Alphabet Riddles

A L P H A B E TR I D D L E S

(click on a letter to see a riddle!)

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Teaching activities

   
   
Author: Susan Joyce ~ Illustrator: Doug DuBosque

ISBN 0-939217-51-1

Rhyming riddles based on common objects challenge beginning readers to make connections between sounds and letters. With bright, colorful illustrations, this children's book helps encourage phonemic awareness, a key to reading success.This book also features a page at the end with "Ideas for Parents and Teachers." Ages 5-8. Just right for children who enjoy reading, spelling, or just plain guessing, these rhyming riddles offer clues to the sense and spelling (first and last letter) of each answer. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a riddle. For the letter "Y" the riddle goes, "I start with a Y and end with an O. / Up, down, all around, / I go fast or slow. / a toy on a string / I'm a round, simple thing. / What in the world can I be? / Do you know?" Often large in scale and including only a part of the object named, the illustrations feature flat colors and bold graphic design. With its picture-book format and playful approach to learning, this well-designed riddle book will find its way into many primary-grade classrooms.

-- Booklist

Everything about "Alphabet Riddles" by Susan Joyce and Doug DuBosque is splendid! The text is extremely inviting to young readers and stimulates both language and concept learning. The 26 alphabet-based riddles provide children with delightful mysteries and puzzles to solve. The riddle-solving is so inviting and so much fun that the students will no doubt miss the point that they are simultaneously picking up valuable phonics skills into the bargain. The design of the book is superb. Every double-page spread is inviting and graphically stimulating. DuBosque's illustrations are eye-popping and always extremely well integrated with Joyce's text. The use of bright colors, ever-changing lines, and bold shapes is very appealing to the eye. The final inclusion of further ideas and challenges for parents and teachers is just more frosting on an already superb cake. What adjective begins with "T" and ends with "C" and best describes "Alphabet Riddles"? No mystery at all; the word is "Terrific!"

-- Jerry Flack, Professor of Education, University of Colorado

Highly recommended. Excellent alphabet book with wonderful riddles and bright illustrations.

--Fairfax County, Virginia, Public Schools Review Program

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an A and end with an N.
I'm something you wear
when you're stuffing a hen,
or cooking a steak,
or icing a cake, or
mixing a shake.
Can you name me?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a B and end with an L.
You can kick me or throw me,
and bounce me as well.
If you hit me and run,
the fans will have fun.
What do you think I can be? Can you tell?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a C and end with a P.
I'm round, with a handle.
You drink out of me.
Fill me with juice,
or with peppermint tea.
Or YOUR favorite drink.
What can I be?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a D and end with an L.
I come in all sizes,
and colors as well.
Hold my hand and I'll walk.
Pull my string and I'll talk.
What do you think I can be? Can you tell?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an E and end with an O.
I'm a sound that repeats.
I bounce back and grow.
When you say, "hello."
I say, "hel-lo-lo-lo."
What can I possibly be? Do you know?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a H and end with a G.
When someone is sad, I make them happy.
Give a hold, or a squeeze,
with your arms. (Not your knees!)
What in the world do you think I can be?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an I and end with an E.
I'll stand still or run,
until you freeze me.
Skate on me in the rink.
Let me help cool your drink.
What do you think? Can you name me?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an L and end with an S.
You use me to whisper,
you use me to kiss.
I help trumpeters blow,
both high notes and low.
What can I possibly be?
(Do you know?)

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a P and end with a T.
Dog, cat or hamster,
please take care of me.
Treat me nice, I might purr.
Treat me rough, I might grrrrr.
A snake or a gerbil....
What can I be?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an R and end with an N.
Sometimes I'm wide.
Sometimes I'm thin.
You'll feel really proud
when I'm something you win.
What in the world do you think I am?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         
 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with an S and end with a K.
Buy me in bright colors,
or just plain old gray.
I come in a pair, and
I'm something to wear.
(But not in your hair!)
What am I? Can you say?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque

 

   
         

 
     
     
 
   
    Guess!

I start with a T and end with an N.
Watch me! Listen!
I'm quite an invention.
I beam sounds and faces,
from faraway places.
What can I possibly be?
What's my name?

   
   

 

Copyright ©2005 Peel Productions, Inc.
Text copyright©1998 Susan Joyce; illustration copyright©1998 Douglas C. DuBosque