The Alphabet Tree

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This book is about letters that are frightened by the wind. A friendly bug comes along and tells them that if they put themselves together and make words they will be stronger against the wind. A caterpillar comes along and tells them that words are confusing and they should get together and make sentences and become even stronger. He also suggests that if they were to write sentences, the sentences should mean something. They should say something important to themselves and everyone else. love how Lionni uses animals that would be seen on a tree to help guide this book along. Like the bug and caterpillar. I also like that the wind can blow the letters off the tree like it would the leaves. Like always, Lionni shares an important message in his creation. ( )

Story about letters that live in a tree and these letters make words, words make sentences with meaning.

introduces the alphabet with a little bee flying around. include some additional words
great for beginning readers
1 book

I did not like the book “the alphabet tree” by Leo Lionni. The plot was not really telling a story. Instead, it was teaching the reader that letters make up words, words make sentences, and those sentences can have meaning. Unless this book was used within a lesson plan about how words, or sentences were formed I would not suggest this book. Additionally, at the end the letters make the sentence “peace on earth and goodwill toward all men”, and then the caterpillar wants to bring this sentence to the President. I do not think that content makes sense with the story or would be appropriate for the readers of this book. There are two big ideas to this book. The first is the construction of sentences. The second is that you can make those sentences to express meaning.