As a seasoned mother and grandmother who desired to train up subsequent generations using a combination of education and fun, Mary Jo Nyssen has created a series of tales for each of the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet, presented here in this small paperback book. Simple rules with witty ditties for examples show the many sounds associated with single letters, using brightly colored and often visually silly illustrations to emphasize the fun side of education. Within the book, each letter of the alphabet is dressed up as a memorable character, about which Nyssen creates a short story scenario. Every letter in the ditty that makes the particular sound she describes is set apart by a specific color: green, red, pink, orange, purple, or blue. Having predefined colors to set apart certain letters, and showing the common sound they share, draws the child's attention and emphasizes the phonemic lesson being taught.

For a $12 addition to your school shelf or home library, this is a handy tool for helping children learn to read and memorize some of the basics of the English language. This book also helps early readers to practice some of the skills they have begun to master.

Bringing joy into the educational setting is not always the easiest task, but you and your child will giggle repeatedly while learning long sounds, shorts sounds, third sounds, and other basic language rules presented in A Colorful Journey Through the Land of Talking Letters. This clever addition to your young child's curriculum will enforce concepts, reiterate rules, and increase fun while teaching necessary phonemic skill.

Product Review by Melissa Cummings, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January, 2012