The Skull Alphabet Book

What an utterly awesome alphabet book! The concept of an ABC book based upon dead bones may sound gruesome and morbid, but it is actually beautiful and fascinaing. Pallotta plays with riddles--never actually telling us what animal belongs to each skull. My 1st grade class was able to identify most... but there were a couple that did force us to research. The illustrations are gorgeous and plenty of skull facts are also given. An original and fantastic alphabet book.

Perfect for children who love nature and animals, and their parents, too! In addition to the amazing artwork, the writing encourages children to use their own observations to come to logical conclusions. What characteristic places an animal in the phylum Chordata? What is the difference between an antler and a horn? This book encourages actual thinking, not your average A is for apple memorization. I also appreciate the hidden images - everything about this beautiful book is conducive to use by children of all ages. Which also makes it a perfect book for homeschooling families!

I use this book in archaeology and bone classes for kids. The ilustrations are beautiful, if unusual. The cover is a good representation. Each skull is pictured in a setting that gives clues to what the animal is. For whatever reason, the authors included a "find-the-presidents" search; there is a little hidden image of a president on each page. Produced in conjuction with Skulls Unlimited. Totally engaging.

I have worked in museums educating students and teachers for nearly 25 years. The Skull Alphabet Book is a book that I have as "required reading" for my teacher workshops now, because not only is it fun and accurately and beautifully illustrated but it does an excellent job at stimulating curiousity, encouraging looking for details (yes, even the presidents portraits)... that might not be immediately noticed. All in all, it illustrates the learning potential of objects to teach a wide range of concepts. You can't just read the book... you have to look at it, gather information and then make your own conclusions. Fun for everyone.

As an elementary school principal and collector of alphabet books (855 in a collection and 1041 "bibliographed"), this one ranks in my top 10 favorites. Author Jerry Pallotta and Illustrator Ralph Masiello have penned and drawn, respectively, several unusual alphabet books. This contribution eclipsed even The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book. Each letter of the alphabet is assigned to a skull. The reader is challenged to figure out to which mammal does the skull belong. That's just the beginning. Questions, information, and challenging art dare the reader-detective to do, what all educators want their students to do, THINK. E.g. The V page begins, "V is for. . . Does this page make you wonder what type of blood you have?" The illustration is a small skull perched on top of a gravestone in the night with a hint of a full moon. Hmmm, even adult alphabet book readers might find this skull challenging to identify. Some critics might be put off by the addition of hidden presidential pictures in the illustrations! Not I. Children who would be engaged in this alphabet book will strut confidence in finding and identifying U.S. presidents in the illustrations. (Yes, our children can multi-task in their thinking and in their studies!) As I have purchased alphabet books for older children in my family, I always found it difficult to find ones that engaged and intrigued the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This one will be given frequently to children I know in this age group. Thank you, Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello, for giving sophistication to alphabet books that can keep children of all ages engaged in thinking, reading, and learning.