SUE MACDONALD HAD A BOOK

Set to the tune of “Old MacDonald,” this tale of adventuresome vowels begins with a girl and her book. “The words made sense last time she looked. AEIOU.” One by one the vowels disappear, and it’s up to Sue to bring them back. As she searches for and finds each vowel, the text follows the structure of the song and cleverly emphasizes each sound; for example, A takes a train to Maine, Sue saves E on a trapeze, with ease, and I is—where else?—in the sky. Coverly’s cartoon-like illustrations complement the text nicely, showing Sue rescuing each vowel with panache, whether underwater, in the jungle or on the top of a skyscraper. While some of the vocabulary may be unfamiliar—children learning about vowels will likely be unfamiliar with microbes or Katmandu—the energy of the song will carry young listeners through. A fun-filled way to introduce and emphasize vowel sounds, this is particularly well-suited for use in the classroom or for a parent/child sing-along. (Picture book. 4-7)