Drawing on the idea of pictograms McLimans has graphically depicted the letters of the alphabet. Each letter becomes an endangered animal of the world. An attempt was made to pick animals whose characteristics worked well with their respective letters. It is an old idea to use pictures to help learn the sounds and shapes of letters. Some children (such as those taught in Waldorf schools) still learn their letters through tracing or drawing object-shaped letters. McLimans has taken the idea beyond the basic and also turned it into a lesson of diversity and ecology.

The book may be used for several ages, starting with familiarizing toddlers with the sounds of the letters. It can also be used up through 5th grade for lessons of biology, ecology, and art.

related-alphabet books, art of illumination, endangered species
RL=toddler-5th