Tomorrow's Alphabet: An Imaginative Picture Book About Wonder and Possibility for Kids (Ages 4-8)

by George Shannon, Donald Crews (Illustrator)

A is for seed, B is for eggs, C is for milk -- what's going on here? The seed is tomorrows Apple, the eggs are tomorrows Birds, the milk is tomorrows Cheese! Explore a wonderful world of possibility with an imaginative alphabet puzzle that encouraged young readers to look beyond the obvious.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Kids, Juvenile, Storytime, Nonfiction

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

George Shannon is a popular storyteller and former children's librarian whose many notable picture books include Tomorrow's Alphabet, Lizard's Guest, and White Is for Blueberry. Tippy-Toe Chick, Go!, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, was named a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book. George Shannon lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, imaginative way to read/write an alphabet book! So much fun that I had my students write a "Yesterday's Alphabet"!

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my toddler at Nashville library during vacation.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! I'm tempted to give this a five star rating, because so many books of the last 10 years or so are much like this earlier one. But objectively I have to admit that this is not quite as amazing as the very best of those.... Still, it's timeless and I hope your library still has a copy.

Definitely use a sheet of paper or another book so you and your children can try to make the predictions!! Why is R for grapes??

I will continue to look for more by George Shannon.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever take on the traditional Alphabet Book. Could be used well with predicting.

[Karli Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomorrow’s Alphabet By: George Shannon
Picture Book-Alphabet
Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts 1997
Audience: Grades K-2nd

- The book Tomorrow’s Alphabet fits perfectly into this category because it provides a challenge for children who know the alphabet well enough to play with it, and create an alphabet where all they have to do is think ahead. For example: “A is for see- tomorrow’s apple, B is for eggs- tomorrow’s birds.
- The color and texture in this book were done very well in the images you see presented on each page. There is a great demonstration of visual literacy in this book. The pictures were done by Donald Crews and you can see that he took his time in creating each picture. The pictures presented are very life-like to the word that it is describing.
- This book could be used reading to a group of children or to a child individually. My goal would be to teach a concept of thinking ahead with the alphabet. For example, I would ask my students something along the lines of “If the letter D could stand for puppy, then what could it also stand for? (meaning dog)” If my students are struggling to understand I would then provide them with some examples and then continue asking them until they grasp the concept.

[Emily Davis]

Tomorrow’s Alphabet written by George Shannon and illustrated by Donald Crews is an ABC picture book. This ABC book is about materials, people, and places that turn into something different the next day. For example, “E is for campfire, tomorrow’s embers”. I love how this book incorporates not only the alphabet with words to match each letter, but also the transition from one day to the next day. The illustration on the front cover is of puzzle pieces at the very top, with the puzzles coming together to make the main illustration and the title on the front. I love how the entire book has this puzzle piece theme to it, with us trying to figure out what each object, material, people, or place will turn into “tomorrow.”

The illustrations throughout the book are very colorful, with bold and large letters for each letter of the alphabet. This allows the readers’ eyes to focus on the main letter of each page. The end page is blue with white letters of the alphabet. I love how the illustrations are simple, which is great for the target audience of pre-k through first grade. In the classroom, this is a great picture book to introduce and practice children’s alphabet memorization and knowledge. Overall, I highly recommend this book for younger students!

[Anna Haury · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes the alphabet to the next level. Instead of the usual “A is for Apple. B is for ball” this book shows what is needed for the word being read to exist. The front is covered in puzzle pieces that make an image alongside a hand like it’s putting the image together. This is showing the reader how your children will not only be memorizing the alphabet, but they will be making deeper connections along the way. It sounds more confusing than it actually is. For example, one page reads “C is for milk- tomorrow’s cheese.” Obviously milk doesn’t start with C, but milk makes cheese, which starts with a C. This book gives children a deeper knowledge of what goes into the things around them. It also shows natural processes like wood burning into ember, and how materials can look differently like fresh yarn versus a cozy hat. This is a great way to introduce the letters of the alphabet while also teaching fun mini lessons!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting alphabet book that patterns its presentation around each letter of the alphabet that starts s one thing and ends as another. The "tomorrow" thing is a word starting with the letter featured on the two-page spread. Donald Crews adds pictures to further illustrate the transformations. As the author suggests this is an alphabet book for those that know the alphabet well enough to play with it since the first concept doesn't start with the letter featured on the page which could be a bit confusing for those learning the alphabet.

[Whitney Leanhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed reading this book because it broke down the letters of the alphabet and made connections with each word. For example, H would be for hat but before that it was yarn. The author would add background knowledge to the word and where it comes from.

