch, which is supposed to mean cross-stitch; how many pre-schoolers know what that is? Also, the rhyme scheme is inconsistent.
The illustrations vary widely in quality. The rooster looks downright odd and the kettle is too dark to make out, while the jack o'lanterns are superb and the basket of eggs is lovely. I'm not clear what the purpose of the quilted look of the letters is, other than an attempt to distinguish this book from many other cozy-type alphabet books for children. But most of the paintings don't look like quilt squares, so that motif is inconsistent.
Illustrations: 3 stars
I'm not sure that riddles written as poems are the best way to teach the alphabet. The word for each letter is not printed anywhere on the page, forcing children to guess what it is, based on the picture and poem. Some of them are not obvious, such as the spread for "Night," which shows a house, car, and trees. Fortunately, all the words are listed on the last page, because I could not guess X, Y, or Z on my own. Turns out X is X-stitch, which is supposed to mean cross-stitch; how many pre-schoolers know what that is? Also, the rhyme scheme is inconsistent.
The illustrations vary widely in quality. The rooster looks downright odd and the kettle is too dark to make out, while the jack o'lanterns are superb and the basket of eggs is lovely. I'm not clear what the purpose of the quilted look of the letters is, other than an attempt to distinguish this book from many other cozy-type alphabet books for children. But most of the paintings don't look like quilt squares, so that motif is inconsistent.
August 31, 2018
Nice poems and pictures.
February 21, 2011
This was really to abstract to hold a child's attention. I would recommend getting a different book for working on the alphabet.
March 14, 2023
I enjoyed this ABC picture book with most of the letters having a double page illustration. Each of the letters is illustrated in a quilt block format. The text for each letter is a four stanza rhyming poem. If one were doing a story time an individual and appropriate poem probably could be found here. Ransome’s illustrations are large, with deep colors and usually one item subject in a setting.
February 12, 2017
Title: Quilt Alphabet
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Genre: Alphabet Book, Poetry Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Poetry, Rhyme
Opening line/sentence: “Red, green, and golden hues”
Brief Book Summary:
Not your traditional sing song repetition of the alphabet, Quilt Alphabet uses poetry, illustrations, and a fabric square of each letter to entice the reader to discover the word for the everyday object being described. This book uses short rhyming sets and bold, detailed illustrations to provide clues to the reader as they hear new vocabulary and see new images to describe objects they are familiar with. The guessing game, rhyming language, and inventive take on the traditional alphabet book will draw both children and parents in.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Just when you think ideas for alphabet books have been exhausted, along comes a fresh approach. This beautifully illustrated book provides paintings and text that can be used to stretch any child's vocabulary and appreciation for everyday objects. Approaching the alphabet as if it were a quilt, each letter includes four short rhyming lines of poetry, which enhance the illustrations. The focus is on the natural world and everyday objects in a child's world--a chance to look at ordinary objects from, perhaps, a different viewpoint. The object that is tied to each letter is not always so obvious. This unusual approach lends itself to this book being read and extended over and over, and of course, becoming a favorite.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Ellen Mandel (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2001 (Vol. 98, No. 1))
Boxed into a quilt like square, each letter of the alphabet begins a word that is the subject of a rhyming riddle, with a fetching illustration offering a visual clue. For example, Macintosh, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith apples, strewn across a checked tablecloth, colorfully declare apple to be the answer to the letter A riddle. Z is the most demanding, showing a rural scene with a winding, "zigzag," road. The four-line riddles, sometimes quite lyrical, are deceivingly simple and introduce some fairly sophisticated vocabulary. Thus, the lush illustrations, worked in thickly applied luminous colors, provide welcome hints. An inviting sampler of scenes and a challenging alphabet primer.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
As stated by the two professional reviews, Quilt Alphabet takes an inventive twist to learning the alphabet. This book provides challenging vocabulary, enticing rhyme schemes, and visual clues through bold illustrations. The everyday objects described in atypical ways makes the book challenging yet accomplishable for young readers. Reviewers agree, this book leads to new learning and thinking about not only the alphabet but also the world around us.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The format of this book follows the predictable and traditional A-Z reading of the alphabet, but uses rhyme schemes, unique vocabulary, and eye catching illustrations to create opportunities for young child to expand the ways they think about words and concepts. The unique and atypical vocabulary used in conjunction with rhyming poetry allows for children to broaden their understanding of language and add to their library of knowledge. The guessing game format to the book, only telling the answers in the back, makes readers active participants in discovering what word is paired with the quilted letter on the page. This is a challenging book for young readers but made easier based on the assisting literary elements.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
There are many words that are possible to show each letter of the alphabet. After reading Quilt Alphabet, students can choose the letter of their name or any letter they want, and pick a different image/word to represent that letter. For example, my name starts with the letter “t” and I choose the word turtle to represent “t”. Students will then draw their image, their letter, and write a four-line rhyming poem that provides clues to what their word is. When students are done, the teacher can make a classroom version of Quilt Alphabet that is available for everyone to read.
