{"id":36227,"date":"2019-11-02T22:59:19","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T02:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36227"},"modified":"2019-11-02T22:59:19","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T02:59:19","slug":"review-of-a-is-for-elizabeth-by-rachel-vail-illustrated-by-paige-keiser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36227","title":{"rendered":"Review of A Is for Elizabeth, by Rachel Vail, illustrated by Paige Keiser"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A Is for Elizabeth<\/em><\/p>\n

by Rachel Vail
\nillustrated by Paige Keiser<\/p>\n

Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2019. 121 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written May 21, 2019, from a library book<\/p>\n

I picked up this new book because I didn\u2019t have very many beginning chapter books to talk about when booktalking in the local elementary schools this year for the Summer Reading Program. This one is exactly what I was looking for.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth is starting second grade at the start of this book, so it\u2019s perfect for the rising second graders. She has her first homework assignment \u2013 to make a poster about her name. She doesn\u2019t think this is fair, since ELIZABETH has so many letters.<\/p>\n

To be even more unfair, the posters will be presented in alphabetical order. That means Anna is going to go first. But that doesn\u2019t seem right. After she makes the poster, she talks with her brother Justin:<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes the name Elizabeth<\/em> starts with the letter A<\/em>,\u201d I explained to Justin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it doesn\u2019t,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Justin is in fifth grade, so he thinks he knows everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes it does,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t you ever heard of sound it out<\/em>?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

Justin looked confused. Ha! Even fifth graders don\u2019t know everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnnoying. Amazing,<\/em>\u201d I said. \u201cSound it out. What letter makes the uh<\/em> sound at the beginning?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn A<\/em>,\u201d Justin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAHA!\u201d I said. \u201cAnd my name starts with the same sound! A-lizabeth!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As a mother, I especially enjoyed the part where Elizabeth tells her parents that she needs poster board for a project due tomorrow.<\/p>\n

There is a rule in our family that I forgot all about.<\/p>\n

It is:<\/p>\n

No saying the words<\/em> Poster Board after 6:00 p.m.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou said it, too,\u201d I told Mom.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaid what?\u201d she asked me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe words that rhyme with toaster sword . . .<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToaster sword?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

I whispered the words poster board.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou said those words at least five seconds later in the night than I did, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mom shook her head.<\/p>\n

Dad shook his head.<\/p>\n

They both did loud breathing.<\/p>\n

That is what they do when I make a good point and win the argument.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A Is For Elizabeth<\/em> is a fun look at the challenges and triumphs of second-grade life. It has fifty very short chapters and illustrations on every spread. Reading this book will not be daunting, but will give a sense of accomplishment.<\/p>\n

rachelvail.com<\/a>
\npaigekeiser.com<\/a>
\nmackids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/a_is_for_elizabeth.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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