Title: ABC Adventures Cont’d, X Y Z
Author: Anita Everett
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-5245-2635-1
Genre: Illustrated Story Book
Pages: 40
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
With three major stories having themes beginning with the letters X, Y, and Z, author Anita Everette has compiled a wonderful book of tales ranging from the wild mountains of far-away places, savannahs of the African plains, and ancient Greek culture. ABC Adventures Cont’d, X Y Z is a story book, not one of nursery rhymes but of real life, survival and education, intended to entertain a wide range of children – being read to toddlers at first to later having them read this to themselves while in their younger grades.
The X story deals with Xenon, Xerxes, X marks the spot, Xylophone, and X-Rays, to name a few. I found it interesting when the author criticized the use of the word “Xmas” as a substitute for “Christmas” – as she says if any abbreviation is to be used, it should be “Cmas.” That makes sense.
What do you name a Yak that talks all of the time? Yakkidy, of course. Yakkidy Yak, has a ring to it. This story is beautifully embellished with the natural habitat of the Yak, and the people that shepherd their herds, domesticate the animals for their hair, milk, meat but mostly their brawny service carrying their loads of supplies across the vast and steep mountains. Yakkidy was captured and brought to a ranch, but she never assimilated into becoming a domesticated Yak; her core told her to be free and return to her herd. Ultimately her handler knew of this, and brought her back up the mountain to find her herd, but left her alone where she became the prey to a pack of wolves. Narrowly escaping death, the story has a happy ending, as Yakkidy gives birth to a baby Yak, a calf who also “Yaks” a lot – to the dismay of their herd. Oh well.
The Z is for the Zany Zebra who sneezes all of the time. Whether it is from a butterfly on his nose, or from wildflowers in the field, the onomatopoeia of Ahhhchoooo is often used throughout the story. Zany becomes a leader by mistake, as he slips down a slope by a watering hole filled with crocodiles. This showed the rest of the herd a path to cross, and the other Zebras followed. Other misfortunes occur, yet this too ends with a happy ending.
ABC Adventures Cont’d, X Y Z represents a collection of different short stories, but the skill of Anita Everett’s writing is one of her revealing the beauty of Nature. This book will transport readers to far-away places, and satisfy curiosity as to the meanings of many things.