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Genre: Alphabet Book, Poetry Book
Theme(s): Alphabet, Poetry, Rhyme
Opening line/sentence: “Red, green, and golden hues”
Brief Book Summary:
Not your traditional sing song repetition of the alphabet, Quilt Alphabet uses poetry, illustrations, and a fabric square of each letter to entice the reader to discover the word for the everyday object being described. This book uses short rhyming sets and bold, detailed illustrations to provide clues to the reader as they hear new vocabulary and see new images to describe objects they are familiar with. The guessing game, rhyming language, and inventive take on the traditional alphabet book will draw both children and parents in.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Just when you think ideas for alphabet books have been exhausted, along comes a fresh approach. This beautifully illustrated book provides paintings and text that can be used to stretch any child's vocabulary and appreciation for everyday objects. Approaching the alphabet as if it were a quilt, each letter includes four short rhyming lines of poetry, which enhance the illustrations. The focus is on the natural world and everyday objects in a child's world--a chance to look at ordinary objects from, perhaps, a different viewpoint. The object that is tied to each letter is not always so obvious. This unusual approach lends itself to this book being read and extended over and over, and of course, becoming a favorite.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Ellen Mandel (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2001 (Vol. 98, No. 1))
Boxed into a quilt like square, each letter of the alphabet begins a word that is the subject of a rhyming riddle, with a fetching illustration offering a visual clue. For example, Macintosh, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith apples, strewn across a checked tablecloth, colorfully declare apple to be the answer to the letter A riddle. Z is the most demanding, showing a rural scene with a winding, "zigzag," road. The four-line riddles, sometimes quite lyrical, are deceivingly simple and introduce some fairly sophisticated vocabulary. Thus, the lush illustrations, worked in thickly applied luminous colors, provide welcome hints. An inviting sampler of scenes and a challenging alphabet primer.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
As stated by the two professional reviews, Quilt Alphabet takes an inventive twist to learning the alphabet. This book provides challenging vocabulary, enticing rhyme schemes, and visual clues through bold illustrations. The everyday objects described in atypical ways makes the book challenging yet accomplishable for young readers. Reviewers agree, this book leads to new learning and thinking about not only the alphabet but also the world around us.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The format of this book follows the predictable and traditional A-Z reading of the alphabet, but uses rhyme schemes, unique vocabulary, and eye catching illustrations to create opportunities for young child to expand the ways they think about words and concepts. The unique and atypical vocabulary used in conjunction with rhyming poetry allows for children to broaden their understanding of language and add to their library of knowledge. The guessing game format to the book, only telling the answers in the back, makes readers active participants in discovering what word is paired with the quilted letter on the page. This is a challenging book for young readers but made easier based on the assisting literary elements.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
There are many words that are possible to show each letter of the alphabet. After reading Quilt Alphabet, students can choose the letter of their name or any letter they want, and pick a different image/word to represent that letter. For example, my name starts with the letter “t” and I choose the word turtle to represent “t”. Students will then draw their image, their letter, and write a four-line rhyming poem that provides clues to what their word is. When students are done, the teacher can make a classroom version of Quilt Alphabet that is available for everyone to read.
February 21, 2021
Disappointing as a quilting book, there is basically nothing quilting about it except the way the letters are drawn.
December 18, 2016
Reading Level: 2.3
Summary: This ABC book appeals to children when it combines bright, folk art paintings and rhythmic poems. Along with each painting is a rhyming verse which describes an object beginning with that letter of the alphabet. Children will be delighted to guess the word matching each letter throughout the book. Each letter has a poem. Every poem is a clue. The answers are at the back of the book.
Characteristics that support this genre: Poetry and rhymes, ABC recognition
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits: Sentence fluency - Students can choose a letter from the book, read the poem that goes with the letter and then create their own version of the poem in 20 words or less. Word choice - Students are asked to create a poem from an object in the book, using nonsense words and their creativity.
Classroom Integration/Mini-lessons/Content Connections: Art - Students create a poster which includes their poem and draw illustrations to go with it. Students make a quilt with 26 squares for each letter of the alphabet. This activity is designed as a family project. Each student chooses a letter and designs their 9"x 9" square. All of the squares are then put together to create an alphabet quilt made by the class.
