Alphabet Mystery - by Audrey Wood (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this engaging alphabet book, the lower-case letters come to life in a fun adventure, where Little x saves the day. Full color.

Book Synopsis

Bestselling writer Audrey Wood and artist son Bruce present a second alphabet book with a twist: a fun mystery that will let young readers learn their lower case letters without having to study!

Engaging alphabet books are perennial bestsellers with unlimited demand. As in their previous collaboration, the Woods bring lower-case letters to life in a fun adventure. Little x has left, upset he's hardly used, and the other letters set out to find him. They find x playing the castle xylophone for the mysterious Master, capital M, who threatens to turn them into alphabet soup! Some quick thinking by Little x saves the day, and soon they are all on their way home--just in time to make Mom's birthday surprise: a cake with Little x all over. He's the only one who stands for kisses!

From the Back Cover

Little x has disappeared! Can you help us find him?

All the little letters from Charley's Alphabet are worried when they discover that Little x has run away. Where could he have gone? And why would he leave his friends behind?



As Charley's Alphabet sets off on an adventure to find the missing Little x, children, parents, and teachers will have a great time finding and identifying the "little" letters on every page. Phonics games and a clever story make this the best way ever to learn your a-b-c's.

Review Quotes

* "Every spread is letter-perfect." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review"Visual and verbal puns add to the fun of learning the alphabet, as do the vividly colored, digitally created illustrations that look like animated photographs. Kids will love the "I Spy" aspect of matching letters to the gifts." -- Booklist"Children will work on a skill necessary to begin reading as they enjoy the story and the bright, three-dimensional-looking digital illustrations filled with detail." -- School Library Journal

"...a playfully surreal sense of scale, volume and detailing...every spread is letter-perfect." -Publishers Weekly

"...Wood's digital illustrations are deliciously crisp and bright..." -Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Audrey Wood has been writing award-winning children's books for more than 30 years. She often collaborates with her husband, Don Wood (IT'S DUFFY TIME; THE NAPPING HOUSE; KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB; MERRY CHRISTMAS, BIG HUNGRY BEAR), and she has created many bestsellers with their son, Bruce (ALPHABET MYSTERY; TEN LITTLE FISH). Audrey also illustrates books herself, including BLUE SKY (2012); SILLY SALLY; and A DOG NEEDS A BONE.
As a fifth-generation professional artist, I grew up with art all around me - in the studios of my parents and grandparents. I have always been very interested in art - it always seemed like a lot of fun.One of the major advantages of growing up in a family of artists is the support you receive while learning your art form. It was also a unique experience. One year for my birthday, my parents made me a kid-sized cardboard castle out of refrigerator boxes in our backyard. It took me a few years to realize that not all my friends' parents were as creative as mine.My initial interest in digital art came about at a young age. I started using Commodore 64's when I was eleven or twelve, and by age thirteen, I could do basic programming. Since then, I was always interested in how companies made computer games, and I think that's what ultimately led me to 3-D design.In 1991, I attended the California Institute of the Arts, where I studied drama and advanced my interest in art created on the computer. Then, in 1993, I decided to enroll in the innovative San Francisco State Multimedia Center, where I pursued my long-standing interest in designing computer programs by studying animation and 3-D modeling.This year I joined my family's creative team and illustrated my first book, The Christmas Adventure of Space Elf Sam. The book took me over two years to make, and it was a true family collaboration. My mom wrote the story and my dad, Don Wood, functioned as art director.I love telling stories with my art, and picture books are just that. And of course, I love seeing the face of a young child, sitting on a bookstore floor, completely immersed in a book that I have created.Aside from being a children's book illustrator, I also surf, snowboard, and sail, which means that I do get to see the sun sometimes.