FICTION

R Is for Rocket

by Tad HILLS
illus. by Tad Hills. 40p. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Jul. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780553522280; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780553522303.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Rocket the dog and Goose, from the "Duck & Goose" series (Random), both appear in Hills's latest picture book. As they play outside with their friends Bella the squirrel and Owl, they encounter a variety of animals whose activities are described in sentences that use alliteration. ("Rocket rests by the river in the rain./Bella sits on a stump. 'I'm glad I have this sock,' she says") Every page is given its own letter, and those letters are written in bold text when they appear at the beginning of a word. The humor is subtle; the situations playful. ("Fred frolics with fireflies in the field"; "Owl jumps for joy").The oil paint and colored-pencil illustrations include full pages and spreads, and large spot art. A cheery alphabet chart appears on the reverse side of the cover.
VERDICT An endearing introduction to the alphabet.
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada
Dog Rocket and his animal friends take an alliterative, if random, trip through the alphabet. Each page includes a sentence showcasing the featured letter ("Fred frolics with fireflies in the field") and a cheerful illustration depicting the text. It's rather slight, but Rocket's many fans will enjoy visiting with these friends.
 , Jun 01, 2015

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