Z Is for Moose

by Kelly Bingham, Paul O. Zelinsky

Overview

Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky illustrates Kelly Bingham's outrageously funny, critically acclaimed, and boundary-breaking story about a moose, a zebra, and the alphabet! Zebra wants to put on a show as simple as ABC, but Zebra's friend Moose has other (unexpected and hilarious) ideas!

Zebra thinks the alphabet should be simple. A is for Apple. B is for Ball. Easy! But his friend Moose is too excited to wait his turn, and when M isn't for Moose (Mouse gets the honor), the rest of the letters better run for cover. Exuberant and zany storytelling brings to life two friends and one laugh-out-loud comedy of errors that's about friendship, sharing, and compromise. The incomparable Paul O. Zelinsky's artwork is bursting at the seams—literally—with child appeal. Breaking the borders of the page, and creating the art both digitally and traditionally, Zelinsky turns convention on its head. The result is a picture book that is innovative, hilarious, and begging to be read over and over again.

Named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association

Supports the Common Core State Standards

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060799854
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/28/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	BR (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Kelly Bingham has been a storyboard artist, story supervisor, and director and is now a writer. Shark Girl, her first novel, was named a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Its sequel is Formerly Shark Girl. Kelly Bingham lives with her husband Marty and four children in the town of Ellijay, Georgia.

Paul O. Zelinsky is the illustrator of Anne Isaac's Dust Devil and creator of the now-classic interactive book called The Wheels on the Bus. His retelling of Rapunzel was awarded the 1998 Caldecott Medal. Rumpelstitlskin, Hansel and Gretel and Swamp Angel with different authors all garnered Paul a Caldecott Honor. Since 1991 Paul O. Zelinsky has lived in the same apartment with his wife Deborah in northern Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Everybody will be elated with this goofy new way of going from A to Z.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

This laugh-out-loud romp of an abecedary features an impatient moose who just can’t wait for his turn.

Booklist (starred review)

If you think you’ve seen every possible idea for an alphabet book played out, think again.

Horn Book (starred review)

Everybody will be elated with this goofy new way of going from A to Z.

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

"This laugh-out-loud romp of an abecedary features an impatient moose who just can’t wait for his turn."

Booklist

"If you think you’ve seen every possible idea for an alphabet book played out, think again."

Horn Book

"Everybody will be elated with this goofy new way of going from A to Z."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Everybody will be elated with this goofy new way of going from A to Z.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Hilarious mayhem. . . . The familiar ABC has never been more fun.

The Guardian

A baseball-capped Zebra, checklist in hand, seems to be in charge of this zany, unusual alphabet book. "A is for Apple" is the traditional beginning; "B is for Ball, C is for Cat..." But then on the "D" page, Moose erupts, declaring, "D is for Moose." Zebra tells him he is on the wrong page. So Moose sulks over to poke the Elephant on the "E" page. Then he keeps looking for his turn, upsetting the other alphabet items to the distress of Zebra. "Now?" Moose keeps asking, through "I," "J," "K," and "L." When "M is for Mouse," arrives, however, Moose is furious at the slight. Away he gallops, knocking over "N," "O," "P," and "Q," and making "R" and "S" for "Moose" while Zebra tries to protect "T" through "W." As Moose sobs, Zebra finally decides to put Moose in the book. So we end with, "Z is for Zebra's friend, Moose." From the title we can tell that this is not a traditional alphabet. The paper jacket shows Moose butting in, in contrast to the cover. We are ready for comic distractions as the pages are turned, starting with Zebra's check-in of the lineup of subjects just seen under a lifting curtain. Zelinsky keeps the mixed media visuals simple, like alphabets for the young. Speech balloons are the only text. Changing colors for each border on each page, along with changing background colors, add to the lively story. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

