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Children's Fiction Words

AlphaBest

The Zany, Zanier, Zaniest Book about Comparatives and Superlatives

by (author) Helaine Becker

illustrated by Dave Whamond

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Sep 2012
Category
Words, Alphabet
Recommended Age
4 to 8
Recommended Grade
p to 3
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781554537150
    Publish Date
    Sep 2012
    List Price
    $17.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Out of print

This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.

Description

As a masked and caped superhero pursues a mischievous villain through an amusement park in this clever picture book, the only text provided is a series of adjectives and their comparatives and superlatives. For example, as the villain flies off the Ferris wheel, the text reads “Dizzy”; when he lands and can't walk a straight line, “Dizzier”; and then when he falls flat on his face, “Dizziest.” The high-energy illustrations containing hilarious scenes of mayhem (including slime!) help bring the concepts to vivid life. The adjectives appear in alphabetical order, from A (Angry, Angrier, Angriest) to Z (Zany, Zanier, Zaniest). There are some exceptions included as well, such as “Magnificent,” “More Magnificent” and “Most Magnificent” and the word “Unique,” which has no comparatives or superlatives.

Award-winning children's book author Helaine Becker has created a playful and multilayered book that will find lots of uses in the classroom. It provides a perfect, easy-to-understand language arts lesson on adjectives in general and on comparatives and superlatives in particular. It also works as an alphabet book, a primer for spelling and a vocabulary resource. And it's a truly fun picture book story as well --- with a surprising twist at the end! --- that early readers and pre-readers can enjoy on their own. Dave Whamond's exuberant illustrations are bursting with humor and lots of comical details, encouraging visual literacy. As a bonus, more information about these distinctive adjectives along with teaching tips can be found at the end of the book.

About the authors

 

Helaine Becker
est l'auteure de nombreux livres jeunesse primés. Elle a écrit plus de 80
livres, dont Raconte-moi les graphiques : L'histoire de William Playfair et
l'album illustré à succès Un porc-épic dans un sapin. Helaine
habite à Toronto, en Ontario.

 

HELAINE BECKER is the author of numerous of books of fiction and non-fiction for children, among them the best-selling A Porcupine in a Pine Tree and its sequel, Dashing Through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells, The Haunted House That Jack Built and Little Jack Horner, Live from the Corner. Her books have won the Silver Birch Award and the CBA Libris Award and have been shortlisted for the Red Cedar, the Hackmatack and the Rocky Mountain awards. Helaine lives in Toronto with her family. Visit her at www.helainebecker.com.

Helaine Becker's profile page

DAVE WHAMOND a illustré la série Margot et My Think-a-ma-Jink, tous deux gagnants du prix Blue Spruce. Il a également signé les illustrations des livres de Robert Munsch Quelle tête!, C’est petit ici! et Je raffole de l’école!, et est l'auteur d'une bande dessinée intitulée Reality Check, qui paraît quotidiennement dans un certain nombre de journaux nord-américains. Dave habite à Calgary, en Alberta.

 

DAVE WHAMOND is the creator of Oddrey and My Think-a-ma-Jink, both winners of the Blue Spruce Award. He illustrated the Robert Munsch books Braids!, Think Big! and School Rules! He also has a syndicated cartoon strip called Reality Check, which appears daily in a number of North American newspapers. Dave lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Dave Whamond's profile page

Awards

  • Short-listed, Reuben Award for Book Illustration, National Comics Society

Editorial Reviews

... Whamond's illustrations have a strong sense of comedy ...

Publishers Weekly

... lots of humorous details that are sure to have kids chuckling.

Kirkus Reviews

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