By Carly Smith
West Coast Wild ABC is a children’s book authored by Deborah Hodge and illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Like typical alphabet books, West Coast Wild ABC takes readers on an alphabetical journey, introducing each letter in its upper and lower case forms and using words beginning with each page’s designated letter. Unlike most other alphabet books, Hodge focuses on parts of nature found on Canada’s west coast. This nature-themed read—available as either a board book or digital copy—is suitable for children with a variety interests, as it encompasses the vast elements of land and sea that British Columbia has to offer.
There are quite a few aspects of this book that appeal to me. Firstly, it is formatted clearly, with the specific letter of focus always written on the bottom, outer side of the page in white. The corresponding sentence or phrase for each letter is written in a black font that looks like the way children first learn to print their letters which is a great feature if children strive to read this book themselves, rather than an experienced reader reading to them.
Another aspect of this book that captivated my interest was the vocabulary. Hodge does not shy away from large or uncommon words but does not overwhelm readers with too many. Furthermore, Hodge does not rely solely on nouns in this alphabet book. Instead, she includes other parts of speech, like verbs and adjectives, often lacking in other books of the same genre. This is a particularly important feature for language acquisition and vocabulary development that is often overlooked in books for early readers.
The final but equally important feature was the illustrations. Reczuch’s artwork is vibrant but doesn’t take away from the text and is detailed without being overwhelming. Reczuch beautifully captures the wide array of textures found in nature. The illustrations match the words and encourage further discussion. They prompt reflection and are a catalyst for open-ended questions, which sparks critical thinking and comprehension skills.
West Coast Wild ABC is a lovely children’s book that caught the attention of not only my 19-month-old but also myself and my spouse. Our son was exposed to the alphabet, new words, and captivating illustrations while the adults reading to him learned more about the country they live in. Its board book form is an excellent size, not small enough that it will be easily lost, but not too large that it feels cumbersome or too large for the diaper bag. West Coast Wild ABC has encouraged me to investigate other works by Hodge and Reczuch, knowing they will most certainly be a hit in our family.
Thank you to Groundwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.