- Title: A Call for a New Alphabet
- Author(s): Jef Czekaj
- Illustrator/Photographer: Jef Czekaj
- Publisher and Year: Charlesbridge, 2011
- Number of Pages: 38
- Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
- Analysis: In A Call for a New Alphabet, X is tired of being at the end of the alphabet and being excluded from all the fun that the other letters have. X proposes the idea of a voting process that would lead to a new alphabet, and erasing the alphabet as we know it. X learns that all the letters have a certain place in the alphabet and fulfill their specific purposes properly, leading X to decide to keep the current alphabet and appreciate his place in it.
When first picking up the book, you see X in the middle of the page, hands on hips, looking confident and in charge. He takes up the whole cover, implying his importance and power in this book. On the back cover of the book, you see A, B, and C, much smaller, and appearing afraid of X. This illustration reiterates X’s significance throughout the story. On one of the pages, X exclaims that he is sick of the rules. While making this statement, X is drawn stepping out of the frame. By showing X leaving the frame, the illustrator could also be showcasing X’s rebellious attitude, which is seen through him wanting to eliminate the traditional alphabet.
The illustrations in this book consist of the letters of the alphabet wearing different items or portraying characters that relate to the letter. For instance, W is a white W with a witch hat and a watch, G is a ghost and is also green, and R is red and wearing roller skates with a rainbow on them. Although the drawings are not necessary for understanding the text, they can serve to help children with vocabulary. Outside of illustration, I believe that the book can also be helpful in teaching children grammar and spelling skills. A Call for a New Alphabet is perfect for children who are learning phonics and grammar, but it is also a fun read that anyone can pick up and enjoy!
