Once Upon an A to Z

Once Upon an A to Z by Amy Dunjey, illustrated by Deb Hudson (Affirm Press) HB RRP $22.99 ISBN: 9781923022089

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera 

When a trio of children open an old book, they discover that ‘alphabet magic is hidden inside’. They go on an adventure into the spellbinding sphere of stories, where they ‘dance with dragons’, ‘fly with fairies’ and ‘kiss a kraken’. Along the way, they encounter a ‘purple potion’, ‘jinxes, jewels’ and a ‘queenly quest’. In the end, they return to the library and fall into a deep sleep, dreaming of their ‘happy ever after’.

Amy Dunjey’s exuberant take on the ABCs will enchant two- to seven-year-olds who are starting to learn their letters. Rhyming couplets roll through a wealth of wondrous worlds – from crystal castles to salty seas – bringing both language and literature to life. This is the ideal text to instill a love of books from a young age.

Deb Hudson’s vibrant illustrations dazzle the eyes and delight the heart. Smiles sprinkled across sweet faces ensure that even the scariest of creatures – ogres, trolls and vampires – are fun and friendly. Youngsters will adore scanning each spread for the cute black cat that accompanies the characters on their joyful journey.

Bewitching and brilliant, Once Upon an A to Z is brimming with fantastical fairytale realms that inspire imaginative thinking. As kids explore the pages, they’ll soon become well versed in the vital building blocks of reading and writing.