May I Have a Word?

by Caron Levis, Andy Rash (Illustrator)

A battle of the magnet letters ensues across the refrigerator door in May I Have a Word? when C and K get into a fight about who gets to start the cooler (kooler?) words. When the two letters storm off in opposite directions, everything is turned upside down. SOCKS are now SO, there aren't any CLOCKS to TICK or TOCK, and the world is just out of LUCK--until other letters work to bring C and K back together again.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Language, Fiction, Storytime, Friendship

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2017

About the author

Caron Levis is the author of the picture books, May I Have A Word? (FSG) Stuck with the Blooz (HMH) and Ida, Always (Atheneum) which the New York Times Book Review calls, "an example of children's books at their best." Forthcoming titles include Stop That Yawn! (Atheneum, 2018) and Mama's Shoes (Abrams 2019) Caron is an adjunct professor and the coordinator for The New School's Writing for Children/YA MFA program, where she earned her degree. She has an LMSW from Hunter College; after many years as an arts educator, Caron now loves using acting and writing to teach social, emotional, and literacy skills to students of all ages through her author workshops. Having trained in acting and dabbled in playwriting, Caron enjoys turning theatre techniques into writing tools through her workshop Act-Like-A-Writer. Visit her at www.caronlevis.com

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for talking about the sounds letters make and personifying them in an entertaining, inspiring way. You will never look at refrigerator magnet letters the same way again!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The letters C and K get into a huge argument in this creative alphabet book from author Caron Levis and illustrator Andy Rush, resulting in hurt feelings and a refusal to work together any more. The others letters are dismayed at this turn of events. How will they form words like socks and picket, if C and K won't get together? Fortunately, the letter N has an idea, and uses the power of storytelling to reconcile the erstwhile friends to one another...

After loving Caron Levis' Ida, Always , an immensely poignant picture-book examination of loss and grief, I was curious to pick up her latest, which is in a somewhat different vein. May I Have a Word? is a lighthearted exploration of the alphabet, and of the importance of learning to cooperate with one another. The artwork by Andy Rush is colorful and fun, matching the tone of the text well. Recommended to anyone looking for entertaining and engaging alphabet books that present more of a story, rather than just a list of letters.

[Deanna Kazdoy]

So clever!! I fun and smart book.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cute and clever.

[Gulsah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Font is a little small for kids, but cute spelling and learning letters concept

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The letter C and the letter K really do have a problem! Each letter tries to own the sound, in this fun picture books for Kindergarten or First graders. Sometimes the black bold fonted text seemed to clutter the pages, but that's my only complaint.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnet letters on a refrigerator have a spat and come back to together. Clever, charming fun.

[Michele Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun story about the letters "c" and "k" arguing over who gets the best words with their shared sound. Fun read aloud.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

"K"ick this to the "C"urb! Too much to really enjoy! Not an alphabet book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there is much to love about this imaginative story in which C and K get into an argument about words, as the pages get filled with letters and faces on them, the letters became increasingly cluttered and hard for me to read. I wonder if young readers might have the same problem or even more problems distinguishing the letters or maybe it's just my tired, old eyes that have read quite a lot of print over the years. That was most noticeable on the last few pages. Nevertheless, there is much cleverness in this picture book--starting with its title and the request to have a chat or a word on the part of one letter to another. Many of us have refrigerator magnets featuring words or letters, which makes the book quite relatable. And the fact that C is sometimes pronounced as a K is one of the stumbling blocks young readers encounter as they crack that alphabetic code. As the tension heightens between the two letters, the other letters become concerned since they know that many words rely on C and K being together. If not for the intercession of N and some of the other letters who helped the feuding friends realize how much they were needed, all might have been lost, and this story certainly would never have been told. Elementary teachers might find this title useful in introducing and reviewing how to pronounce various letters and letter/sound combinations. Brightly-colored illustrations keep the pages from looking drab while the story itself will amuse the word lovers among us.

[Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars- not nearly as cute as it could have been

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will be enjoyable for kids just learning to read who enjoy puns. The refrigerator magnet letters especially the hard C and hard K are in a bit of a debate who gets the best words. (Castle or Kite). After lots of letters weigh in, the conclusion is exactly what you'd expect...they actually all can get along. I'll revisit this one in several years when my rugrat will understand the jokes.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative play on letter sounds and words with letters that make no sound but share space with letters to make words. Good resource for explaining letters to first and second grade students and others who see two letters together and only one letter sounds.

[mg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute story, but I feel like the faces all over the letters make it really difficult for beginning readers to actually read the text.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Levis, Caron May I Have a Word? Illustrated by Andy Rash. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2017. $16.99. Content: G.

