Retelling: This rhyming alphabet book presents a naughty child for each letter of the alphabet.

Thoughts and Feelings: The illustrations in this book are extremely creative. For some reason, I feel bad for liking it. Perhaps its because the children featured are so one-dimensional, perhaps it's because I think that name-calling is wrong and the author calls a child a name (like "Fiendish, or Gluttonous") on every page. I prefer language that defines actions as undesirable rather than the person who performs them. Still, I certainly recognized all of these behaviors from my childhood and from teaching and I laughed. I'll admit it! I laughed!

Hmm. I'm not sure what I think about this. Some of the entries are in the best tradition of naughty-children-being-horribly-and-unbelievably-punished, like Angry Abby, who is eaten by an Awful Alligator. Or Lazy Lenore, "While out on the lake, she won't lift an oar. The boat springs a leak. Now who'll help Lenore?"

But others, like Mischievous Martin and Doodling Daphne just continue on their way without consequences. The naughtinesses are odd mixtures of inappropriate or rowdy behavior, like the Terrible Twins, or just plain nastiness, like Fiendish Frankie and his Frisbee.

I think I'd call this a sort of postmodern version of the traditional naughty children rhymes. There's no particular order or logic behind who gets punished and who doesn't. Sometimes the punishment matches the crime, sometimes the kids get away with their nasty behavior.

But it is fun to read, the rhymes are well-written and have lots of kooky words to enjoy, such as bluster, flan, catastrophic and more. The illustrations are hilarious, with a mix of drawings, photos, and little speech bubbles. While my inner cataloger clamors for order and logic in the children's comeuppance, I think I'll let my inner child just enjoy the wacky story.

Verdict: An additional purchase, as it's not really a good read-aloud for storytime. Add if you have parents and kids who like naughty children books.

ISBN: 978-0525475644; Published July 2008 by Dutton; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

This one was a great read-aloud for my kiddos. Lots of great vocabulary! My son asked me "what's eavesdropping? Why's that bad?" It was a great way to open up conversation! ( )

Ashman, L. (2008). M is for Mischief: An A to Z of Naughty Children. New York:
Dutton Children’s Books.

9780525475644

As the title implies, this alphabet picturebook features 26 misbehaving baddies. The rhyming and playful nature of the poems lend a person (read: me) to imagine he or she is the narrator on the show Gossip Girl, reporting what bad deeds Chuck Bass has done this week.

While all of the poems feature alliteration of that page’s particular letter, not all of the poems include poetic justice. I personally found this less than ideal. “Let them have it,” I thinks.

The illustrations are fun and interesting—a mix of colorful sketches and photographs.

Activities to do with the book:

Students could come up with the own poems of children behaving badly. They could also turn the poems into skits and have a classmate narrate the poems.

Favorite Quotes:

“Abby's apt to argue anytime and anyplace.
She'll argue over apricots, an acorn, or an ace.
She'll argue with an astronaut, an artist, or a waiter.
A shame she had to argue with that awful alligator.”

“It's quirky how Quincy is so quick to fight.
He quarrels with all, convinced he is right.
He quibbles with teachers, then quacks, "How absurd!"
He quizzes his classmates, then mocks every word.

When warned of the quicksand, he questions the scout.
He might quarrel less...if he's ever pulled out.”

For more of my reviews visit sjkessel.blogspot.com

Great comical book if you are doing the alphabet.