[Savannah Domeyer]

This is another book about the alphabet. It begins with one thing, then what it will turn into tomorrow. The thing that it is tomorrow is the letter of the alphabet being talked about. For example; they had a seed, but tomorrow it is A as in Apple.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first grade students are enthralled with A to Z books, and this is well liked by them. The opportunity to predict what is next was exciting and even a bit competitive. Not a new book, it continues to hold up well.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever!

[Susan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I missed this book? It's possible I knew about it and forgot...

Anyway, very clever. I would love to do this with kids and let them come up with some examples of their own.

[Liese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conceptual book, good for beginning readers. might work well to guess what is on the second page on each spread.

[Nicole Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book Critique #14

Tomorrow’s Alphabet
Written By: George Shannon
Illustrated By: Donald Crews

1. Picture Book Genre: Alphabet

2. Brief Summary: George Shannon takes a clever twist on a traditional alphabet picture book in Tomorrow’s Alphabet by first stating the letter and showing an element that would turn into the word used on the next page, for example: K is for tomato – tomorrow’s Ketchup and M is for caterpillar – tomorrow’s Moth. Shannon’s alphabet book uses both scientific elements and traditional alphabet instruction to teach students both the order of the alphabet as well as the process by which objects are created.

3.
A. Area for comment: The best feature of this book is that along with being a traditional alphabet picture book it also incorporates scientific understandings of how things are formed or created.

B. Professional Evaluation: Tomorrow’s Alphabet takes an interesting twist on a traditional alphabet picture book by displaying first the letter of the alphabet featured and then how the object (word) is formed. By combining science and language arts this book makes learning about the alphabet interesting and new and can be used inside of the classroom as a means to truly begin to learn not only about the alphabet but also about science. Overall, this book is fun, interesting and entertaining!

C. Specific Example: Each set of pages is yet another great example of how the author and illustrator use this interesting twist on the traditional alphabet book to not only teach the alphabet but also teach scientific elements as well. One great example can be found on the pages for the letter B stating “B is for eggs – tomorrow’s Birds” and “E is for campfire – tomorrow’s embers.” Page after page the author and illustrator use great examples to teach not only the alphabet but also science.

4. Curriculum Connection: There are a number of great elements found throughout this book as it not only vibrantly highlights the letters of the alphabet on their own page it also features the scientific elements of how beings or objects are formed. This book would be great to use not only during a language arts lesson but also during a science lesson in which the students can research, compare and contrast how things are made and/or created, such as twigs forming a nest or milk creating cheese. The uses of this book are endless as teachers can teach and students can learn the alphabet in a fun and interesting way.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Citation: Tomorrow’s Alphabet, by George Shannon. (Greenwillow Books, 1996). 56p. Alphabet Concept Book.

Summary: This creative take on the traditional alphabet invites the reader to imagine the possibilities of tomorrow. The letters are linked to the item of the future, not the present, challenging the young reader to think ahead.

Critique: (a.) This book successfully illustrates the theme of change. Vibrant watercolors and clear graphic text allow the reader’s thought to take center stage. The page arrangement, however, halts the readers’ creativity.

(b.) The challenge posed by this book, what can each object become, is a great way to introduce change to young readers. It could only be improved upon by pushing the answer to the following page. For example, the reader would enjoy coming up with his own possibilities before turning the page to find out the author’s chosen word. If the letter page was moved to the right hand side, the book would be much more intriguing.

(c.) This problem with page arrangement is easily seen on the “C” page. The author states that “C is for milk, tomorrow’s cheese.” This would be the perfect time to address any misconception in the concept. I would imaging many young learners would first suggest “cow” as the answer, if you did not show them the pages beforehand. The book would be much stronger if it planned for this dialogue. Yes, a cow is related to milk, but it comes before not after the change. The simple change of page arrangement would allow for greater thinking and conversation.

Curriculum Connection: This is a great book to get young students thinking. I would read the letter pages aloud and have students give predictions before sharing the pictures. Students can also use the concept of change presented in the book to develop their own alphabet of tomorrow. The teacher also could accomplish this surge of ideas by sharing the first few pages of the book and then asking students to generate their own ideas individually or with groups for the remaining letters. After completing the task, students would be interested to find out if their examples matched the author’s.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. ABC

2. This is a quick ABC book that shows a letter of the alphabet, and an example of something that will grow or turn into something that begins with the letter. For example: - A is for seed, tomorrow’s Apple.

3. A - The illustrations are decent, but the concept may be hard for some children to follow. It really depends on the child, or group of children who are listening and reading the book.

