Alphabet Books

     Capital and small letters are given on each single or double page spread in conjunction with explanatory text.   A poem is incorporated into illustrations which cover about 3/4 of the page or pages.  Considering that the poems and text were written by different people, they work well with each other and with the illustrations to make a unified whole.   Maintaining a rhyme scheme while providing meaningful information is not easy and the result is informative and pleasing.  Perhaps this is because the total information imparted is not due solely to the poetry.   Some alphabet books are strained for difficult letters like Q,  X, and Y  but the choices for these letters are natural.  Q is for Henry Ford's first car, the Quadricycle; X marks the spot because thousands of ships have sunk in the Great Lakes; and Y is for yachts especially, the Chicago-Mackinac Yacht Race.  There are three products mentioned by name, Jiffy mix, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, and Vernor's Ginger ale.  A is for Apples because the apple blossom is the state flower.  Because only a sentence is given, Appleford could have added the word agriculture because Michigan is known for a wide range of crops like navy beans, sugar beets, corn, and wheat among others.  This would not have been the only letter representing two concepts; for example, P has a painted turtle and the Petoskey stone, the official stone.  Cherries are another crop that represents a letter.   F could have been used for farming but it was devoted to President Gerald Ford.  This choice may have been unfortunate because the text says that he "represented Michigan in Congress for 24 years."  Had Ford been a Senator, this would have been accurate, but technically a Congressman represents a specific district, not the whole state.  This is a minor flaw that should not keep this book from being purchased for school, public, and home libraries.  Because it has lots of information about the state that is portrayed in a pleasing manner, the book will be purchased by libraries in other states to support a curriculum that includes the study other states.  All Michigan fourth grade teachers will want their own copies of this book for use while studying Michigan history.  Highly recommended.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Bunting, Eve  GIRLS A TO Z.  Illus by Suzanne Bloom.  Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills,
    2002.  32p.  1-56397-147-X; hb., $15.95    2001-094574    PreS-Gr. 3    E

    Girls engage in a variety of activities from Aliki (astronaut), Belinda (ballet) and Chris (computer whiz).  Some of the activities are careers like dentist, engineer, umpire, writer of picture books, and vet.  Other activities are playing the xylophone, studying yoga, and making ice cream.   All of the names and activities or occupations are alliterative.  “Lupe’s a librarian” and “Gwen’s a gondolier.“  Many of the illustrations are humorous, all are colorful, and the girls are from a variety of cultures; one is in a wheelchair.  Librarians need a sense of humor when looking at Lupe.  Girls could have gotten the message without the didactic message at the end that admonishes:  “Girls, Be anything you want to be.  Do what you want to do.  Dream any dream you want to dream.  The world is here for you.”
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Demarest, Chris.  THE COWBOY ABC.  Illus. by the author.  New York: DK Ink,
    1999.  32p.  0?7894?2509?2; hb., $15.95     97?52630      K-4+    978   or    E

    Demarest is lucky because Quirt is an excellent word for Q, a difficult letter to express in an alphabet book.  On the other hand, J for jinglebobs on the spur's rowel and X for the "mark cowboys make to get paid" may be stretching the connection.  It is not clear whether the cowboys are putting an X down because they cannot sign their name or if the foreman is marking off the names when he hands out the pay.  There are lots of excellent words: P for Prairie dogs; O for oilcloth for rain protection (female cowhand); R for reins; T for tumbleweed; W for wagon or chuck wagon because C was already taken by cattle.  This is a popular topic and this is an alphabet book worthy of the topic.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Edwards, Wallace.  ALPHABEASTS.  Illus by author.  Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can, 2002. 
    32p.  1-55337-386-3; hb., $15.95  PreS-Gr. 3   C2001-903689-2  421  or  E

    Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are packed with details and are interesting to examine.  For example “C is for Cat, who reflects on its self.”  The cat in the illustration is sitting on a dresser decorated with a dresser scarf and a vase of tulips and is looking into the mirror at a tiger.  Each capital letter mentions one animal that is prominent in the picture.  The only disappointment is that with all the detail in the illustrations, none of the items begin with the letter illustrated.  The illustrations are often humorous.  “H is for Hippo,/preparing to play” shows a hippo in a living room, standing on an oriental rug in front of a bookshelf and beside a painting.  On a very small chair is a very small violin.  Not all of the animals are familiar--Mandrill, Narwhal, and Xenosaur.  Because of the subtle humor in the illustrations, this alphabet book can be enjoyed by primary students even more than preschoolers.  Intermediate students can describe the illustrations verbally or in writing.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Frampton, David.  MY BEASTIE BOOK OF A B C.  Illus by author.  New York:
    HarperCollins, 2002.  32p.  0-06-028824-8; hb., $15.95   0-06-028823-X;
    lib.bdg.,  $15.89.   2001-039220    Gr. K-4     E or j811.54    

    The soft quirky colors of the woodcuts and the humorous whimsical rhymes make this a different but creative alphabet book.  One example is “C is for crab, whose job I suppose is/to scurry around pinching/noses and toses” or “H is for hippo with mouth/open wide./You could easily fit/a tricycle inside./But then, it might/be too yucky/to ride,” or “Y is for yak, from Tibet/check your map./Ask your mother to take you there/after your nap.”
    These rhymes can be used with intermediate and middle school students as patterns for writing.  The illustrations provide an interesting perspective and the rhymes are great when read aloud.  This is a special alphabet book.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Golding, Kim.  ALPHABABIES.  Photos by the author.  New York: DK Ink 1998.
    0-7894-2529-7;  bd.bk., $9.95     98-15409      PreS      BB

    The author, a professional photographer, has created a delightful learning book of 26 capital letters in stand-out colors along with 26 charming babies of all ages and all ethnic types.  ALPHABABIES introduces the alphabet through adorable photo-collages with a rhyming text that will delight ages of children from earliest learning age to beginning readers.  Photographs of children with the computer as a creative medium are captured in very simple, easily understandable language for all ages.  The rhyming is simple and easily applied to capital letter identification.  This book shows a child's world through a child's eyes as depicted in both epilogue and afterword.
    Mary Ann Ozimkowski, Whitefish Township Library, Paradise, MI

Horenstein, Henry.  A IS FOR...? A PHOTOGRAPHER'S ALPHABET OF ANIMALS.  
    Illus. with photos.  San Diego: Gulliver/Harcourt, 1999.   0-15-201582-5; hb., $16.00  
    98-31424    Gr. K-3+    j590 or   E       

    In a photographer's note at the end of the book, Horenstein explains that he shot 200 rolls of film or 7,000 pictures from which he selected the 56 pictures in this book.  "The images I was looking for had to be mysterious enough so you'd have to guess what animal was represented, and they had to be interesting enough so you'd want to take the time to guess."  Horenstein succeeded spectacularly.  Brown and white photos shows part of each animal with a capital letter.  This reader missed P for parrot (not a pigeon) U for urchin,  X for ox, and Y for yellow jacket but was proud to guess iguana, jellyfish, kudu, newt, ray, and tortoise.  Easier ones to guess are quail, vulture, ostrich, shark, and whale.  Fortunately there is an answer key at the end of the book with the a more descriptive picture and the name of the creature.  This picture book works as an alphabet book and also enriches animal studies.  This is a truly interactive book that will appeal to all ages.   No school or public library will want to miss this one.  The Caldecott committee needs to look at this one.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Howell, Will C.  ZOO FLAKES ABC.  Illus by author.  New York: Walker, 2002.  32p.
    0-8027-8826-2; hb., $15.95   0-8027-8827-4  2002-066161  PreS-Gr. 4    j736.98

