When you consider that the alphabet plays such a HUGE role in our daily lives, consider the fact that most of us don’t know much about the history of those 26 letters!
Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet tells the story of how the English alphabet came to be, starting way back in 2000 B.C. .
This book is full of intriguing tidbits. Did you know that the letter “A” was originally written in the Semitic languages to look like an ox head—turn it upside down and you will see a triangular head with horns! And did you know that the word “alphabet” comes from combining the first two Greek letters alpha and beta? Speaking of the alphabet, we all know the specific order of our alphabet. Every child learns the ABCs, no one learns the CBAs. This order goes back to Phoenician times, around 1000 B.C., and hasn’t changed much since. Why this order? No one knows!
The more I learn about the alphabet, the more enthralled I am by its history. These letters we write so casually have rich origins! This lovely little book makes a terrific supplement to our Print Shop ABCeDarian activities! So check out Ox, House, Stick and share it with students and friends to cultivate wonder in our alphabet.
~Claire S.