B- There was nothing particularly strong or weak about this book. It has the letters of the alphabet, and examples of words that begin with those letters. Some children may find it helpful, others may find it confusing. It can be a positive read if children understand that the first picture does not start with the targeted letter, but it grows into something that begins with the targeted letter. They can learn letters, new vocab, and acquire some background knowledge.
C- One example that may help prove my point about the confusion is the L page. “L is for bud-tomorrow’s leaf.” If the author had worded the story differently, it may not be as confusing. If he had written “Today’s bud is tomorrow’s leaf, L is for leaf”, it might make things flow easier.

*I read this to a 3 year old with autism, his reaction made me form my opinion. This particular child knows his ABC’s and he did not follow along with all of the confusion. He was very upset, and I had to stop reading it. Please note that it might not be a good read for children who prefer routines!*


4. This book can connect with a lesson on the alphabet, as well as growth and development. I may not recommend it, I think it is a book that you should form an opinion on before trying to incorporate it.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Alphabet

Summary: Tomorrow’s Alphabet is an unconventional journey that uses words in their secondary form in connection with the coinciding letter in the alphabet.

A. Area for Comment: Style

B. The simplicity of the word choice and images represent a greater concept of how one object can become another. The images, though not the most artistic, are drawn to an understandable degree and prompt students to picture read the text and make connections to the letter in the alphabet. The letter and the coinciding word are also printed bold and in the same color which makes it much more easier for children to read and comprehend.

C. Instead of stating, “C is for Cheese,” The author instead writes “C is for milk- tomorrow’s cheese” which requires students to use higher order thinking skills to make the connection between the milk and cheese, as well as the understanding that cheese starts with the letter C. The author uses concepts that are relevant to children, like with the letter K. “K is for tomato-tomorrow’s ketchup”. Using objects that children are aware of allows for greater connections to take place, in this case students may all know what ketchup is, but maybe not that they are actually make from tomatoes. This allows students’ background knowledge to expand and flourish.

Curriculum Connection: I feel that this is a must have book for preschool and kindergarten classrooms since it can provide a rich vocabulary for students at this age. I also think it could be used with ELL students as well since it can prompt them through images as well as foster word and letter connections.

[Allison Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This book belongs in the Alphabet genre.

2. Concept book and alphabet book all in one! This book combines higher order thinking with simple alphabet concepts that creates an alphabet book that isn't as simple as A, B, C.

3. The area for critique is style.

The large sized book offers a two page spread for each letter. The high impact illustrations clearly communicates the harder concepts to young or non-readers. The letters in question are bold, large, and attention grabbing.

All of these elements make the concept of the book easier to swallow for young readers. While it may be a little difficult for young readers, don't underestimate them; they may surprise you!

This alphabet book is appropriate for young readers, English language learners, or older students whom may have difficulty reading.

F didn't use to be for wheat, but with this book it is because it is tomorrow's flour.

Z didn't use to be for countdown, but in tomorrow's alphabet it becomes zero.

This book may have a more difficult concept than other alphabet books, but it makes the book more universal to older kids and other learning concepts. It could be difficult for kindergartner to understand, but teachers could just take it slow and create a lesson a day. A is for seed, tomorrow's apple. Who know what that means, what is the connection between a seed and an apple. By the time Z is for countdown twenty-six days later, the kindergartners will be able to make the connection for themselves. The style of the book makes this an easier read for everyone.

4. This could be used in curriculum in the following ways:

English/Reading: Letters, letter sounds (phonics), analogies

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomorrow’s Alphabet

1- Genre: Alphabet

2- Shannon presents the alphabet in a new way compared to the traditional way one is use to seeing an alphabet book. He uses what we see today and adds a higher level of thinking to the reader and presents what it turns into forming the next letter in the alphabet.

3- (a) The ability of the illustrator to show texture within the illustrations.
(b) On every page the illustrator shows great depth and texture to each illustration that is presented to the reader. This effect adds realism to each illustration for the reader.
(c) An excellent example of the illustrator’s ability to show texture is in the illustration for the letter H. When the reader turns the page they immediately see the tightly wound balls of soft yarn. As their eyes leave that page and move to the next, they are presented with a hat that gives the appearance that it is fuzzy and fluffy because of the small stray brush strokes that seem to come off from the hat. Another example for the use of texture is the illustration for raisins. The illustrator uses different variations of brown in oblong shapes to show the shriveled appearance that raisins have.

