Edward Lear wrote this rhyming, somewhat nonsensical alphabet poem in the 1800s. Suse MacDonald has added some colorful illustrations in a style similar to Eric Carle that make the rhymes come to life. Kids should love the fun rhymes for each animal or object. Obviously, it is a fun book to use for learning the alphabet. Teachers could also use this when studying rhyming sounds or it could be used as a model for students to write their own rhyming poetry a'la Lear (just be careful which words are picked to rhyme so no one accidentally gets a naughty word).

I might use this for a final fast read book.

Description: Each letter has a rhyme that emphasizes the letter of the alphabet that is being taught.

Illustrations: Colorful, clear and easy to follow for even the youngest children.

Keywords/Themes: alphabet, animals, rhymes

1. Awards received: none

2. Appropriate grade levels: Pre-k to Kindergarten

3. Original Summary: "A Was Once an Apple Pie" is a book of poems adapted from the originals by Edward Lear. Each letter has an illustration for something beginning with that letter accompanied by a short poem with rhymes. The illustrations are colorful and engaging.

4. Original Review: "A Was Once an Apple Pie" is definitely a good way to get early learners into learning the alphabet. The repetition of the rhyme scheme along with the fun illustrations will make learning fun and easy! I do find that some of the references are a bit outdated like "ink" for the letter "i."

5. This book could help beginning learners with alphabet instruction. The letters are in alphabetical order and each include a picture of something starting with that letter which will help the letters be remembered more easily.

This book could also be used to help teach rhyming words. Each letter poem has a number of rhyming words to help children start to learn how rhyming words sound together.

I always liked Edward Lear. Some rare words, big pictures.

This is one of one of those books I just don't get, like Goodnight Moon.

Awards: none
Grade levels: Preschool-2nd Grade
Original summary: This is a silly rhyming book that demonstrates the alphabet in a unique way and repeats the word used for each letter to engage students.
Original review: This book uses a fun approach to teach the alphabet, and may be perfect for a class that needs a little more encouragement to learn.
Possible class uses: This book can be of course used to teach the alphabet, but also to teach rhyming and word play. Students can recreate lines in this book and make their own alphabet book.

This book has a colorful pictures. It uses rhymes to describe the letters.

Grades PreK-Kindergarten
Heather

This is a wonderful alphabet book for ECE readers. It not only shows letters and things that start with those letters, but it also makes up rhyming words that go along with these objects. This is great for letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, and just plain fun! A refreshing take on the traditional alphabet book!

Did this as an impromptu read aloud - the kids loved the nonsensical rhymes.

Alphabet books are typically geared toward children that are becoming familiar with the alphabet and expanding their vocabularies. This book does not work well for that. The poem that this book is based on uses nonsense words to make rhymes, which is very unhelpful for young ones trying to learn words. I did like the illustrations!

This was a twist on the traditional A is for apple alphabet book.