Get the feedBOOKS: ABC is for Circus
Sunday, Feb 06th 2011
It's stylish, it's colorful, is it right for your kid?
Congratulations to Matthew Wireman for winning this week's book giveaway! While this contest is now closed, please come back to SixSeeds for more giveaways for good, family, fun!
At SixSeeds, we believe in the power of a good story. The books our children are hearing and reading will move, inspire, and sometimes even shape their lives... even young lives. This week, we take a popular kids' book and examine it. Hopefully, the next time you're browsing though a crowded bookstore, our reviews will help you sort through the thousands of titles… and you can choose wisely.
Book Title: ABC is for Circus
Game: Patrick Hruby Memory Game
Illustrator: Patrick Hruby
Publisher: AMMO Books
Age: Preschool
Buy it Here: ABC is for Circus
Buy it Here: Patrick Hruby Memory Game
Patrick Hruby grew up in a log cabin in Idaho, where he dreamt of running away to join the circus as a trapeze artist. Alas, his dreams never came true. He studied math and physics before attending the Art Center College of Design and becoming an illustrator in Los Angeles.
While he never walked the high wire, Patrick’s childhood dreams did find manifest in a colorful children’s board book, ABC is for Circus.
A is for Acrobats
B is for Big Top
C is for Calliope
Ready to run away to the circus yet? Wait until you see the bright pictures with smart use of shapes. Hruby is receiving growing recognition for his artistic contributions. Though I’m no art critic, I do know this –- his work makes me happy and I want to introduce kids to it.
The publisher rightly refers to their line of ABC books as “artist centric,” which means it’s not going to be used as a text book at school any time soon. This particular one soars in artistic delivery, but (similar to the Alternative ABC book) falls short educationally. The letters in ABC is for Circus are tasteful and an aesthetic match for the pictures, but the font is not conducive to a child actually identifying the letters and therefore hinders the potential for phonemic awareness. Plus, all of the words are written in all capital letters, adding to the confusion.
Patrick has combined his circus creations with other masterpieces (including nature and animals) to form the Patrick Hruby Memory Game.
The Bottom Line:
The memory game captures what AMMO seems to do best – creating visual beauty. While a child may not be able to identify what every picture is, the colorful nature will certainly engage them. The packaging is enticingly sleek. I keep picking it up and running my hands over it because it feels so incredible. It would make for a great gift, but it’s certainly not the boxed game you’d pick up at Toys R Us!
The book is also visually stunning, but skip it if you want to teach your kids the difference between P and Q. However, if you want them to learn about calliopes? It just might be the book for you!
To See More of Patrick Hruby’s Art
Dual Giveaway this Week!
We are giving this book only on our website! Please leave a comment for a chance to win. We always love to hear from you.
Head over to our Facebook page -- leave a comment regarding the Memory Game anytime this week for a chance to win. The Memory Game will be given away exclusively on Facebook. (It's easy -- the link to our page is provided next to the article.)
On one week from publication at noon (EST), we'll pick a name in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and send you an email notification.
Limit one (1) entry per person; NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington D.C. who are 18 or older as of date of entry.
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Jill Joiner
Jill Joiner is a married mom of two elementary age kids. She spends the majority of her time doing the things that moms do. She has her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University.
Comments
by Matthew Wireman #
I love colorful books. With a third baby due in two months, we love to get any kind of books we can that will help all three learn well--and with an eye for art.
by Kirstin #
I'd love to win a copy.
by Kari #
I've never seen any of his books, but they sound wonderful! I'd love to share them with my little preschooler!
by kari #
The cover itself looks so colorful and exciting. I would love to read this to my kids!
by kathy #
It sounds like a lovely book. Who cares if its not a "text book"? Teaching our children the pleasure of enjoying something is educational too! Personally, I can't wait to experience "picking it up and running my hands over it because it feels so incredible." Great review - I want it!
by Janelle #
Love artsy kids' books!
by Nancy French #
Looks like a happy book!
by Angela Lexmond #
Wouldn't be the first book I've selected for the illustrations?!
by Roz #
This book is just up my ally, I would love to own it.
by Larry Pressly #
Looks like fun.
Post Your Comment
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It's stylish, it's colorful, is it right for your kid?
by Elysa Mac #