{"id":34340,"date":"2014-09-02T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2014-09-02T14:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/?p=34340"},"modified":"2014-09-03T11:58:23","modified_gmt":"2014-09-03T15:58:23","slug":"take-away-the-a-by-michael-escoffier-illustrated-by-kris-di-giacomo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/take-away-the-a-by-michael-escoffier-illustrated-by-kris-di-giacomo\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Away the A by Micha\u00ebl Escoffier, illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Take<\/a>It’s subtitled “An ALPHABEAST of a book!” which should give you some indication that letters will be involved. Ah, but there’s a catch\u00a0\u2013 a simply ingenious, uniquely entertaining one at that. Ready to wordplay?<\/p>\n

“Without the A the BEAST is the BEST.” I can vouch for that without even seeing the 25 other forthcoming letters: this magnificent Alphabeast is Alpha-best for sure.<\/p>\n

Oh, but you say you need more play\u00a0…?<\/p>\n

“Without the P\u00a0the PLATE is too LATE.”\u00a0That hungry kitty\u00a0left only a tell-tale tail, ahem.<\/p>\n

“Without the L\u00a0the PLANTS wear PANTS.” Ferns\u00a0need tweedy fashion, too!<\/p>\n

“Without the U\u00a0my AUNT is an ANT.” No wonder sitting through those\u00a0long meals makes her antsy!<\/p>\n

“Without the S SNOW falls NOW.” Might I lament the\u00a0few inches already on the mountains, oh shudder, shudder?!<\/p>\n

Clearly, you’ve figured out the brilliant schtick? But beyond all this fun, we’ve also got subtle, essential, vital reminders about the creative power of language. Learn your letters, shift them at will, and you’ve got the unlimited ability to express\u00a0anything and everything.<\/p>\n

Need proof? This is French\u00a0author\u00a0Micha\u00ebl Escoffier\u2019s first book in English, published by fabulously indie Enchanted Lion Books<\/a>. Escoffier\u2019s got award-winning bestsellers in his native tongue (translations available from\u00a0ELB, natch), but this one he wrote only in English. It’s oh so whimsically, gleefully illustrated by his frequent collaborator Kris Di Giacomo<\/a>, whose\u00a0art\u00a0requires no translations. With his Stateside\u00a0debut, Escoffier is delightedly, demonstrating his power over language, or rather languages.\u00a0We should all cultivate such superpowers!<\/p>\n

So let me give it a quick try: Take away my babble above … and you’ll be left with a clarified\u00a0A-PLUS.<\/p>\n

Tidbit<\/strong>: Click here<\/a>. Waaayyy too much fun in just 38 seconds<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Readers<\/strong>: Children<\/p>\n

Published<\/strong>: 2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s subtitled “An ALPHABEAST of a book!” which should give you some indication that letters will be involved. Ah, but there’s a catch\u00a0\u2013 a simply ingenious, uniquely entertaining one at that. 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