Celebrate Nonfiction

Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing

5 Faves: Expository Nonfiction Recommended by Fran McVeigh

What’s
your favorite alphabet book?  The four that instantly come
to my mind are:

26 letters and 99 cents by
Tana Hoban

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by
Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits
and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert

The Alphabet Tree by
Leo Leoni

Because these four are
evenly split between fiction and expository texts, with a nudge from a friend, I
decided to seek out additional quality expository alphabet books for this post.
Some of the attributes that made my original criteria list were: well
researched, fact filled, creative, strong voice, point of view, and rich,
engaging language.

Some of the books I selected
have all of these criteria. Others are so innovative that I know they are
perfect for students with a wide range of interests. Because some of the
books fit into categories or series, I’ve included more than five books.

Found Alphabets
These books are incredibly creative and serve as a reminder that we can find
the alphabet in the world around us.      

The Alphabet from the Sky by Benedikt Goss (Price Stern Sloan, 2016)

ABC NYC: A Book about SEEING New York City by
Joanne Dugan (Abrams, 2005)

 

Using Letters

These books use letters to create something and emphasize
visual literacy.

Alphabet City Zoo: Making pictures with the A-B-C by
Maree Koote (Melbournestyle Books, 2016)

an excessive ALPHABET: Avalanches of As to Zillions of
Zs  by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett (Atheneum, 2016)

 

Discover America State by State
published by Sleeping Bear Press

G is for Grand Canyon:
 An Arizona Alphabet by Barbara Gowan (2002)

H is for Hawkeye:  An Iowa Alphabet by
Barbara Pierce (2003)

S is for Silver: A Nevada Alphabet by
Eleanor Coerr (2004)

 

Science and Social Studies
books published by Sleeping Bear Press:    

I is for Idea: An Inventions Alphabet by
Marcia Schonberg (2006)

M is for Money: An Economics Alphabet by
Debbie and Michael Shoulders (2015)

P is for Passport: A World Alphabet by
Devin Scillian (2003)

T is for Time by Roland Smith (includes
poetry) (2015)

S is for Story: A Writer’s Alphabet by
Esther Hershenhorn (2009)

 

Jerry Palotta  Alphabet
Books published by Charlesbridge

The Construction Alphabet Book (2006)

The Desert Alphabet Book (1994)

The Dinosaur Alphabet Book (1990)

The Flower Alphabet Book (1989)

The Furry Animal Alphabet Book (1990)

The Icky Bug Alphabet Book (1989)

The Jet Alphabet Book (2002)

The Ocean Alphabet Book (1989)

The Underwater Alphabet Book (1991)

The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book (1989)

 

Fran McVeigh is an independent Literacy Consultant in Southeast Iowa. She has had the
good fortune to experience a variety of education roles:  teacher
(classroom 4th grade, special education K-12, college), elementary principal,
K-12 curriculum development, K-12 professional development coordinator as well
as adjunct graduate instructor for over 20 years, and 19 years as a Literacy
Consultant for an AEA in Iowa. www.franmcveighwordpress.com @franmcveigh

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