Alphabuddies: G Is First!

by Beth Bacon, Karen Kane, Eric Barclay (Illustrator)

"Hilarious and subversive." —Kirkus G is determined to go first in the alphabet, but does that mean reading will be destroyed? This witty picture book about the order of the alphabet is laugh-out-loud funny!  When G wants to be first in the alphabet song, A has a BIG problem! G can’t be first. Not today, not tomorrow, and not next week. NEVER! A tells G if they change the order of the alphabet song, no one will learn how to read, and reading will be DESTROYED! Will reading be destroyed if G is first? G is willing to find out! Filled with laugh-out-loud humor, Beth Bacon and Karen Kane’s witty wordplay is perfectly paired with Eric Barclay’s colorful characters. You’ll never sing the alphabet song the same way again!  

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

G wants to know - why can't the alphabet start with him! A very funny book that looks at why there is a particular order to the way we do things. Really gets you thinking about several important questions as the story unfolds. A claims that 'reading will be destroyed' if anything changes! Soon there are several other letters questioning A; but is a really telling the truth?

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked the humor in Z Is for Moose, this is the book for you. Instead of letter 'z' being tired of being last, we have letter 'g' wanting to rearrange the alphabet song. Should they or shouldn't they?

[Julianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kid's new favorite. A silly request rearranges the alphabet. Anthropomorphic letter (and number) pals need to take turns without destroying kids' ability to learn the alphabet or destroy reading forever.

[Emily Haage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read aloud for preschoolers and kindergartners to practice their ABCs in a silly way

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The letters try a new order.
Like the concept but it has too much text for me.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but a bit too long/too much text

[Judy Shemtob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this adorable picture book ALPHABUDDIES: G IS FIRST by Beth Bacon Author & Karen Kane and illustrated by Eric Barclay for the third time this year. This story definitely has reader rereadability. It's a laugh-aloud delight! What a great time the authors must have had writing this book together! A lovely creation! Precious illustrations! Young children will love it and learn to read it by themselves with a little practice. Looking forward to another picture book by this winning creatives' combination. Special thanks to the authors for sending me a copy of the book as a prize for Tara Lazar's STORYSTORM 2024! Harper Books 2023

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, G is desperate to be the first letter of the alphabet so he can feel important, but A just won’t let him. After some wordplay suggestions, Z comes up with a solution – that is, that each letter is equally important and why.

This alphabet book is sure to tickle the fancy of kids just learning to recite and write the alphabet. Clever concept by Bacon and Karen Kane with crazy cartoonish digital illustrations by Eric Barclay.

Recommended for grades PreS-K.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A has a big problem when G wants to be first in the alphabet song. G can’t be first. Not today, not ever. A tells G if they change the order of the alphabet song, no one will learn how to read, and reading will be destroyed. Letting G go first is not as disastrous as A feared. Not the first subversive alphabet book, but good, colorful fun young children will enjoy.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief summary: "G" wants to be first in the alphabet song, but "A" argues it will mess up reading. The letters experiment to see if this statement is true or not.

Comments: Humorous. Speech bubbles. Individual frames or multi-panels like a graphic novel. Large letters and words.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

[Alison McGauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book would make a perfect read aloud for pre-k to grade 2 when children are learning letters, sounds, and alphabetizing. This book is full of fun wordplay and colorful, playful illustrations. Children will certainly relate to the argument between the letters about wanting to go first! Check out Alphabuddies!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is unusual that a book with this format, which is a bit like a graphic novel, would work well for storytime, but this one did. I think that singing along with the alphabet song, with the letters out of order, made it more engaging for the kids. It worked well as part of our alphabet storytime, and I liked that it reinforced the reasons for learning the alphabet.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Subversive and cute, the simple colors and outlined illustrations make this a fun preschool read-aloud. Kids learning their letters will get a real kick out of pages that encourage incorrect abc singing.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot wait to read this at story time.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful and funny. Love this reminder to all of us that we can shake things up and do things differently without breaking the world.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun alphabet book with a twist focusing on the importance of taking turns, anyone can be anything, and coping with change.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved the book and wanted to read it over and over. Entertaining. Good to help teach the alphabet.

[Kelsey Vernon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be fun for kindergarten or first grade as it is surrounding around learning the alphabet.