Have you ever wondered what happens in the books that sit on shelves and are never read? It turns out that the characters in books live their own lives as soon as the book is closed and placed on the shelf.
In an alphabet book, the main characters are letters. And they too come to life as soon as the book is closed and put on the shelf.
In Katie's room there were many books, and she loved them very much. But after reading a book, Katie would put it on the shelf and never read it again. On her shelf stood an Alphabet book, which Katie had once used to learn to read.
In this Alphabet book lived 33 letters. They lived peacefully, but one day the letter Ya, known as a troublemaker, decided to stage a revolution in the book. She no longer wanted to stand last.
Why should I stand at the very end? After all, I am the most important letter; you cannot do without me. I am both a letter and even a whole word. Now give me your place.
Said the letter Ya to the letter A.
But it is not up to you or me to decide how the letters should be arranged in it. Each of us has our own turn. Why should you be first?
Asked the letter A.
Because I have decided so. If you won't do it the easy way, it will be the hard way.
Threatened the letter Ya and pushed the letter A out of the Alphabet book, taking its place.
And then something strange happened. The letter A disappeared from all the words in the alphabet book, and the letter Ya took its place. The word "arbuz" (watermelon) became "yarbuz," and instead of the word "aist" (stork) there was now "yaist."
The letters were very surprised by their new neighbours. But when they went to the letter A for an explanation, they could not find her at all. In the house of the letter A, the letter Ya now lived. And on all the pages of the alphabet book, the impostor Ya now appeared.
But where is the letter A?
The letters asked each other.
Letter A, letter A... why is she needed now? I am here instead of her.
Answered the letter Ya proudly.
But how can that be? We cannot do without the letter A.
Said the letter K.
Why is that?
Asked the letter Ya again.
Because most words end with the letter A, and now what do we get? "sobya" (dog), "koshkya" (cat), "polkya" (shelf), "cherepyakha" (turtle)...
Well, what is wrong with these words?
Asked the letter Ya.
They sound funny, don't you hear?
Answered the letter K.
I don't think they sound funny at all. Everything is as it should be. If someone doesn't like something, I am not keeping you here. You can follow the letter A.
Said the letter Ya.
The letters were confused. They did not like this state of affairs at all, but how could they fix it?
Fortunately, Katie's friend came to visit with her younger sister, a girl named Yana, who was 6 years old and was about to start school.
This is an Alphabet book—my first book. It will help you learn to read.
Said Katie and handed her Alphabet book to Yana.
I can already read a little.
Said Yana and opened the alphabet book to the first page.
Yana saw that this Alphabet book was different from the one she was learning to read from, but she still tried to read the words in it.
Yaist, yazbukya, yarbuz...
Read Yana.
You are not reading correctly. It should be "aist," "azbuka," "arbuz."
Her sister corrected her.
But that is how it is written here.
Said Yana, offended.
Let me see.
Said Katie and took the Alphabet book in her hands.
And indeed, the girl saw that on the first page, instead of the letter A, there was the letter Ya. Katie began to flip through the pages of the Alphabet book and noticed that the letter A was completely missing from her Alphabet book.
This is not right!
Said Katie and took a red marker.
She began to cross out the letter Ya in those words where it should not be. It took a long time, but Katie carefully corrected all the words. Then she closed the Alphabet book and put it on the shelf.
And a miracle happened—the letter A returned. It stood in its place again, and the letter Ya in its own.
The letter Ya had no choice but to accept her position. The letter Ya understood that she should not have behaved this way, because each letter in the Alphabet book has its own place, and it should not be disturbed.