    All 26 snowflakes appear against a black background on the both sets of end papers.  In the body of the book, each snowflake appears against a brightly colored background; a full page.  The text is brief: “A is for ALLIGATOR,””B is for BEAR,” “Y is for YAK,” and “Z is for ZEBRA.”  The only one that does not start with the first letter is “X is for FOX.”  It is easy to pick out the animals before reading the caption.  In fact, children who can’t read can guess the names of the animals.  Two pages at the end of the book provide directions for folding paper and cutting to make the zoo flakes.  This is a good book to add to holiday displays in December.  Art teachers will also appreciate this book.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Kirk, David.  MISS SPIDER'S ABC.  Illus. by the author.  New York: Scholastic,
    2000.   30p.   0-439-13747-0; bd. bk., $8.95.  99-71214   PreS-K     BB

     Fans of Miss Spider will enjoy this colorful alphabet book.  All captions include only words that begin with the same letter; "Ants await," "Bumblebees blow balloons," and "yellow jackets yield."  The only exceptions include "make an X" and "to the zebra butterfly."  Because of the surprise message at the end, the book makes an excellent birthday present.  Only cardinal letters are included and each has a curlicue on the top left of each letter.  This is an excellent addition for a board book collection for home,  preschool, school,  and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

MacDonald, Ross.  ACHOO! BANG! CRASH! THE NOISY ALPHABET.  Brookfield, CT:  
            Roaring Brook Press, 2003.  ISBN 0-7613-2900-5 hb.     PreS-Gr.2    E Pic

            This is a book with loud words for each letter of the alphabet.  What makes this book unique is that the words on all the pages were printed on a handpress with wood type from the 1800's.  The drawings are old fashioned as well representing the era from which the type was set. This book is very colorful and eye catching.  I think preschoolers and early elemantary would enjoy the picture, as well as the different words used to represent each letter.
            Laurel Miller, K.I. Sawyer Learning Center and Library.

Marzollo, Jean.  I SPY: LITTLE LETTERS.  Photos by Walter Wick. New York: Scholastic
    Cartwheel, 2000.  28p.  0-439-11496-9; bd.bk., $6.99   99-36454  PreS-K    BB

     This rhyming board book is an age appropriate alphabet book for preschoolers.  Two colorful cardinal letters are surrounded by items beginning with the letters.  The exceptions are A which has a page of its own and XYZ which are together.   Each letter's design is a word beginning with that letter.  The rhyme, which includes a picture of the letters, explains  the picture on each  letter and provides  a word to match the picture.  The words matching the picture elevate the age level of this board book past preschool age.   Most of the pictures are easy to identify except for the eraser and glitter.  This colorful informative board book is an essential purchase for  home, preschool, school, and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Melmed, Laura Krauss.  CAPITAL!  WASHINGTON D.C. FROM A TO Z. 
    Illus by Frane’ Lessac.  New York: HarperCollins, 2003.  32p.  0-688-17561-9; hb.,    
    $15.99   0-688-17562-7; lib.bdg., $16.99     2001-039513     K-Gr. 4    j975.3

    This alphabet book is not for the usual alphabet crowd unless they just concentrate on the four-line rhyme that begins with the Air and Space Museum, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and Capitol through Xanthosoma and Yellow-spots at the National Zoo for X-Y-Z.  The vocabulary in the rhymes and text contain many difficult vocabulary words:  tremendous, altered, convey, undaunted, minarets, reveres, fledgling, abomination, promenade, and resolution.  The illustrations are trademark Lessac; busy, busy, busy.  Because little information is included in the rhyme, the further text is accompanied by illustrations that show what happens at the various places.    Sometimes the illustrations are helpful but in several occasions such as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the illustrations don’t shed that much light on the steps and even seem misleading.  The type for the additions look to be ten points in size which is difficult to read.  Despite the problems, this book can be used with intermediate students to understand Washington, D. C. and our national treasures.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Most, Bernard.  ABC T-REX.  Ilus. by the author.  San Diego: Harcourt, 2000.
    40p.   0-15-202007-1 hb. $13.00     98-51128    PreS-Gr.3     E

