A is for Angel

A is for Angel: A Christmas Alphabet and Activity Book approaches the nativity story from a different angle. Rather than telling the story chronologically, author Debbie Trafton O'Neal coordinates the players in alphabetical order. While children learn their ABCs, they'll also learn about Jesus' birth -- all through rhyming verse and vibrant illustrations.

Each page features a letter of the alphabet, displayed largely in upper and lowercase. A short sentence tells of one character or aspect of the first Christmas and highlights the word that begins with the featured letter. For example: "M is for Mary, who followed God's plan. N for the newborn, God's Son born of man."

Four craft projects are detailed at the back of the book. Parents and children can work together to create stockings, a tree skirt, gift tags or "mantel blocks" that reinforce the story they just read.

Jan Bryan-Hunt does a fabulous job as illustrator. Her whimsical artwork fills the pages with brilliant colors, sure to please children and parents.

What I Like: Everything! My kids have heard the Christmas story so many times, it's nice to have a book with a different approach to the story. They're all about learning the alphabet, too, so this is a favorite for me and them! The author did a wonderful job finding good words for every letter of the alphabet. Z and X are always troublemakers, but she even served them well by offering "ZZZs from the baby asleep in the hay" and "X is for exalting, praise lifted on high." Not perfect, but I can't think of anything better! The illustrations are great. They're so fun and colorful; quite unique.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8, but my 2 year old loves it, too!

Publisher Info: Augsburg Books, 2005; ISBN: 0806651210; Paperback; $10.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99!
Or buy it at Amazon for $8.79.

Special Info: For more alphabet fun, check out our review of this author's Easter book.