PreS-Gr 2—This zany alphabet book will make children smile. Zebra, dressed in a referee's shirt and cap, acts as director of the book project, assigning appropriate objects or animals to represent each letter. Zebra's endeavor begins peacefully enough with "A is for Apple." Next comes "B is for Ball," and then "C is for Cat." Each animal or object cooperatively poses center stage on the neatly designed page, featuring a bright border and the letter of the moment displayed in colored print. When Zebra reaches "D," his orderly alphabetical display is disrupted by the overeager Moose, who lopes onto the page, displacing the Duck. Zebra rages at the hapless Moose, who then slinks onto "E's" page, bumping into the chagrined Elephant. Zebra struggles to proceed through the alphabet letter by letter as Moose continues to interrupt. To Moose's shock and dismay, Zebra decides to go with "M is for Mouse." He rampages throughout the rest of the alphabet ruining each entry while Zebra protests. When Moose finally breaks down in tears, Zebra relents. He allows Moose to appear on the last page of the book. "Z is for Zebra's friend, Moose." The amusing alphabetical adventure is told through hilarious mixed-media illustrations and dialogue bubbles. Unexpected details like Moose hiding in Kangaroo's pocket will delight young readers. Pair this title with Susan Heyboer O'Keefe's equally amusing Hungry Monster ABC (Little, Brown, 2007) or Tasha Tudor's more sedate A Is for Annabelle (S & S, 2001).—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA

School Library Journal

…one of the best picture books this year [2012]. Kelly Bingham has already displayed skill with young adult novels like Shark Girl. In Z Is for Moose she turns her creative intelligence to the 2- to 6-year-old crew, demonstrating how strong writing can be combined with an exciting visual interpretation. It's hard to come up with something new for an alphabet book, but Bingham has done just that…Leaving lots of room for adult readers to amplify the story, Zelinsky has created some of his happiest and sunniest artwork thus far. It's almost as if he were updating Richard Scarry with the bite and wit that has always been his hallmark.
—The New York Times Book Review

Anita Silvey

Move over, Interrupting Chicken. In Bingham (Shark Girl) and Zelinsky’s droll alphabet book, Moose expects to own the letter M, and he cannot contain his enthusiasm and impatience. As a polite Apple, Ball, Cat and others take their turns, the clownish Moose barges in. He pushes Duck out of the way, annoys Elephant, and pops out of Kangaroo’s pouch (a startled joey asks, “Mommy, who is that?”). Readers accustomed to the usual list of letters will be giggling with suspense by the time “L is for Lollipop” rolls around. “Here it comes!” chortles Moose, anticipating his M. Unfortunately, a serious-minded Zebra, who directs the alphabet and wears a referee shirt over his own stripes, has other ideas. Mayhem ensues as Moose throws a tantrum, stomping and scribbling on Pie, Queen, and Ring, and then sniffling as Zebra tries to protect Umbrella, Whale, and Xylophone. Zelinsky (Dust Devil) frames the pages as a conventional alphabet book, setting Moose loose on the staged setting. He and Bingham craft a witty meta-abecedary, disrupting the predictable ABCs and reveling in Moose’s antics. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

A wry twist on an alphabet story makes for laugh-out-loud fun. Poor Moose. He tries to get into the alphabetic act on every letter page from D to L, but Zebra, who's directing the assemblage, insists it's not his turn yet and that he must move off the page. When it IS time for M, Zebra decides to go with Mouse, and Moose flips his antlers--well, his lid. Zebra tries to console the despondent moose, telling him he can still be in the book even though the only letter left is Z. Solution? Z becomes "Zebra's friend, Moose." How perfect that Z-elinsky is the illustrator. His often-elegant style turns comedic here, with brightly colored borders framing each letter in a simple scene. The borders become a design device for Moose, as he pokes his head over the edges or stomps the scene within angrily. In others, Moose tries to camouflage himself, as when he squeezes behind an Ice-cream cone or hitchhikes a ride in the Kangaroo's pouch. Dialogue balloons express Moose's eagerness, asking, "Now?" and declaring (mistakenly), "Here it comes!" Zebra, wearing a referee's black-and-white striped shirt and carrying a clipboard, answers, "NO, not yet!" Kids who are learning their ABCs or have just learned them will find this hysterical, and it has great potential for storytimes. Just label it F for funny. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews