Toot & Puddle: Puddle's ABC (Book)

Hobbie, H. (2000). Toot & Puddle: Puddle's ABC. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-36593-2

Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7
Genre: Picture Book
Subjects/Themes: Pigs, Turtles, ABCs, Learning to Write,

Plot: Puddle the pig teaches Otto the turtle his ABCs so that he can learn to write his name.  After learning to write each letter of the alphabet, Otto learns to write his name as well as Toot and Puddle's names.  Each letter of the alphabet is introduced in both upper and lower case forms.  A picture accompanies the letter with a short phrase or sentence.  For example for the letter M there is the phrase "Miss Mud in Moonlight" accompanied by the picture of a muddy pig under a moon.

Personal Thoughts: Another ABC book for young children, though with a little bit more of a background story then most.  I like how it connects the process of learning the alphabet with learning to write one's name.  The illustrations are well done though Puddle looks a little like a know-it-all.  Most of the letter phrases flow well and use only words that start with the letter they are connected with.  The only spread that I really had a problem with was for the letter W where the phrase says "wooly bears waltzing" and shows two fuzzy caterpillars dancing.  Where does the "bear" come from?  It might have been better said using the word wigglers instead.  But otherwise the book connects learning letters and learning how to write words really well.  The text does run a little long though so I would suggest this ABC book for more advance letter learners.   

Series Info: Part of the Toot & Puddle book series
Website: National Geographic's Toot & Puddle Website