     This humorous counting book begins with the end papers; the brightly colored capital letters have dinosaur bites out of them as do the letters that a friendly looking dinosaur continues to eat throughout this picture book.  The dinosaur eats through the alphabet beginning with "A was appetizing and "B was even better" to "X reminded him of his xercycle," "Y made him yawn," and " Z was for z...z...z...z...z..."  The sentences are not parallel, some end in adjectives while others end in nouns but they all have a food theme.  The illustrations include items beginning with the letter showcased.  Check at the end of the book for a list of from four to fifteen other items.  It is unclear why not all items are included in these lists.  For example, under M , mamma, mammoth, mitt, moon, and mug are listed but muffins, mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and meatballs are not.  These problems aside, this is an alphabet book that will appeal to children and is suitable for school and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Milich, Zoran.  THE CITY ABC BOOK.  Toronto Ont. or Tonawanda, NY:  Kids Can,  
    2001.  32p.  1-55074-942-0; hb., $15.95      PreS-Gr. 3    E  or  421

    Although alphabet books using geometric figures from objects in our world are not new, this one deserves consideration because the photos are large and clear.  All letters are marked in red and are opposite a page that has nothing on it but the small and capital letter in red.  Most of the letters are contrived, like the small letter b is made up of a tire next to a fence board that provides the back.  However, the red color ties the two objects together to show how they make a b.  The C comes from a pattern that covers a whole manhole cover but only enough is marked in red to create a C. The letters are not all capital or all small letters but are a mixture of both.  This could be confusing but showing capital letters on the opposite page make it clear whether it is an upper or lower case letter.  When one looks at clouds, the patterns are creative and take imagination to see them.  Milich uses the same imaginative theory here.  A key at the end is helpful but unnecessary because all of the letters were highlighted within the book.  Even though this book is part of a crowded field, consider it especially for ESL adult males.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Parker, Marjorie Blain.  A PADDLING OF DUCKS: ANIMALS IN GROUPS FROM A TO Z. 
        Illus. by Joseph Kelly.  Toronto , Canada : Kids Can Press, 2010.  32p.  ISBN 978-1553376828 hb. 
        $16.95   Prek-Gr.1   E PIC

        This delightful book is different, in the best of ways, from any other ABC book.  The illustrations show an anteater not even noticing an army of ants carrying away his doughnut, bears hugging ducklings, and a leap of leopards bouncing around on bouncy balls.  The detailed and active illustrations encourage repeated readings to young children, enabling them to learn the alphabet letters and enjoy the phrasing of the text.     
        Mary Koshorek, Spies Public Library, Menominee, MI

Roberts, Michael.  THE JUNGLE.  Illus by author.  New York:  Callaway/Hyperion,
    1998.  65p.   0-7868-0398-3; hb., $19.95      Gr. 2+     j 428.1  or   E

     Roberts uses collages of cut colored paper against plain or corrugated paper backgrouonds to create this handsome book.  Even the end papers are part of the design.  Each letter of the alphabet is a cutout of black and tan on a black background.  Facing that page is an animal, person, or vegetation from Africa.  There is no text to the book but the answers are woven into the design of the last pages.  This is not an alphabet book for preschoolers, but rather a book for intermediate students to use when studying Africa and for Art teachers to share with students of all ages.  
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Rumford, James.  THERE’S A MONSTER IN THE ALPHABET.  Illus by author.  Boston: 
    Houghton Mifflin, 2002.  32p.  0-618-22140-9; hb., $16.00     Gr. 3-12+      398.2

