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Jerry Pallotta's Alphabet Books
The Yummy Alphabet Book: Herbs, Spices, and Other Natural Flavors
Welcome to a delectable alphabet adventure. While on your way to "Z is for Zatar," relish the savory Mustard, the aromatic Spearmint, and the spicy Wasabi. You'll also want to try the Kola, the Vanilla, and especially the Xocoatl!
Mouth-watering illustrations and informative, child-appealing text makes this a delicious treat for hungry readers.
Mouth-watering illustrations and informative, child-appealing text makes this a delicious treat for hungry readers.
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Pallotta
269 books117 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 6, 2017
Sadly this has been one of those Pallotta books that I couldn't wait to get my hands on since I love cooking and would love to extend my usage of both spices and herbs. Knowing how well he has done with normally his other alphabet books I couldn't wait to see how he would deliver and although the writing wasn't truly that bad it wasn't that good either.
The book keeps the basic same writing style as the other alphabet books - short, easy to read and full of information in small snippets. Although there were a few things a lot of the flavors are those that many children and even adults would have already been introduced to while a few other foreign tastes seem to still crop up to give the readers something new to hold onto. Unfortunately there was one or two others thought that really didn't get much information, which was disappointing.
What truly threw me off with this book was the illustrations. Unlike his floral alphabet book where the pages are messy but organized this one was sheer messy and cluttered that it was more an attack on the eye than something that would pull the reader in. Although there were map bits, illustration implying or even flags to offer the country where a taste came from there was also illustrations of the plants, sometimes of food, items influenced by the taste such as one would find with product endorsement, elephants and one with a dog that has a collar of eucalyptus leaves around its neck.
Fortunately for the clutter there is an index in the background that gives the reader a chance to be able to read some more about the tastes than what was mentioned and to also know what all the mess was. Unfortunately if you are reading a digital copy it just really makes it awkward and hard to flip between the index and the letter page to see what is being talked of.
Although educational I wouldn't really recommend this book for those who are truly into cooking with natural flavors. It could possible be a good book before teaching your child to cook, especially if they are showing an aptitude for that talent but otherwise I would suggest to keep on looking for another kitchen resource if one can be found.
The book keeps the basic same writing style as the other alphabet books - short, easy to read and full of information in small snippets. Although there were a few things a lot of the flavors are those that many children and even adults would have already been introduced to while a few other foreign tastes seem to still crop up to give the readers something new to hold onto. Unfortunately there was one or two others thought that really didn't get much information, which was disappointing.
What truly threw me off with this book was the illustrations. Unlike his floral alphabet book where the pages are messy but organized this one was sheer messy and cluttered that it was more an attack on the eye than something that would pull the reader in. Although there were map bits, illustration implying or even flags to offer the country where a taste came from there was also illustrations of the plants, sometimes of food, items influenced by the taste such as one would find with product endorsement, elephants and one with a dog that has a collar of eucalyptus leaves around its neck.
Fortunately for the clutter there is an index in the background that gives the reader a chance to be able to read some more about the tastes than what was mentioned and to also know what all the mess was. Unfortunately if you are reading a digital copy it just really makes it awkward and hard to flip between the index and the letter page to see what is being talked of.
Although educational I wouldn't really recommend this book for those who are truly into cooking with natural flavors. It could possible be a good book before teaching your child to cook, especially if they are showing an aptitude for that talent but otherwise I would suggest to keep on looking for another kitchen resource if one can be found.
April 17, 2022
Love this alphabet book for children, but why should they have all the fun. I laughed and I learned. A wonderful book for school age children and the lucky adults who take the time to read it (with them or by yourself).
September 25, 2021
A good book to give new chefs and cooks; it's a crash course on a variety of spices and herbs.
August 2, 2024
Beautiful art, great information; not just for children!
October 14, 2012
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary (3rd-5th)
Reading level: Guided Reading Level N/A but I believe it is about an O
Genre: Information Book
Main Characters: N/A (information book)
Setting: N/A (information book)
POV: N/A (information book)
Summary: The Spice Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta illustrated by Leslie Evans is an alphabet book/informational book that describes a different kind of spice for each letter. As the alphabet progresses the reader learns more and more about different kinds of herbs, spices, and plants that give the food we eat a little zest of heat or sweetness. Jerry not only names the different kinds of spice but provides information on exactly how the spice is used. For example Java for making coffee and Kola nuts for making soda. Pallotta provides a glossary in the back of the book for further explanation of each spice and its uses. Each spice is beautifully illustrated by Leslie Evans. The illustrations are very lifelike and realistic and depict people using the spices. Overall this book is a great read for kids and adults who are interested in culinary arts.
Class Uses/Themes: I would use this book along with a series of books to create an alphabet book text set. I would instruct my students to search through the books to gain an understanding of the components of alphabet books. I would then ask my students to create their own alphabet books based on a specific topic, using examples they gained from this book as well as others from the text set.
Reading level: Guided Reading Level N/A but I believe it is about an O
Genre: Information Book
Main Characters: N/A (information book)
Setting: N/A (information book)
POV: N/A (information book)
Summary: The Spice Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta illustrated by Leslie Evans is an alphabet book/informational book that describes a different kind of spice for each letter. As the alphabet progresses the reader learns more and more about different kinds of herbs, spices, and plants that give the food we eat a little zest of heat or sweetness. Jerry not only names the different kinds of spice but provides information on exactly how the spice is used. For example Java for making coffee and Kola nuts for making soda. Pallotta provides a glossary in the back of the book for further explanation of each spice and its uses. Each spice is beautifully illustrated by Leslie Evans. The illustrations are very lifelike and realistic and depict people using the spices. Overall this book is a great read for kids and adults who are interested in culinary arts.
Class Uses/Themes: I would use this book along with a series of books to create an alphabet book text set. I would instruct my students to search through the books to gain an understanding of the components of alphabet books. I would then ask my students to create their own alphabet books based on a specific topic, using examples they gained from this book as well as others from the text set.
January 14, 2012
My niece and I enjoy reading this book together, and we've done so many times. She enjoys the story that I tell when we get to "W Wasabi" about the time I slathered my husband's sushi roll in wasabi and then popped it into his mouth while he was driving down the freeway at 65 mph. (oops), and I enjoy watching her drool over the peppermint, vanilla and chocolate pages. We bond over this one. It's a good one!
December 21, 2008
Jerry Pallotta has "zillions" of alphabet books. I read one to my daughter about a week ago and she liked it so I asked her which one she wanted next. The YUMMY Alphabet Book was what she chose. I like these books because the illustrations are nice, my daughter likes the alphabet right now, and because they are information books. We'll read more of them!
June 24, 2011
about a paragraph of interesting info and excellent drawings for each letter, with a bit of Pallotta's humor thrown in. probably best for ages 5-10, would do well for a 2nd grade reader or above who was very interested in cooking to read alone.
August 30, 2009
This is such an interesting book. It has inspired my little chefs to try some new things too.
January 17, 2010
All the Jerry Pallotta books I had to choose from, and I picked spices. :) Signed, "S is for Shannon! Jerry Pallotta. Reading will spice-up your life!"
July 26, 2012
Would have been an okay informational read-aloud for the Reading Is So Delicious summer reading program.
Read
September 27, 2013Information on the history, sources, and uses of herbs, spices, and other natural flavors.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews