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 alive as soon as the book is closed and put on the shelf.
In Katie's room there were many books, and she loved them dearly. 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 enough, 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 for 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", instead of the word "aist" (stork) there was now "yaist".
The letters were very surprised by their new arrangement. 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.
The letter A, the letter A... but why do we need it, now I am in its place.
Answered the letter Ya proudly.
But how can that be? We cannot do without the letter A.
Said the letter K.
And why is that?
Asked the letter Ya.
Because most words end with the letter A, and now what do we get: "sobyakya", "koshkya", "polkya", "cherepyakhya"...
Well, what is wrong with these words?
Asked the letter Ya.
They sound funny, don't you hear?
Replied the letter K.
Well, I don't think they sound funny at all. Everything is as it should be. If someone doesn't like something, I'm not keeping you here. You can go after the letter A.
Said the letter Ya.
The letters were bewildered. They did not like this state of affairs at all, but how could they fix it?
Fortunately, Katie had a friend visit with her younger sister, a girl named Yana, who was 6 years old and was about to start school soon.
Here is this 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 on 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".
Corrected her sister.
But that's how it's written here.
Said Yana, offended.
Let me see, I'll have a look.
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 her Alphabet book was completely missing the letter A.
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 lot of 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 proper 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 proper place, and it should not be disturbed.