    Despite the word alphabet in the title, this book is not a preschool or early primary grade alphabet book.  Instead this is an important picture book for all ages and should be purchased in grades 4-12 where mythology is studied or classes about ancient history are offered.  Public libraries may consider placing this book in the adult as well as the children’s collection.  This is a spectacular picture book.
    Beginning with the end papers, this is a handsome book.  The map of the ancient world is in the shape of a cow and presents alphabet letters as they appeared to Etruscans, Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, and the people of Thebes.   The black and orange/red colors found throughout the book, executed in ink, watercolor, and gouache; are reminiscent of those 2,500 years ago.  In order for readers to understand the colors in the book, they need have seen a Greek vase iin a museum or the one  prominently featured on the title page.  This vase tells the story of the hero Cadmus, a Phoenician who went to Greece and whose story is unfolded in the picture book. 
    Rumford retells the story of Cadmus as he explains how ancient letters may have developed.  Only letters that are still found in our alphabet are included.  At the end of the book Rumford offers historical information about the alphabet as well as decodes 22 Phoenician alphabet letters and provides the ancient letter and four later transformations. 
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Schnur, Steven.  SPRING: AN ALPHABET ACROSTIC.  Illus. by Lesliei Evans.  New York: 
    Clarion, 1999.  32p.     0-395-82269-6; hb., $15.00    98-22704      PreS-Gr. 3   793.73   or   E

 Hand colored linoleum block prints add to the text in explaining signs of spring.  An acrostic means that each letter of a word provides the first letter of another word.  The first acrostic uses the word April to make this prose poem:
     "After days of
     Pouring
     Rain, the last
     Ice and snow finally
     Leave the earth."
The illustrations and acrostics are similar in Schnur's  AUTUMN (Clarion,1997 ).  Teachers will use both to provide examples for students to write their own acrostics.  These books works as a picture book, an alphabet book, a nature book,  a poetry book, and as a puzzle book.  Both books are highly recommended for home, school, and public libraries.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Schnur, Steven.  SUMMER:  AN ALPHABET ACROSTIC.  Illustrated by Leslie Evans.   
    New York:  Clarion, 2001.  32p.  0-618-02372-0; hb., $15.00     PreS-Gr. 2       E  or  793.73

    The hand-colored linoleum blocks add significantly to this book about summer.  The first acrostic, awning, is not an easy one, but beach, cabin, and daisy are more easily recognized.  Xeric is a word most readers will have to look up in a dictionary but the use of X to make the Roman numeral for 12 is clever.  The illustrations are a mixture of modern and times past.  The campers carry backpacks and water bottles and both campers and joggers wear modern shoes but other linoleum prints show scenes from the past.  The farm scene shows an outdated tractor and an old lighthouse guides ships into port.  The swimming hole and band shell evoke times past, while a woodpile and village Fourth of July parade are comfortable in the present and the past.  Although at times the illustrations are mixed metaphors, this book is still a good choice.  Public librarians should display this book around the Fourth of July and Memorial Day because both holidays are included.  School librarians should provide the book to teachers whose classes are studying seasons and the alphabet.  The title helps explain to primary students the variety of events that will happen from the time school is out until classes resume in the fall.  Although not as successful as the previous titles, purchase this one to round out the series.  Libraries not owning AUTUMN (1997) and SPRING (1999) need to order them.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro.  THE HIDDEN ALPHABET.  Brookfield, CT:  Roaring Book 
    Press, 2003.   32p.  0-7613-1941-7; hb; $17.95    PreS-K    E  or  j428.1

    This alphabet book combines the element of surprise with the standard alphabet letters.  Each page shows a picture with its name.  When you flip up the page, the picture transforms into an alphabet letter.  The creative artistry makes this book fun!  The hidden letters are capitalized and stylized, while the same letter is typed in lower case to identify the picture on the page.  Although this book would be a valuable read-aloud selection, maintenance on the pages would make it a better candidate for personal use than for a library.
    Lynette Suckow, Youth Services, Peter White Public Library, Marquette, MI

Sierra, Judy.  THERE’S A ZOO IN ROOOM 22.  Illus by Barney Saltzberg. San Diego: 
    Gulliver/Harcourt, 2000.  40p.  0-15-202033-0; hb., $16.00       j811.54   or   E

    Watercolors and colored pencil illustrations add to the humor of this alphabetically arranged picture book which tells about pets in the classroom from Amanda Anaconda and Boring Beetle Bill through Xenia the X-ray fish, and Yorick the Yak.  Sierra asks readers to help name a better pet that starts with Z than the zorilla; a skunk.  The rhymes are zany and fun for children.   Read this one aloud!
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Sobol, June.  B IS FOR BULLDOZER: A CONSTRUCTION ABC.  Illus by Melissa Iwai. 
    San Diego: Gulliver/Harcourt, 2003.  32p. 0-15-2002250-3 hb. $16.00.     PreS-Gr.1       E 

    The Acrylic illustrations help to tell a story about a construction job from beginning to end.  Ever two alphabet letters in the text forms a rhyming couplet.  “Do you see the Asphalt for paving the road,,/or the big shiny Bulldozer pushing a load.”  The mahines move from a crane, dump truck, and excavator to WXYZ “The construction Work is finally done./Our eXcitement grows--we’re ready for fun!/  For more than a Year we’ve watched the park bloom./Now hold on tight…Here we go….Get set to…Z-O-O-M!!!!!!!  Once readers reach the end they realize that the construction site turned into an amusement park.   This alphabet book will appeal to the active children. 
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist

Wilbu, Helen L.  M IS FOR MEOW: A CAT ALPHABET.  Illus. by Robert Papp.  Chelsea, MI:  
          Sleeping Bear Press, 2007.  32p. ISBN: 13 978-158536-304-9 hb. $17.95     Gr. K-4     j636.8

          Any cat lover will be drawn to this fact filled book, included on each page in a side bar.  Young readers will delight in the adorable cat illustrations.  Every letter of the alphabet has a poem and an illustration, making this a great book for reading aloud.  Overall this is a great book for any age group with an interest in felines.
          Heidi Bretall, Early Childhood Educator, Bessemer Public Library

Wilson-Max, Ken. A BOOK OF LETTERS.  Illus by Manya Stojic.  New York:
    Scholastic, 2002.  unp.  0-439-32455-6; hb., $14.95   K-Gr. 2    E

    Not necessarily the most practical book for a public institution, but certainly a charmer.  Done in the fashion of a chain letter, each page is a letter passed on (in a lift-the-flap- envelope--the impractical element) to a friend whose name begins with each sequential letter of the alphabet.  In other ords----pass it on!  On the last page is a pull-out miniature alphabet posture featuring the first letters of all the names of the pen pals.  The text is simple enough for a young reader to deal with, but it would serve well as a read-aloud or useful in a story hour for preschoolers.  Wilson-Max has created a unique book with a new approach to learning the alphabet and with the embellishment of Stojic's vibrant illustrations that practically jump off the page, will make it's young audience want to start their own letter chain with special pals.
    Patricia Fittante, Children’s Librarian, Escanaba Public Library, Escanaba, MI

Wood, Audrey.  ALPHABET ADVENTURE.  Illus by Bruce Wood.  New York: Scholastic, 2001.  
    32p.  0-439-08069-X; hb., $15.95.     00-067994     PreS-Gr. 2     E

    The illustrations “were created digitally using various 3-D modeling software packages, assisted by Adobe Photoshop” by the author’s son and designed by the author’s husband and Kathleen Westray.  The primary colors are bold and bright and the text is large and bold in keeping with them.  A teacher, shown as the capital letter T, is taking an alphabet of small letters from Alphabet Island to their first day of school where they will help Charley learn to write his name.  On the way the “i” trips and falls into the water.  The other letters make a chain to rescue the letter but later it is discovered that the dot on the “i” is missing.  The other letters find stars, hearts, bugs, and apples to replace the dot, but none of them are right until the dot gives up playing hide-and-seek and goes back to its place.  This solution seems a little contrived.  Assign 21 children a letter of the alphabet and have them create a dot for the “i” that begins with that letter just as the “s” provides a star and a “c” provides a cherry.  If there are more children in the class, have them use the five letters that provided dots in the book and have them come up with another object besides those provided in the book.  This imaginative alphabet book is a first purchase for school and public library collections.
    Mary Ann Paulin; Director; Superiorland Preview Center/Retired school library-media specialist