Alpha and Betty have a potluck and all their friends
bring appropriate alphabetical food (asparagus
soup to zucchini casserole).

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Alpha and Betty have a potluck party for 31, and call up their friends. The children, in alphabetical order, bring a dish to match the initial letter of their name. Shelby sometimes makes the entire phrase alliterative, as in "Ben brought bagels," and occasionally throws in inconsistent words ("mounds and mounds of mashed potatoes" and "Victor ventured vegetarian stew"). The children represented are racially and ethnically diverse, and are frequently depicted in festive, colorful costumes. The bright watercolor cartoons range from serviceable to quite charming, depending on how vividly the individual child's personality is communicated. Because of its free approach with its own formula, and the lack of initial letters on the pages, this is not so much an ABC teaching tool as a cheerful book to enjoy. The pictures are large enough to use with a group and, although the text is not distinguished, the story will reinforce the concepts both of the alphabet, and of the variety of people in our world. --Marilyn Iarusso, New York Pub . Lib .
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.