G Is for One Gzonk!: An Alpha-Number-Bet Book

We first borrowed this book from our local library. It was an instant hit with its zany, but not too scary creatures and fun, Seussian-like rhymes and made-up words. My daughter cried when it couldn't be renewed anymore, so we had to buy it. It remains a reading-time favourite, and as an elementary school teacher, I believe boys would also enjoy this silly charmer.

Any book that teaches while having fun, is an A+ in my book. Fabulous illustrations and very funny! A hit!

We love all of Tony DiTerlizzi's books. He does fantastic illustrations and has a great sense of humor.

My 7-year-old daughter and I discovered this book over the weekend, and it's become a new favorite for us both. We've read it over and over, and that is something that rarely happens these days. We both laughed until our sides ached. Very cleverly written and illustrated. Very Seussian. Excellent book!

G Is For One Gzonk!, written and illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, is a delightful book of fantasy directed to those who may think they are getting another alphabet book. It IS an alphabet book. That is, is DOES contain references, however vague, to all 26 letters in the English language. It just doesn't beat you over the head with "B is for a blue bouncing ball on the beach that is bound to blow to Boston." This book is much, much more than that. It engages the creative mind. The creatures ("creachlings") are bizarre and riveting enough to give the reader the opportunity to discuss and compare with other creachlings. They are complicated, and in a neat style twist, you may see some of them more than once throughout the book. The narrator just happens to have a Harry Potter look, but only because Harry Potter was designed to look "bookish." DiTerlizzi works letters and numbers into the text, and makes them entertaining. You will spend more time on each page than you would with a Dr. Seuss book, but Dr. Seuss is designed to have the reader (or listener) memorize the text ("One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish..." and I haven't read this one in years). G Is For One Gzonk! is not for memorizing. It can, however, be used to help with numbers and letters ("Now what is the next letter?"). The illustrations really are nicely done. Tony DiTerlizzi clearly is talented! This book is a great gift for readers (and those who are read to) from ages 4-8.