Summary: This ABC book appeals to children when it combines bright, folk art paintings and rhythmic poems. Along with each painting is a rhyming verse which describes an object beginning with that letter of the alphabet. Children will be delighted to guess the word matching each letter throughout the book. Each letter has a poem. Every poem is a clue. The answers are at the back of the book.
Characteristics that support this genre: Poetry and rhymes, ABC recognition
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits: Sentence fluency - Students can choose a letter from the book, read the poem that goes with the letter and then create their own version of the poem in 20 words or less. Word choice - Students are asked to create a poem from an object in the book, using nonsense words and their creativity.
Classroom Integration/Mini-lessons/Content Connections: Art - Students create a poster which includes their poem and draw illustrations to go with it. Students make a quilt with 26 squares for each letter of the alphabet. This activity is designed as a family project. Each student chooses a letter and designs their 9"x 9" square. All of the squares are then put together to create an alphabet quilt made by the class.
July 6, 2015
I dived in to read this book without fully investigating what it was all about, expecting the illustrations would be created like a patchwork quilt. But it's not. The illustrations are, in fact, quite beautifully painted with rich colours of the world around us. The letter on each page (upper case only) is painted as a patchwork design. I kind of wished that some part of the book had actually been stitched, which is what I hoped for when I saw the title. I recovered somewhat from my disappointed when I realised what the clever concept was which was behind the book. Each letter stands for a word which is depicted in the picture, but the word itself isn't mentioned in the accompanying four lines of rhyming text, mini poems often beautifully composed. You will find the words themselves at the back of the book. I had to go back and read it several more times to fully appreciate the loveliness of the book and its idea. Still wish that something had been stitched though.
May 26, 2015
This is a beautiful book. It has beautiful poems that rhyme and gorgeous illustrations that (apart from Y are reasonably easy for kids (and adults) to recognize.
For beauty, 4 stars. However it's an alphabet book. It's aimed at children just learning their letters and starting to be interested in books and words.
So I hoped for fairly simple language that my daughter who is an early reader could have a go at.
Not a chance. Beautiful flowing flowery language but completely incomprehensible to my 5 year old. It is so far beyond her! I like to encourage her but this book didn't give her a chance. So I read it and she asked the meaning of almost every word - so I guess that was good although I doubt she will find much use for many of the words even if she remembers them.
Beautiful book - more of an illustrated poetry book than a kids alphabet book though!
For beauty, 4 stars. However it's an alphabet book. It's aimed at children just learning their letters and starting to be interested in books and words.
So I hoped for fairly simple language that my daughter who is an early reader could have a go at.
Not a chance. Beautiful flowing flowery language but completely incomprehensible to my 5 year old. It is so far beyond her! I like to encourage her but this book didn't give her a chance. So I read it and she asked the meaning of almost every word - so I guess that was good although I doubt she will find much use for many of the words even if she remembers them.
Beautiful book - more of an illustrated poetry book than a kids alphabet book though!
September 26, 2011
"Quilt Alphabet" by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome is a great ABC book to read to kindergarten students. The book includes beyond great painted illustrations of objects to go along with each letter, such as J for jack-o-lantern, a for apple, d for dolls, etc. The book rhymes, and although the object is illustrated, it is never stated what the letter actually stands for, making it a puzzle and game for students to focus on the pictures, and guess the objects throughout the book. Overall, a very fun, well-illustrated, ABC book for children.
January 18, 2013
Wonderfully done. The illustrations are bright and descriptive. Each letter has a poem that gives hints about the object being named by the letter. Older children will enjoy the book fully, but younger children will enjoy the illustrations.
October 23, 2014
I like this clever book. It's an alphabet book with a poem for each letter referring to a clue (revealed at the end of the book) about a word starting with that letter. The illustrations are of a quilted letter and a scene from a farm in autumn. Lovely!
March 19, 2016
Some of the words in this are too hard for a kid learning the alphabet, and X-Stitch is not an acceptable example of words that begin with X.
It's also really not an attention grabber.
I really liked the illustrations, though.
It's also really not an attention grabber.
I really liked the illustrations, though.
November 20, 2010
Beautiful paintings/illustrations--still-life like. For each letter, a small poem describes but does not name the object. An interesting twist on the usual alphabet book format.
December 7, 2016
Each letter has a quilt block of the letter and a rhyme. But, the word that the rhyme is talking about isn't on the page at all. There's a page at the end showing what each letter stood for.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews