Ape in a Cape: An Alphabet of Odd Animals

by Fritz Eichenberg

A 1953 Caldecott Honor Book 

“The richness of coloring; the strength, action and humor in the drawing; and the original rhyme for each letter make this an alphabet book to treasure.”-- The Horn Book

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Kids, Classics

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1952

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beginning rhyming alphabet book for young kids, but older kids can enjoy the zaniness of these rhymes. The artwork is detailed and interesting from the 50s. I think it’s very lovely. The rhyme is like the title on each page, short and to the point. There is a ‘Nag with a Bag’ and a ‘Pig with a Wig’, which made both children laugh. My niece appreciated ‘Unicorn with a Horn’ best and I enjoyed the ‘Vulture with Culture’.

This is an interesting and fun little book. I think most kids with be entertained by this with some picture. It’s a very quick read. The nephew gave this 5 stars and the niece gave it 4 stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to wnc college library for holding on to this and several other older Caldecott and Newbery books that my city library couldn't. See if your local college will let you browse their PZ Juv shelves.... ;)

This is a hoot.

The rhymes are terrific for preschoolers being read to. And then beginning independent readers can see the Mouse, readily read the word 'mouse' on the page, repeat 'in a' from the pattern learned on earlier pages, sound out 'bl' and readily say 'blouse.' And pretty soon they've read the whole book.

Older children could learn prepositions and could also write (and illustrate) their own entries.

But nevermind the educational value - it's just a kick of a book. The illustrations are such silly fun; I especially giggled at 'Lizard with a wizard.' I hope some day to find Dancing In The Moon: Counting Rhymes.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just arrived in the mail and I have a feeling it will be perused often.

Clever and fun!

Watch my kiddo’s ABC time and other recommended books.

Ages: 2 - 8

Content Considerations: a picture of a wizard and a unicorn.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.

I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book with a... something that rhymes with book.

It's an alphabet book. Not a bad alphabet book, but alphabet books have to be really impressive to impress me. Every page is an animal that starts with that letter of the alphabet, and something about it that rhymes. "Ape in a cape", "Goat in a boat", "Yak with a pack", "Owl on the prowl".

Not terribly interesting. I don't feel that my life has been enriched by reading this book. It's not terrible, but it's not terribly good.

For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd animals is right!

How 'bout an Irish Setter with a letter?



And, who could forget a vulture with culture?



First published in 1952, this book has timeless appeal due to the author's intriguing artwork, and clever rhymes.

[Mely · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something I love about vintage picture books. The nostalgia alone can boost a rating for me. This picture book makes a lovely companion for toddlers who are learning the alphabet. I rather enjoy the rhyming text as well. The illustrations are spot on with the vintage feel. My little one loved learning about these unique animals too.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this alphabet book!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read this book before. I read it to a young student today and we both thoroughly enjoyed the outstanding pictures!

[SamZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

1953 Caldecott Honor - Favorite Illustration: the Lizard with a Wizard. So funny - the wizard is so perfectly illustrated!
This is a fun little alphabet book that has a one sentence rhyme for each page. Great for early readers, the illustrations are lovely and I think still hold up today! Slightly disappointed by the X and Z pages - especially because growing up the S and Z pages were the most important to me!

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1952 "Ape in a Cape," by Fritz Eichenberg was published using simple text and imaginative drawings to illustrate an alphabet book about all sorts of animals. The short, rhyming phrases not only teach children about the 26 letters used in the English language, but help beginning readers learn about the sounds of those letters. The pages are filled with such animals as a carp with a harp, a jay in May and a vulture with culture.

The illustrations are reminiscent of the early 1950s and are not only charming but interesting to look at. Done with pencils, the artwork could easily be displayed in a children's playroom decorated in a retro style. Each picture is done in no more than three or four colors, which are subdued in their tones. The illustrations rightly deserve the Caldecott Honor award they received.

Read more of this review!
http://www.examiner.com/review/review...

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I had never heard of before doing the Caldecott Challenge, this rhyming ABC book won a 1953 Caldecott honor award. I liked the full-page illustrations, though the colors were a little odd and made them look rather creepy and/or possessed. I did love E: Egret in a minuet, Q: Quail on the trail, and Y: Yak with a pack. I agree with another reviewer who said that despite all the cool rhyming animals throughout the book, the author/illustrator kind of crapped out with Z for Zoo. Recommended for ages 1-5, 3 stars.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the rhyme Eichenberg uses for each letter of the alphabet, and I was disappointed to lose it on the last page. My favorite rhymes were “vulture with culture” and “Irish setter with a letter.” The picture of the Irish setter was probably my favorite image in the whole book, mostly because many of the others looked creepy and unsettling to me. In terms of talent, though, the most impressive picture is of that little rabbit holding down the lid over the “fox in a box.” That is a picture that truly speaks a thousand words.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is dated, I enjoyed it. As the subtitle suggests, this book is an alphabet book of animals. The reason I liked this version is that it would stretch the vocabulary of children. I doubt children reading alphabet books would all know the words and animals in this book: carp, egret, minuet, despair, prowl. The illustrations are odd, but I enjoyed them. They are different, but not off putting. Their uniqueness makes this book appealing.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full page illustrations of animals doing things that rhyme with their name (i.e ape in a cape). My favorite letters were I and L (Irish setter with a letter; Lizard with a wizard). Text introduces some new vocabulary (i.e. carp, egret, minuet etc). My only gripe is that the author threw in the towel on Z (for zoo). Great old-timey alphabet book.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rhyming ABC. The pictures are sort of old fashioned (and in my opinion, a little creepy, the unicorn has red eyes and he looks completely evil to me). The littlest kids have enjoyed the discovery of the rhymes (goat in a boat, it rhymes!). The vocabulary is amazing though and it's certainly worth it to expand those vocabularies!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun guessing-game book, incorporating not only the alphabet but rhyming and often ridiculous illustrations ("Carp with a harp"), although they are dated; the fact that these concepts would translate easily to a contemporary project demonstrates the value and effectiveness of the book as it is and served well as a predecessor to books that have followed it.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

1953 Caldecott Honor

I'd still use this honor book today if I could find a copy that's not tattered and torn :(

It lends itself to great conversation with the kids, different names for familiar animals, what they're doing, rhyming....but I dislike that Z is "zoo" instead of an animal; it's the only letter not an animal and it bothers me.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, early Caldecott honor book. Each page features an illustration, a letter of the alphabet and an animal and a rhyme... Examples include Bear in Despair, Quail on the Trail, Unicorn with a Horn, and Vulture with Culture. The illustrations are great. My 6 year old enjoyed reading many of the pages to me.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations of this book were eye catching but downright creepy at times. I found this book more threatening than entertaining, like I was reading the set up for some horror movie. Not quite what the author intended. Does anyone else find the tone of this book disturbing?

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor Award Winning picture book. Yet another alphabet book, in this case an old one who's art is showing it's age though it is still okay. The text is more clever than most, perhaps a bit too clever. Not bad, but not great.

[Gabriella Bumbaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational Nonfiction
Grade Range: K-1
Review:
This is a great educational book for students who are practicing their letters/alphabet and rhyming. It is a fun interesting way to learn about animals that start with each letter of the alphabet! Younger children will love this book!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book goes through the alphabet with each letter introducing a different animal. Then each animal is rhymed with the last word in the short sentence. Ape in a cape! There are many opportunities for a child to make up his or her own rhymes!

[Maria Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

• 1953 Caldecott Honor Book •

Nice little rhyming alphabet book. The drawings are good, and I like the use of color which was pretty limited when this was published. Bright red, blue, yellow and black.

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Devin L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute alphabet book that has animals doing some unusual things that aren't in there nature.

[Cosette]

I suggest publishing an updated version. The "Bear in Despair" looks more like "Bear is dabbing" but then... the rhyme would be all off. Hmm...

[Kary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the vintage illustrations - this book was originally published in the 1950s.

[Seema Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tale about the alphabet with fabulous midcentury illustrations and funny animal scenarios.

[Chui Ying · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this alphabet book introduces a series of "odd" uncommon animals that may not be familiar to a young reader. Through the use of rhyme, it requires readers to have a second think about what they see in the pages. I really love the illustrations - without having to use a variety of bright colours, the muted shading conveys a sense of timelessness and elegance. This is a book to be kept and treasured.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and engaging book; an animal for each letter with a rhyme, and a fantastically detailed illustration for each. Kids would have a lot of fun with the silly rhymes and the odd juxtapositions of the illustrations.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The auhor goes through an enjoyable rhyming alphabet with animals. Highly creative ideas, i.e. Irish Setter with a letter. I love the old timey pictures. My favorites are the goat in a boat and the vulture with culture. :D