Illustrated by Anne Smith
Rating: Very Good
Charlesbridge, 2007, $16.95
ISBN: 978-1570916090
Age/Grade Level: Ages 8-11
This fascinating and informative book traces the origin of written language and of the Roman alphabet in particular. A concise, yet comprehensive survey, it illustrates the development of individual letters across various alphabets of the Mediterranean region - Sinaitic, Phoenician, Early Greek, Classical Greek and Roman - and offers interesting explanations as to their origin and sometimes unexpected convolutions.Zany, witty collages, drawings and stylised graphics, deftly complement and reinforce the text and will appeal to many young readers.
Reviewer: B. Carswell, Orange County Public Library/West Garden Grove Branch
