“Y is for Yak” Review: A Summit-to-Smilies Learning Trek
Get ready to yodel, kiddos—Y is for Yak drags the ABCs up icy peaks where air is thin and furry friends reign! Jean Claude’s latest in the animal alphabet series is like Goodnight Gorilla meets Planet Earth—whimsy + wild. The yak’s shaggy, felt-textured fur looks touchable on every page (zoom in—Claude hides mini “Y”s in the mountain lichen!).

Why this book roars:

• Teaches the “yuh” sound via yak yoga poses (stretching tongues like yawning yaks—genius!)
• Reveals that yak milk is pink (high iron! 🍼) and helps Himalayan villages make cheese
• Endpapers show a yak family tree—spot grandma yak’s epic eyelashes!

Missed trick? No mention of their hoof grip—yaks spread toes like snowshoes! Parents, prep for post-read demands: “Can we adopt a yak?” (Answer: Only if your backyard has -40°F temps.) Teachers, steal these cross-curricular hacks:

1. Craft time: DIY yak sock puppets with yarn manes
2. Science link: Compare yak coats to polar bear fur (spoiler: both hollow hairs!)
3. Phonics game: Shout “YAK!” when spotting Y words during hikes

Pair this with The Three Snow Bears (Jan Brett) for an “icy habitats” double feature. Warning: Page 7’s yak “hair salon” spread (braiding illustrations) may tempt kids to bedazzle pets.