4- This is a excellent book to share with students to enhance their knowledge of the alphabet. This book can be used at the end of an alphabet unit to engage students in higher-level thinking about the items that represent the various letters of the alphabet and what they can be turned into.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: This is an alphabet picture book
Summary: This alphabet book takes a different approach to learning about the alphabet. Instead of just a word for each letter, there are beginnings to what become tomorrow’s word.

Critique:
a. The area for critique is the creativity while using the alphabet and the use of other concepts along with learning about the alphabet.
b. Not all alphabet books are created equally and this book is definitely different, which is where its true strength can be found. Each letter is an example of a process, such as, “C is for milk-tomorrow’s cheese.” The alphabet is used to teach other concepts, as well. It combines a lot of interesting science concepts that students will love to read.
c. Another example of combining science with the alphabet would be “I is for water, tomorrow’s ice cubes.” This is such as fun way to teach across curriculum and students will have a great time, as they are surprised with every page turn.

Curriculum Connection: This book would work great for cross-curriculum lessons. The science piece to the story is neat because it gives students a basic understanding of how things are formed. The only downside I can find is that I would use this book in a class that already knows the alphabet because it could be confusing for early learners.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is probably a little advanced for kids who are still trying to figure out A = apple, b = ball, c = cat. (Or maybe not. Sometimes children surprise you!) Instead of a being for apple, it's for seed - TOMORROW'S apple. H is for yarn - TOMORROW'S hat. So kids have to think a little bit about each example.

Still, even with the slightly novel approach, the book is pretty straightforward. Example and tomorrow example are given on opposite pages of the same spread (so you can see the answer before you guess it, if you like), and the language follows a careful pattern: $LETTER is for $NOUN, tomorrow's $OTHER NOUN.

The artwork is well-done and - in a little touch I'm *very happy with* - it's inclusive. There are six people shown in this book (well, two people, one person on a raisin box, two sets of hands, and a foot) and these people (and hands and foot) come in a variety of skin tones. Just like the children reading this book do. If you don't spend your time trying to find books with people that look like your own loved ones, or like your own students, you probably don't know what a big deal this is. But it IS. Children deserve to see themselves reflected in their books. Not all the time, but at least SOMEtimes.

[Nicole Disilvestro · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. I would classify this book as an alphabet book.
2. This book teaches the alphabet in a way where connects letters with different objects that relate to something happening “tomorrow”
3. (a) I think this is a very accurate alphabet book. It connects letters with objects that begins with the letter. It creates a really cute story that is very organized for the concept of an alphabet book.
(B) I think this is a very appropriate alphabet book. It uses the connection of the letters and the different objects to teach the concept of the alphabet. The book is very child friendly and has concepts that children would easily understand. I think this book is very appropriate for younger children to read.
(c) I think this book is a great book because it connects the letters with concepts that children would easily understand. For example, one way it connects the letters with a concept is it says D is for puppy, which it then connects to tomorrow’s dog. It is a very easy concept a child could understand and also connect to the alphabet.
4. I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had a very cute concept and I think that children would really enjoy reading this book. I think it would really engage young learners. I would defiantly use this book to teach the alphabet.

[Lacey Luce]

Tomorrow’s Alphabet
By George Shannon
Shannon , G. (1996). Tomorrow's alphabet. New York: Greenwillow Books.

1. Alphabet Picture Book

2. This alphabet book takes a new twist. Instead of simply saying A is for Apple, this clever book takes a look into tomorrow’s alphabet. What A might stand for today might not be what it will stand for tomorrow.

3. Style

b. This book does a great job a laying out the style for the story. Each letter of the alphabet has it’s own two page spread. This gives the readers complete attention on each letter of the alphabet. Each letter that is being identified is also in bold face and color along with the word that begins with the same letter. This is eye catching and presented nicely for young readers.

c. My favorite page of the story is for the letter J. The page says J is for pumpkin- tomorrow’s Jack-O’-Lantern. The page is wonderfully spread out with the J in bold orange and the word Jack-O’-Lantern also in bold orange. Along with that the pumpkins are in the same orange and the page just really pops.

4. This is such a clever book for young children. This could be a great mini lesson for the students to come up with their own version. It also gives a great look into more complex ideas such as evolution and what things become.

