Wonderful way to share an increased level of vocabulary and work on the alphabet as well. The illustrations are very inclusive and the choice of font can lead to instruction as well. This would be a great addition to any family or classroom library. -Margaret Shields, Reviewer, Morgenstern Books
A sweet picture book that values social growth as much as academic learning.
Jeanne Shriver and Mark K. Shriver’s alphabet book aims to inspire young children with a story about emotional intelligence and inclusivity.
With simple rhymes, the authors use the alphabet to encourage children to consider how the letters can form powerful words, such as empathy (“Empathy tells others / they are never alone. / Imagine their feelings, / and make them your own”), care, understand, and trust; it’s a structure that gives the 26 letters a deeper meaning. Although similar ABC books exist, the sincerity of this book’s text is deeply felt as it suggests that the most profound learning happens in the heart. It also serves as a reminder to parents and children alike that what matters most is how kind one is to other people. Watson’s colorful cartoon illustrations depict diverse characters with various skin tones and abilities. Multigenerational portrayals give voice to adult caregivers who may read this book aloud to little ones. The tone is light, vibrant, warm, and optimistic, and the book would be a great read for children between the ages of 2 and 6 who are just beginning to navigate the social landscape.-Kirkus Review
I got so excited when I saw this book ... And it did not disappoint! It is a great alphabet book that not only introduces the alphabet, but kindness and poetry as well. My only complaint is that like most alphabet books, they do not have a word that starts with x, so instead they use a word that makes the noise of x at the beginning. Still, I would highly recommend. - Emma Skinner, Reviewer
In a colorful ABC homage to the power of kind words, husband and wife team Jeanne Shriver and Mark Shriver (authors of Pairs of People) teach young readers the English alphabet by sharing uplifting messages for each letter. The advice includes standouts like empathy for the letter “E”, to “[tell] others they are never alone,” letter “O” offering to lend a helping hand, and letter “R” teaching how to “respect creatures big and small.” Aside from the meaningful guidance accompanying each letter, the authors emphasize that “words have the power to bring good or bad, to make us happy or make us sad." Above all, the upbeat tone makes this the perfect way to teach youngsters their letters, and the book’s message is clear from the start: “speak from the heart,” and everything else will fall into place.-Booklife Review by Publishers Weekly
I just finished reading Alphabet by Heart and Mark and Jeanne Shriver have done it again! This is not your ordinary alphabet book. They introduce children to new vocabulary such as admire, empathy, gratitude and inspire and give the words context that makes sense to young children. I plan to add Alphabet by Heart to the classroom libraries in my Head Start Centers and can’t wait to see all of the unique ways staff integrate this wonderful book into our curriculum.- Debbie Beeler, Director of Children's Services for Hoosier Uplands, Mitchell, IN
Kind words help grow kind hearts. Alphabet by Heart is an engaging walk through the alphabet that helps build a vocabulary of kindness and empathy. Children and their families will want to read this book again and again. I know that I do!– Maria Shriver, author of the New York Times bestseller, I’ve Been Thinking
Alphabet by Heart is about more than just learning the letters of the alphabet! It’s about showing our little ones the power of using kind words and having a kind heart! This is sure to be a new favorite for our family. –Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt
“Cuddle up with your little ones as they not only learn the alphabet, but also the deeper lessons that come from random acts of kindness. Alphabet by Heart is a gorgeous book that families will enjoy together time after time.”–Jennifer Garner, actress & producer
About doing and saying what is right to build healthy relationships, Alphabet by Heart models kind behavior, letter by letter.
Jeanne and Mark K. Shriver’s didactic picture book Alphabet by Heart is about using words to heal and show kindness to others.
With the knowledge that words have the power to make people happy or sad, this book suggests that choosing what to say in each moment is important. It uses rhyming lines and the alphabet to illustrate this principle, and its pages model situations in which children and parents connect to themselves and to others. Further, inclusivity is more than just a verbal proclamation in this book. In discussing empathy, for example, it encourages fostering heartfelt connections with others, and its take on including people is complemented by the image of a girl in a wheelchair playing volleyball with a girl without visible disabilities. Indeed, the book’s characters represent a bevy of skin tones, gender identities, and hair and face types. According to the instructive picture book Alphabet by Heart, curiosity, wonder, and kindness should direct one’s interactions with others.-Clarion Reviews
2024-05-06
Jeanne Shriver and Mark K. Shriver’s alphabet book aims to inspire young children with a story about emotional intelligence and inclusivity.
With simple rhymes, the authors use the alphabet to encourage children to consider how the letters can form powerful words, such as empathy(“Empathy tells others / they are never alone. / Imagine their feelings, / and make them your own”), care, understand, and trust; it’s a structure that gives the 26 letters a deeper meaning. Although similar ABC books exist, the sincerity of this book’s text is deeply felt as it suggests that the most profound learning happens in the heart. It also serves as a reminder to parents and children alike that what matters most is how kind one is to other people. Watson’s colorful cartoon illustrations depict diverse characters with various skin tones and abilities. Multigenerational portrayals give voice to adult caregivers who may read this book aloud to little ones. The tone is light, vibrant, warm. and optimistic, and the book would be a great read for children between the ages of 2 and 6 who are just beginning to navigate the social landscape.
A sweet picture book that values social growth as much as academic learning. (2-6)
