The Alphabet Tree

by Leo Lionni

When a fierce wind threatens to blow all the little letters out of the alphabet tree, they must band together in words—and then sentences—to create a message that’s even stronger than the wind: peace on earth. With their newfound knowledge, there's nothing the letters can't do in this gentle parable about the power of the written word.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Writing, Teaching, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.

Leo Lionni has gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations, and sculpture, as well as for his books for children. He was born in Holland in 1910 of Dutch parents, and although his education did not include formal art courses (in fact, he has a doctorate in economics from the University of Genoa), he spent much of his free time as a child in Amsterdam's museums, teaching himself to draw.

Lionni's business training gradually receded into the background as his interest in art and design grew. Having settled in Milan soon after his marriage in 1931, he started off by writing about European architecture for a local magazine. It was there that he met the contacts who were to give him a start as a professional graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a Philadelphia advertising agency as art director. Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation of America, and then art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist flourished as he began to exhibit his paintings and drawings in galleries from New York to Japan.

Lionni launched his career as an author/illustrator of books for children in 1959. Originally developed from a story he had improvised for his grandchildren during a dull train ride, Little Blue and Little Yellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his 1968 picture book The Alphabet Tree Leo Lionni presents a charming story and for me equally promotes an always relevant and necessary message highlighting and showcasing the power of letters and words (as well as world peace, that peace trumps everything, something as relevant today as it was in 1968 during the Cold War and of course even more specifically so during the Vietnam War which was pretty much raging in 1968).

When in The Alphabet Tree Lionni's text and of course also his accompanying illustrations (which are colourfully delightful and very expressively mirror what is verbally being provided and of course equally so vice versa) show how a fierce windstorm is about to blow all the little letters from their cozily sheltering alphabet tree, instead of succumbing to the storm, the letters realise they can cooperatively create words, that words form sentences and which then empowers the letters to collectively send a strong and powerful missive to an anonymous president (namely peace on earth and goodwill toward all men and just like it appears in the Gospel of Saint Luke regarding the birth of Jesus Christ and what the angels tell the shepherds, although if I were reading The Alphabet Tree to today's children, in 2025, I would change the word men to either people or to everyone, I would leave out gender). And The Alphabet Tree being published in 1968, everyone especially in the United States (well, at least in my opinion) would probably kind know and realise that the unnamed president in question is more than likely meant by Leo Lionni to represent POTUS Lyndon B. Johnson and that he is obviously supposed to stop the Vietnam War (but that with the anonymous president and a general message of peace, The Alphabet Tree of course works today as well and nicely globally so).

Lionni's beautifully illustrated story depicts and describes the importance of collaboration and communication (as well as striving for peace on earth, universal respect and all-encompassing tolerance), with The Alphabet Tree showing young readers how the written word can express powerful ideas and bring about positive change (and as the letters work together, work collectively, they discover that when united, they can withstand any challenge, even a fierce wind, and sending out a strongly worded message of and for peace to a president who is shown without words and without pictures as someone not likely all that sympathetic, not all that positive but hopefully being willing to accept change). Four stars for The Alphabet Tree (for Leo Lionni's text and even more so for his illustrations) and that in particular my inner child certainly wishes that she had in fact encountered The Alphabet Tree during her actual childhood.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The letters hiding in the alphabet tree are taught by various creatures how to organize themselves into words, then sentences, and then something very meaningful. Illustrated in Lionni's typical style. A creative way to teach kids about the organization of language.

I had mixed feelings about the political comment at the very end of the book. The letters eventually form themselves into a "very important" message, "Peace on earth, good will to men," and a caterpillar at the end invites the letters to crawl on his back so he can take the message to the President. Yes, I think we definitely should encourage kids to work for peace. Yes, we want to encourage our leaders to also work for peace and goodwill. However, we're also trying to teach kids to respect authority, and the ending seemed a little like a slam against the President.

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations in the book very color friendly. Advanced vocabulary.

[Madison Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the story The Alphabet Tree a group of letters are clung to the leaves of tree. The letters are all by themselves and some get blown away during a windstorm. The remaining letters are frightened and huddle together forming a large group. All of a sudden a word bug stops by and tells the letter they would be stronger as words instead of by themselves. They would be able to with stand any of the strongest winds. Once they were words, a caterpillar came and said they had no meaning alone as words, that they needed to form sentences, that would make them mean something, something important.

