It’s back to school time and with school comes books…and more books.

Some of the best children’s books are basic ABC books—it’s incredible to see how creative an author and an illustrator can be with nothing more than 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, Pre K Scholars is featuring a classic ABC book that should be on the bookshelf of every pre-reader: Bruno Munari’s ABC. Originally copyrighted in 1960, it remains timeless today.

I have an infinity towards children’s books that aim to expose readers to a world of language and provide a lesson in vocabulary at the same time as being words on a page or a story for it’s audience. Perhaps this is because I taught 2nd Graders who were primarily English as a Second Language Learners and Kindergarteners and Preschoolers, all being a part of a group known as “Early Education”. The commonality between these two groups is that they are all experiencing the English Language for the first time, in it’s primary stages. Therefore, a book that promotes discussion and extension activities about it’s content and it’s use of language is a book of value in my opinion.

ABC does just that. Munari introduces the letters of the alphabet with objects, beginning with the related beginning sound. In doing so, he is sure to add in descriptors relative to size and color, and concept vocabulary which reinforces certain prepositions. For example, for C: “A crow on a cup and a cat in a cage.” Or for V: “vertical violet violin.”

We all know that F is for FUN—how captivating that for F, Bruno Munari introduces some flies that will continue to fly through the pages until, finally, they make the ZZZZZ sound for Z! The words and illustrations alike are appreciated by the children who experience them.

Beyond the literary content, I love the fact that Munari leaves the dedication page open with the intent for each copy of his book to be dedicated personally to the child who receives it!

How fortunate our children are that they have rereleased this past treasure!