From their spot on the refrigerator, the K and C magnets begin to argue, each convinced the other gets to start all the best words. Then K takes it one step further by accusing C of confusing readers. Can the two ever learn to get along, or will CK words like LUCK and PICKLES no longer exist?

This is a playful examination of the roles the letters K and C play in the English language. It also serves as an example of conflict resolution among jealous playmates -- something many young children (and, well, even adults!) can empathize with. Naturally, this book would work especially well in a kindergarten or first-grade class studying the letters C and K -- both separately and together -- as well as K's silent form.

EL (K-3) -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the letters on the refrigerator got together to write a story, the letters C and K fought for top billing. C wanted to write a story about a cat, or a car, or a clown. K wanted to write a story about a kitten, or a kite, or a king. The argument grew worse and worse, and soon C and K weren't talking to each other any more. The other letters worried that if this fight continued they would be out of luCK, have no more truCKs, or piCKles, or soCKs. That's when N had an idea. He convinced K to work with him to write a story about a KNight who had KNots in his KNitting. But the story was boring without C. Eventually, C joined them to write KNiCKers, making the story hilarious!

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

May I Have a Word? is a very clever book from title to concept. I mean who among us is not familiar with refrigerator magnets? The story begins with an argument between the letters C and K about which one of them should be the star, leading to a fun way to learn the difference between these two letter sounds. Although the type size of the actual story seemed a little small (maybe to keep it from getting mixed up in all the magnetic letters?), this book still has enough humor and cheerful color to keep kids interested.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having alphabet fridge letters C and K get into a tiff is a fun idea. Andy Rash gets tons of personality out of the faces on the letters, but some of those words are hard to read. It's the sort of book intended for teachers to use. That's OK, but I wish it were shorter. I'm also sure Levis wrote it because she's spent her entire life having her name spelled Karen instead of Caron.

Part of the resolution of the tiff is the word knickers. That's a chiefly British word that US kids don't use or know. Bad choice for something originally published in the US.
2.5

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. The magnetic letters on the fridge are trying to create a story. Would work well with the younger kids learning to spell, and be a great tie in for the c & k sounds as they learn to read. A story of letters & cooperation, I would pair it with an old favorite, The War Between the Vowels and the Consonants.

[Ro Menendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The appeal is immediate, magnetic letters on a fridge grace the cover of this book, a memory most every reader can recall! These letters have faces, and lots of feelings and opinions! C and K are having a fallout, K feels that C gets to spell the most amazing of words, while he gets relegated to second place, although they share the same sound. This story would be amazing to share with kindergartners who are learning the sounds of the alphabet, and who may be a bit flummoxed by the similar sounds of C and K! The relationships and issues between the main characters in this story, are similar to those of Duncan's crayons in The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and of the numbers in 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar. Readers will explore how collaboration makes us all stronger, how the outcome is greater when we work together and complement each others' abilities.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought that this was going to be an alphabet book bases on what the cover and what was first stated...no, totally misleading. Secondly, this could have been a clever concept, but it was dragged out and took too long. Third, the typography for this should have been charming and adorable but ended up to be frustrating and annoying and VERY DIFFICULT to read which defeats the purpose of the book entirely if your reader cannot read you!

[Amy Oberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

"May I Have a Word?" is the perfect blend of alphabet fun, word play, and conflict resolution...told against the backdrop of a refrigerator door covered in magnets. The letters come alive with unique voices and personalities, and the antics that ensue are sure to have readers/listeners laughing out loud. A great selection to share during family story hours!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Besides being a really fun story, many words were taught with appropriate letter combinations. I highly recommend this book for young readers and older readers who need to brush up on their letter combinations.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once upon a refrigerator ... C was jealous of K and vice versa. And after a fight ... Oh no! What if C and K won't stand together anymore? No Ducks or clocks or socks. And that's just the beginning! Will the letters be able to work this out?

Cute

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a clever book! This is a perfect story to read to children who are learning about letter sounds. Andy Rash does a brilliant job of illustrating this book to add to the fun, playful tone of the text. This book is a must have for library collections.

[Joanne Zienty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Great for showing how letter combinations work, how letters sometimes share sounds and are sometimes silent. And all through a wonderful read aloud with a story about cooperation and friendship.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book for new readers and language learners.

[Katie Dicesare · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of letters on the refrigerator hashing it out is so fun. C and K argue over sharing a sound. It will be a good way to talk about letters that share sounds.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is long, but I like how it teaches about letter sounds like C, K, and the silent K. The illustrations were just ok. They do get the point of the refrigerator magnet across.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will recommend to my speech teachers.