Aussie Legends Alphabets by Beck Feiner
Published by Harper Collins Children’s Books.
Date: 18 September 2017
R.R.P: $24.99
This is an interesting ABC book full of Australians, some recognisable and some less so that are considered (in one of Australia’s most recognised terms) Legends. There are a couple of reasons I like this book, and a couple why I don’t.
I love how the writer has captured the heart of Australia by sharing the ABC’s of some much loved Australians. I also found that keeping it simple during the main part of the book and explaining each person further at the back of the book enables a greater scope of readership. What I mean by this is that there are so many ways this could be used to reach different age groups by the way that it is set out. For a young child you can simply go through the alphabet saying each persons name as you read along. As they get older you can add the text that is written on each page about them.
The text is clear and easy to read on the main pages which make it a good read for an early reader. The letters that are written in colour to highlight the letter of the alphabet is great for letter recognition and early literacy development.
I love how there is an array of colours used throughout the book and how they are not your usual primary colours that are found in many other ABC books. The colours featured are effective yet simple, particularly for L is for Lee Lin Chin where most of the colours are grey, black and white yet the pinkish/red lipstick and shoes create a pop on the page.
My main reasons I am not totally loving the whole book is that the pages are so thin and will be easily ripped when a child is enthusiastically looking through it. I also would have liked to have seen more historical figures because I think a book like this could give children a deeper look into the history of Australia, knowledge we are often lacking even ourselves as adults.
On the whole, it is a lovely book and does celebrate Australian people but I wonder whether it is more suited to adult readers rather than children from three years old. I would love to know what you all think.
Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Book Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Little Big Reads 