• Age: 2 to 5
• Grade: p to 1

A bestselling introduction to the alphabet and Canadian wildlife from A to Z, and a great gift for little ones – perfect for ages 2 to 5
Between the beaver building branch by branch, the loon laughing on the lake, and the powerful, playful polar bear, Canada is home to a spectacular array of animals. This concept book celebrates the country’s diverse wildlife by presenting each letter of the alphabet alongside a representative mammal, insect, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate. The creatures portrayed hail from coast to coast to coast, and reflect close research even in their stylized depictions.
Short text phrases describe animal behavior and play with alliteration, making each spread fun and engaging. Paper collage artwork by Geraldo Valério is simple yet sophisticated, full of colour, movement, and touches of humour. Created with just paper, scissors, and glue, this art style will easily inspire home or classroom activities. Two informational spreads at the end of the book feature facts about each creature, with uppercase and lowercase letters repeated for additional comprehension.

Geraldo Valério was born in Brazil, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing, followed by a Master of Arts at New York University. His many highly acclaimed books include My Book of Birds (described in Booklist as “striking and beautiful”); At the Pond (two starred reviews); Friends (one starred review); Blue Rider (two starred reviews); Turn On the Night (three starred reviews) and The Egg (two starred reviews). His work has been published in many countries, including Canada, the US, Brazil, Portugal, France, the UK and China. Geraldo lives in Toronto.

Geraldo Valério's profile page

• Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens

"Definitely has a place in home collections as well as in those libraries that serve the preschool and kindergarten crowd. Highly recommended."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Readers will enjoy identifying the cold-weather creatures and their outstanding attributes."

Kirkus Reviews

"A truly stunning new approach to regional animal alphabet books, with arresting artwork on every single page. Young children will be delighted to learn their ABC's with this fascinating new book."

The Midwest Book Review

"An excellent addition to alphabet book collections."

School Library Journal

"A charming and informative alphabet book that will delight readers. It is a recommended addition to any library or classroom collection."

Resource Links

"This book would be of great value in the classroom for many reasons. It presents the alphabet in a practical way... Valerio's bright and colourful collage illustrations will capture the eye of young readers, who will surely be inspired to try and emulate his style with some paper and scissors, at home or in the classroom."

Canadian Children's Book News