How to Build an A
Written and illustrated by Sara Midda
Artisan: $17.95
56 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-1579653781

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

In a creative and educational one-two punch, artist Sara Midda encourages kids to use what they know -- how to use building blocks -- to make letters in this charming addition to the alphabet book shelves, How to Build an A.

Sara Midda's How to Build an A is a small hardcover book that comes with 11 white (safety-tested) foam pieces. With a selection of short and long rectangles plus a few small and large semi-circles, kids can make every letter of the alphabet. Each page in Midda's book introduces a new letter and example, like A is for apple, of course. Her watercolor illustrations are accompanied by tiny little people who demonstrate how to make the letters with the foam blocks, heaving and ho-ing them into place in such a way that young readers can follow along.

How to Build an A is Sara Midda's first children's book; her previous books are In and Out of the Garden and Sara Midda's South of France. The only real problem with the book is that as a traditional hardcover, the pages don't lie flat, so young kids may have a problem holding the book open and then trying to copy the letter construction without a third hand to help (if they want to use the book and blocks alone). The thick heavy paper pages are graced with bright watercolors of everyday illustrations identifiable to most young children. The simple artwork is charming and whimsical. The foam pieces are easy for little hands to handle and the kit comes with a fishnet bag to hold it all together (book and blocks).

The book and blocks are really easy to use, and even pretty intuitive for young kids to figure out; my three-year-old loved testing this out and eagerly copied the letters that make up her name. The blocks are pretty durable (they've sort of taken a beating at my house so far and are holding up well) and the kit lends itself to reading together as well as independent enjoyment.

If you're looking for something beyond the traditional alphabet book, How to Build an A is a good choice; it gives young readers the creative ability to make the letters of the alphabet themselves even if they are not old enough or able to actually write out the letters of the alphabet themselves.