J Is for Jamaica (World Alphabets)

I was disappointed. It's very much a standard children's book with a 4 or 5 line poem for each letter of the alphabet describing some local item; not a lot of creativity. Some lines rhyme, some don't, but I was rarely able to get a good chant going--the rhythm of lines varies or is absolutely missing. I wouldn't have minded so much if the text was laid out as a paragraph that I could just read as factual statements. Not what I expected from a Jamaican poet, especially not one who was offered the OBE. But, then, reading Zephaniah's rejection letter I can understand that he was likely offered it more to shut him up than to praise his style.

Alphabet book "O is for one love, Jamaica's motto"-this was my favorite part because it reminded me of a student of mine

This book is about Jamacia. It uses the alphbet to explain all of the different things in Jamaica.

This is a photographic alphabet showing Jamaica in all its colourful diversity.

"From Cricket to Pumpkin, from Hummingbird to Yam - this is a photographic alphabet showing Jamaica in all its colourful diversity. In vibrant rhyming verse, Benjamin Zephaniah explores some of the sights, sounds and tastes of Jamaica, from the bustling capital of Kingston, to the peaceful and serene Blue Mountain. A perfect way to introduce children to this small and beautiful Caribbean island with a big heart."
from amazon