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Alphabet Book
Summary: This unusual alphabet book goes beyond "A is for Apple" inviting the reader to look at what comes before the apple and before the x-ray. Each page is a single letter with the right side devoted to the letter and the left side to what the letter object was previously.
Criteria: This book uses the alphabet "as an organizational device for conveying concepts.(Johnson, 73)" In this case the concept is the past - more specifically that things change over time.
Critique: George Shannon does an excellent job of opening the door for a lot of discussions with children. While they may already be familiar with the letter / word relationship, this book expands that to a greater dialog about how things change.
Curricular Tie: This would be great to read before and after a nature walk. Students could collect objects that can transform into other things. If they collect sticks, they could be made into a nest - as in the book or seed to grow into plants; a bud that will grow into leaves, etc. It would also be fun to read while the kids take turns shaking a pint of butter milk - changing the milk to butter for their toast after they're done reading. :-)

[Steven Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Genre: Alphabet
2. This book goes through the alphabet, naming objects that turn into the things beginning with that particular letter of the alphabet.
3a. Accuracy
3b. This book is very accurate about what items become what objects "tomorrow". George Shannon did not make any informational errors. The only problem I see with the accuracy of this book is how it appears to show that there is only one possibility for several items to become, when in fact it can become quite a few things. Overall, I think the book is very informative and interesting to read.
3c. Several letters teach children how things become other things, such as C for milking becoming cheese, and K for tomatoes becoming ketchup. The ones that give me pause are one such as M for a caterpillar becoming a moth. A caterpillar can become a moth, but it can also become a butterfly.
4. This book is excellent for teaching children the connection between things, as well as the alphabet. It pushes children to think by the phrasing of the text to discover what the letter might stand for and what the thing might become to match that letter.

[Chris Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Category (Alphabet book)
Found on pg.73 in the textbook

Description

1. A is for tomorrow's apple; B is for tomorrow's birds. If one were to get the inclination, T is for grade for tomorrow's test, or T is for person for tomorrow's teacher. Any word can be created to with this book as the imagination can work without restrictions. Shannon's book sparks the genius in every child.


Possible use for the classroom

2. Teachers can give to groups of students time to create their own list of words for the alphabet; this mini-lesson can be useful with higher level grades although the lesson would have to be more difficult and sophisticated.


Visual Elements

3. This book is very colorful and full of real-life illustrations that children can relate to. The white background on almost every page makes it easy for the illustrations to be conspicuous to the reader.

Personal Reaction

4. I found this boo really awesome because it reminded me of watching Sesame Street on television. At first, I found the relationship between the letter and the example to be confusing; however, at second glance, I understood the relationship. For example, C is for milk, tomorrow's cheese.

3.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title offers something that other alphabet books do not. It provides a familiar framework (the ABCs) on which to build prediction, spelling, pattern recognition, and vocabulary skills depending on how you use it. By showing the pictures only one page at a time, you can play up the puzzle factor. " A is for seed"? What? How can it be for seed--there are no As in "seed"! It doesn't take many pages for the students to get the concept---the item in the "tomorrow" category starts with the letter given at first" Today's seed is tomorrow's apple." Some of the words were unfamiliar to my 2nd graders (most of whom did not know what "embers" were, but it made for a good vocabulary moment. My kinders and first graders struggled some with the concept and would often guess words for tomorrow based on association only instead of by alphabet. Incorrect guesses led to good discussion, for example,why did the author choose one item instead of another and what other words could have worked and still maintained the pattern. Fun.

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

My kids randomly picked this off the shelf at the library (this is how they choose books, so we often end up with some ...interesting... selections).

Perhaps it is my slight OCD nature, but this book really bugged me. I understand the point and why some would call it "clever", but I think it has the potential to be confusing for some children as to what letter/sound actually begins certain words. In my opinion, this issue could have been avoided by some slight rewording.

For example, the letter "A."

The book reads: "A is for seed--tomorrow's APPLE"

(Note, "A" and "APPLE" are in a different font color from the rest of the words. I assume this is to clarify for the young readers that "apple" begins with "A" but "seed" does not. The wording is still frustrating, because it explicitly states that A is for seed.)

My re-write would look something like this: "A. Here is a seed--tomorrow's APPLE."

Keep the concept, get rid of the frustration.

My kids liked the book, but there is no way I'm checking it out again.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Genre: Alphabet
2. Summary: The book relates to the reader the alphabet by making a connection of one object to “tomorrow’s” object. The tomorrow object starts with the letter being represented.
A. Area of Content: Style
A unique way of writing an alphabet book, the author makes a gamble that the reader will not be confused by the initial objects not matching the letter being denoted.
B. George Shannon’s writing style is the crux of this book because it all hinges on the reader understanding the first object doesn’t start with the letter being represented and the second object on the next page is the representative of that letter.
C. The very first pages may confuse the reader trying to learn the alphabet but they should catch on by the end of the book.
Curriculum Connection: This book can be used to help teach the alphabet but the teacher should use it a shared reading time (teacher reads) so that the students can be guided to understand what is happening in the book.