As a young reader building words from letters and sentences from words can be difficult. In this story it is portrayed as if you put letters and words together can only make them stronger. The large white spaces on the pages make a sense of emptiness felt during the large storms and as the letters become words and words, sentences the bug adding assistance grows to a larger image. I feel as though this book portrays an important message that no matter your message be it big or small, it is strong and it is your statement for all to hear.

[Ben Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Alphabet Tree" tells the story of a group of letters who live on the leaves of a tree and bask in the sun. One day a gale engulfs the tree, sweeping away several of the letters and causing the test to huddle together in fear. Thereafter, a "word-bug" and a caterpillar show up to show the letters how to cluster together to make words, and then link up to one another to form sentences. The caterpillar teaches them that sentences alone do not give them the staying power to remain on the tree, but important sentences. The letters decide on the most important sentence of all: "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men."

This book illustrates the theme that the power of literacy is not just in knowledge of letters or words, but the ability to put them together to convey powerful ideas. The collage-style illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity, and each of the characters in the book (the letters, the word-bug, and the caterpillar) embody kindness and caring.

[Brittanie Rieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting approach to teaching sentence structures and words. I'm not too fond of if, although it may be a helpful tool in teaching sentences to smaller children. For me though, I don't necessarily think I really would use it as a main tool in my class. I would definitely love to have it for students to brush up on their sentences or learn how to make new words. And I do agree with some other reviewers, the end was pretty random. Not a terrible book, but not a favorite,

[Maliha Arman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for children to use for alphabet recognition. The images are bright and clear for children to see each alphabet. This book keeps the children on edge in the end, they will be able to come up with their own ending.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an oddly sweet story that demonstrates the concept of strength in numbers. The ending is unexpected, but actually quite appropriate today. The illustrations are fairly typical of Mr. Lionni's style and the message is a good one.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't believe the ending of this book and how perfect it's message was.

[Kalonda Mcknight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text-to-Teaching Connection
"The Alphabet Tree" is a wonderful book to integrate into a lesson to teach kindergarten children their alphabet and how to sequence them. It can help students recall the order in which the letters where put back on the tree. This book can be used in a whole group activity. First, after reading the book to the children, the teacher could pass out letter blocks. She will give each student at least one block. The teacher will then start off by placing the letter (A) on table or rug. After placing the letter A on the table or rug she will ask the question, "what letter comes next"? She will do this until the alphabet is complete or until they have reached the letter Z. The teacher could also include letter sounds into this activity as well. Overall this book teaches children how to learn alphabet sequencing and how to identify letters, which is a standard for kindergarten children.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so fond of most of Lionni’s books but this one just seemed so-so to me. I checked it out because my granddaughter is learning the alphabet, but it seemed to have little application. The idea is that by combining letters one gets words which in turn can be turned into sentences which convey thought. I think there are better books out there nowadays.

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alphabet tree teaches children how letters form words then sentences. Colorful illustration. It also allows teachers to talk about kindness and caring.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute story that missed the mark for me.

The plot: letters in the alphabet tree don’t want to blow away in the wind and are advised that forming words world prevent them from being blown out if the tree. Next the letters, now words, are told to form sentences. Finally, they are told to say something important.

I liked the development of the story.

I did not like one of the sentences formed, “the wind is bad” Wind is not bad. The closing, sentence of importance was ok but completely out of left field.

[Luisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The alphabet tree by Leo Lionni
Review by Luisa Daniel

The alphabet tree is a story about letters on a tree. The top leaves of the tree is the favorite hang out spot for each letter and the pick their own favorite leave to stay on all day. Until one day a big gust of wind blew most of the leaves off including some letters. After that windy day all the letters from the top went toward the bottom of the tree because they were afraid that they would have been blown away to. A word-bug found them hiding and advised them that they can make words and by being words it would make them stronger against the wind. With the help and advice of the word-bug they letters formed words and went to the top of the tree where they once were. Another day the wind came back, but with the letters forming words they were able to hold onto the tree during the wind. Then one summer a weird caterpillar approached the words and told them why are they just words? They can form sentences that have a meaning, the caterpillar walked them through on how to form sentences, they formed sentences about random things they did not like of liked, but the caterpillar wanted something different. Use the words for something important said the caterpillar. They came up with something meaningful and the caterpillar wants to show it off, The sentence gets on the back of the caterpillar and go to their destination.

