With thick, matte pages that are perfect for pens, crayons, pencils and paint, readers are encouraged, quite simply, to just Go For It. Doodle. Make a mess. Don't think about it too much. The opening page actually says: 'start doodling'.
I love that.
We're then taken on an alphabet romp from A to Z. 'A' has been formed from a thatch of scattered hay. Kids can draw their own letter As. Letters can be created from random lines. Stars in the night sky can be drawn to form letters, too. Kids can even make animals out of them.
This is a comprehensively creative book with some fabulous ideas for art-creation and letter-loving. It fundamentally makes letters FUN. But it not only jazzes them up by adding artistic elements, it provides the opportunity for children to practice their fine motor skills, creating letters even as they don't realise they're doing it.
This is a book that encourages artistic freedom and an escape from over-thinking things. In this way, adults could also take much away from this creation!
Footnote: the online image of this cover is a lot duller than the real life cover, which is a vibrant, fluorescent orange.
Title: Alphadoodler
Author/Illustrator: Jan Bajtlik
Publisher: Tate, $21.99
Publication Date: 1 April 2016
Format: Soft cover
ISBN: 9781849764056
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Activity Book
