Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Drawing the Alphabet by Jeanne Holmberg reminds us that reading is a window to a world of adventure and imagination, knowledge and fun. Before young children can read, they must first nurture a desire to understand the symbols on a page. Learning to read begins at home, with adults or older children reading aloud to younger children, or reading along with them. Teaching begins with recognizing the shapes and sounds of the letters of the alphabet. The learning process doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be a lot of fun if one includes coloring, playful rhymes, silly, whimsical creatures, and a whole lot of laughter and imagination.

Jeanne Holmberg’s children’s activity book Drawing the Alphabet is a great tool to inspire young readers (and writers, too). The author, a mother herself, has created an informative and fun book that will have learners giggling as they work through the pages, drawing their images that start with a given letter and unscrambling words that are mixed up with equally mixed-up imagery. Take the time to work with a child, or allow them to fill in some time before supper, in the car, or on a bus, and let the learning develop. The book is presented alphabetically, but the reader can pick and choose which pages to work on first. The important thing is that young children foster a growing interest in the written language and strengthen their reading skills. This is a great way to inspire beginners to read and to use their imaginative skills in creating imagery and stories.