Go big or go home: Sometimes regular adjectives just aren't enough. With AlphaBest, kids will learn a whole alphabet's worth of zany, zanier, zaniest adjectives! An easy guide at the back explains the rules of forming comparatives and superlatives so kids can compare anything using just the right words. Stupendous, hilarious illustrations tell a story of 'venge and revenge, with a surpising twist at the end.
Ideal for beginning readers, ELL students, and lovers of fun and frolic, kids, parents and teachers will all enjoy this kooky, kookier, kookiest compendium of word wisdom.
KIDS CAN PRESS, ISBN: 978-1-55453-715-0
"A bumbling klutz of a superhero chases a villain through an amusement park, the text consisting of 25 comparatives and superlatives describing their attacks on each other and the sights, sounds, textures and tastes of the park. ("Unique," appropriately, stands alone.) “Clever” is the superhero following a footprint trail. The villain is “cleverer,” slipping onto a Ferris-wheel–like ride. But the superhero is “cleverest,” setting the ride to “hyper drive,” which sends the dizzy villain flying. ...Backmatter gives a down-and-dirty version of the rules for forming comparatives and superlatives, but it is not a comprehensive guide...Whamond’s ink-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations are the true stars, his over-the-top scenes carrying the story with lots of humorous details that are sure to have kids chuckling. Expressive body language and facial expressions, especially pop-eyes, make the characters come to life." - Kirkus "A pint-size superhero and a villain do battle through an amusement park in this alphabetical exploration of comparatives and superlatives. Both opponents suffer slapstick pratfalls as they race around the park: the hero gets covered in eggs, stuffed animal fluff, and green goo—demonstrating “eggy, eggier, eggiest,” “fuzzy, fuzzier, fuzziest,” and “slimy, slimier, slimiest.” While Whamond’s illustrations have a strong sense of comedy, the idea of escalation isn’t always clear (is laughing at someone else’s misfortune really “ruder” than shoving a small girl in the face?). Closing notes offer grammatical tips for creating comparatives and superlatives." - Publishers Weekly
Gentle. Gentler. Gentlest.
Hot. Hotter. Hottest.
Icy. Icier. Iciest.
A bully at an amusement park makes other guests angry, angrier and angriest, until the brave, braver, bravest hero arrives on the scene. The chase that ensues involves increasing degrees of mayhem as the two move through the park and towards a surprise ending. Author Helaine Becker and illustrator Dave Whamond have teamed up to create an alphabet of comparative and superlative adjectives...Becker’s selections pair quite well with the illustrations and address the function of the book as an instructional tool for teaching standard comparatives and superlatives as well as some exceptions. Included at the end of the main story is a guide for teaching kids to form comparatives and superlatives with tips, rules, exceptions and examples.
The full-colour illustrations are the real gem of this book. Dave Whamond’s cartoon style is incorporated through the amusement park theme. This style is also perfect for the over-the-top examples needed to show superlatives, such as hottest, klutziest, slimiest and zaniest. Highly detailed pictures will have readers noticing something new upon each read through.
Helaine Becker and Dave Whamond are both Forest of Reading Award winners and have written a book that will teach and entertain. Definitely recommended for teachers.
Recommended. - CM Magazine