The Top 10 Everything of 2008

8. Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet

Of the dozens of alphabet books that are published every year, this one stands out for a simple reason: in addition to the A, B, and Cs, there's so much to look at. A passel of hogs, a crash of rhinos, a troop of kangaroos and a tower of giraffes (don't worry, I had to look up the group names too) interact on each page. Pull the tabs to make the nightingales open their beaks or reveal the sparkling, shiny blue wings of a dragonfly. There are also textured things to touch, from the scaly green Alligator to the furry tail of the sleeping Zorilla. The 26 pop-ups on the poster are a nice bonus. This book can serve toddlers through early readers. Many of the words (Jaguars, Warthogs) will be challenging for youngsters, but hey, that's where you come in!

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