The Animal Alphabet

This is a delightful introduction to the alphabet which combines winning music with quality National Geographic footage. Geoffrey the giraffe, the animated host, takes young viewers from A thru Z, with each letter being represented by a different animal. Lions, bears, monkeys, elephants, and other common animals are shown. But there are also some rather imaginative and unusual choices: iguanas, newts, quails, vultures, and--in an animated sequence--the mythological unicorn. Broadway composer/lyricist Elizabeth Swados, who wrote the original music and lyrics for each of the sequences, does a wonderful job of matching the rhythm of the music to the natural movements of the animal. Entertaining and educational, The Animal Alphabet (and other Karl-Lorimar "Scholastic" titles) is also approved for in-library children's programs. Highly recommended.