An alphabet book that's out to trick the crowd, I tend to read a few pages before scratching my head and helping the students "break the code" that the author is using to trick them. You see, although the words read, "A is for Salad," the picture is of an alligator eating a salad. The second page reads, "B is for viking," and there is a picture of a beaver wearing a viking hat." It's quite entertaining helping the kids work through the code.
Better than that is the page that reads, "X and Y are not important letters. Never use them." The illustration shows the letters being stuffed into overflowing trash cans and taken out to the curb. I tell all the students who have "X and Y" in their names, that they will have to choose new ones. I've only had a few kids cry on me.
But best of all is when I use this book to drive home the fact that an author can write whatever he wants in books. The words do not have to be true. I tell them that when we read we must use our brains. We must ask questions. We must not be lured in by the dark side of the force.
They love it too. And some of them have suggested that we burn the book because it is full of lies.
Hmmm . . . . I'll save that lesson for another day.
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