This book by Leo Lionni showed that letters can become words and words can form sentences to express your feelings or say something important. The use of color throughout the book is simple until an animal comes along to show them what to do. The leaves look like a stamp the is used by many different greens, and the trunk of the tree looks like colored pencils.

The illustrations of this book where simple, the reader knew what was going on and did not need a huge explanation to the photo.

Goodreads Rating: stars

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for explaining what letters are for. The letters on the leaves of the alphabet tree are terrified after a strong wind scatters them, but then the word-bug teaches them how to combine to make words so when the wind returns they are stronger and can hold on. Then along comes a caterpillar who suggests that they combine into sentences and "mean something," and so they try that. They make sentences like "the wind is bad" and"the bug is small." Finally the caterpillar admonishes them to "say something important" and they spell out a message about peace on earth, climb on the caterpillar's back, and journey to take their message to the President.

Some people find The Alphabet Tree hokey, but I think it's exquisite—and (sadly) timely.

For a child obsessed with the alphabet, I like how The Alphabet Tree focuses on the function of letters (and words and sentences). It's useful for some kids to see individual letters out of order. Children who script are often very rigid about their scripts and this could be a concern with the alphabet. It's good to gain practice seeing individual letters all mixed up and represented as a flexible set of tools.

There is something very subtle and deliberate on Lionni's part in the description of the letters being afraid when they scatter in the wind. I think this emotional component may speak to some children's fears experiencing new academic challenges and it may perhaps connect with a child who is anxious about experiencing the alphabet in a non-ordered way.

****
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is from a longer blog post about great books for kids with autism who REALLY love the alphabet: http://www.lineupthebooks.com/obsesse...

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni is about letters becoming stronger by forming words, then separate sentences, and then one sentence with an important message. The book seems as though it was meant to be for younger children with the intent to teach them the power in meaning a sentence can have.

What caught my eye was the beauty of simplicity in the illustrations and colors so that all our attention could be dedicated to the letters, words, and sentences on the tree. The way the author/illustrator made the pictures and words on the tree bigger than the words telling the story shows his intent in wanting us as the readers to understand the importance of the overall message.

The final page of this book was a little unexpected and left me taken aback. However the message of peace is one that all people, children and adult, will appreciate.

[Savannah Montalvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni is a book that conveys a positive message to its audience. This book teaches you the importance of forming words and sentences. In the beginning, the Word-Bug explains to the scared little letters that if they bonded to one another, they would be strong enough to withstand the winds. Later, the purple Caterpillar taught the words to create sentences with meaning. Personally, I thought the book showed a creative way to shared a great message.

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless, it was first published in 1968. The message in this story, about a group of random letters that first come together to form words than sentences, is as relevant now as it was then.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timeless (originally from 1968 and needed even now, whether the President is Trump or Biden or anyone else). But as charming and special as Lionni's other works, no, sorry.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um, I know it's Leo Lionni but it was kinda weird.

[Jayme Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts off with letters on a tree. Each letter has its own leaf on top of the tree, where they hold on tight because of the wind. When the letters were alone they were not able to hang on tight and they blew off the tree. Then came along the "word bug" where he tells the letters to make words together because then they cannot blow off the tree. The letters begin to make words and find out the word bug was right, they can't fall off the tree when they are all together. Later, a caterpillar comes along and tells them to make full sentences and to make them mean something. Eventually the letters come together to form a meaningful sentence and the caterpillar takes them away to show to the president.
I personally was not super impressed by this book. I feel as though there could have been a better way to convey the message. I like books that can be more realistic and can be something used outside in the world. To me, I thought the idea of letters being on a tree was not a super interesting topic. The actual message of the book was done well and the book is very cheerful. The illustrations of this book were done well but I felt they were too repetitive and boring. Most pages were just filled with leaves and letters. I think if there was more color and variation the book would be much more interesting.

[Caryn Bird]

All the letters of the alphabet live happily in a tree, each on their favorite leaf, until the wind forces them into a giant huddle. From there, the friendly word-bug comes along and helps the letters join forces to become words making the letters no longer susceptible to the shifting winds. the words come together with the help of a purple fuzzy caterpillar to become sentences, and not just any regular old sentence will do, but they become one that means something important. In the end, the important sentence, "PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO ALL MEN," is taken to the president.

Originally published in 1968, there is evidence of this context within the text itself. First, the letters to words to sentences approach to the reading process is indicative of a phonetic approach to reading that focused on part to whole. The emphasis on meaning is in the meaning contained within sentences as opposed to letters or words having meaning. Additionally, the important message being put forth by a group coming together is one of peace. This message of peace to the President is representative of the Vietnam War protests. While a message of peace is always important, in this case it seems to be off the wall and unrelated to the first half of the story.

[Mialynn Wessels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely thought this book was going to be better than what it was, but I also don't know what I was expecting from this book. I wanted to read it just based on the title and wanted to see how this book would enhance the alphabet for young children. The cover was very bright and I was looking forward to it.

This book is simply about letters on a tree that get blown off and form into words and later on sentences and become stronger. That's basically all it is, no long explanation is needed.

I was very disappointed by this book and its illustrations. Since the cover was bright and intriguing I was looking for that in the book. But every page was the same thing and same kind of leaves and same placement of the leaves. I just got very bored of the illustrations fast and nothing really caught my eye in any of it.

I wasn't the biggest fan of this book but I do see how this book would increase the chance of children understanding of how letters combined make words. And how those different words can make great and powerful sentences.

[Elly Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book for the beginning reader teaches about words letters, and sentences, while also telling a fun story with a valuable theme. In the alphabet tree, the letters learn that to become stronger, they most form words. To become even stronger they form sentences, and eventually learn how to make a sentence that actually matters. The story is simple for beginning readers to understand and the pictures are exciting, colorful, and bold. Each character is a fun addition to the story, keeping the reader engaged. Overall, there is a strong message about peace, goodwill, and the power and importance that words have. It sparks a new interest in the alphabet and words, and uses familiar concepts such as trees, leaves, bees, and caterpillars.

[Tara Goolsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rated this story a 3 out of 5. I like the theme of teaching children to work together to make it through a tough time. The little letters must work together to form words and then sentences, to form a message that is even more powerful than the wind as it threatens to sweep them all out of the alphabet tree. In this charming story on the power of the written word, the letters have learned that there is nothing they cannot accomplish. I think this could be a good story for children to refresh their minds on forming words and sentences.

I was unsure how I liked the ending of the story. I like that the story is trying to bring peace to the world. But I do not think that I like the caterpillar wanting to take the message to the President.

[Mikayla Taflinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The alphabet tree is about an array of letters who live in a tree. Afraid that the wind will blow them away they group together in the middle of the tree. One day a word bug comes to help them and the letters learn how to make words so the wind cannot pick them up. Later a caterpillar travels by the letters he teaches the words how to arrange themselves into sentences.

Strengths: shows children how letters come together to make words and words come together to make sentences
Weaknesses: I found no weaknesses in this book
Teaching point: I would use this book in the begging of kindergarten to help children form a better understanding of how letters, words, and sentence come together

[Savannah Levos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did like the "Alphabet Tree" but not as much as I thought I would. It didn't seem to have any special message or lesson in the book. It did show how you could have letters that make up words and putting the words into sentences. It would be informative to read to an classroom full of younger kids who are learning to write words and sentences. The ending with the sentence, "peace on earth," I feel that kids might not understand the concept or meaning of the sentence leaving them with some confusion. I like how the pictures were visual with the letters by spelling out the words and making the sentences.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT



Copyright in 1968 Lionni wrote a story with a message appropriate then and now. The letters of the alphabet are hanging out in a tree with the wind blowing. Then a bug encourages them to get together, make works and they will be stronger. A few pages later a caterpillar encourages them to make sentences that mean something, but the caterpillar wants them to say something important.
And yes I am going to tell you what the important message is.
Peace on earth and goodwill toward all men.

Hats off to the children’s department in a southern public library that still owns this title and had it displayed when I walked into today!!!!!

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ages: kindergarten to 5th grade

Summary: One day a strong wind almost blew away all the letter that were on a tree. One day a strange bug comes about and teaches the letters about ABC order, words, and sentences as well as the difference of simple sentences and meaningful sentences.

Review: Leo Lionni makes young students understand the importance and evolution of language in a simple yet beautifully illustrated book. Its flexible by helping students learn about words and creating a sentence.

Uses: writer's workshop, alphabet

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing letters isn’t enough to protect you from the world. You need to know how to band together and form words. Knowing words doesn’t protect you enough unless you can give them meaning in context. The context is important. You need to make sure it carries a bigger message, not because of the dangers around you, but to impact the world. Deliver that message to people who have the power to change the world.

This book touched me. To deliver this message with words that have meaning to children... it could change the world. Thank you, Leo Lionni.