Erika Grey

The Alphabet Bears: Spook-tales Collection Erika Grey

There isn't a children's series on the shelves today which acts as a teaching tool, educating children about their government, its foreign policy while also providing memorable characters in plots children and adults can enjoy. The Alphabet Bears teach children the basics of US foreign policy through the operations of the various Alphabet Bears while providing a humorous expose on intelligence operations. Although the facts within the stories are historically accurate, with figurative terminology depicted literally which lends to the stories humor, the stories deviate in their accuracy in one area. In each story the Alphabet Bears report to the First Lady, Queen Marcelle rather than reporting to the President of the United States. These stories take the leap of having a female lead the United States although this has not yet happened historically. While familiarizing a child in the basics in US foreign policy, the stories also teach the reader about the basic make up of the US Government, names of various countries, cities and cultural landmarks while adding sardonic humor. The Airman stories add a humorous slant to the use of propaganda and media's role in politics. The Alphabet Bears, named after the United States Alphabet Agencies draw their inspiration from an eccentric retired United States Army Colonel whose collection of special operation decorated stuffed bears enhance his dining room. This anonymous Officer stands as the series key source of information. During the Colonel's military history he taught at West Point, educated agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and acted as a CIA operative who served at a desk at the Pentagon in the Central Intelligence Agency's Plans and Operations which develops various intelligence missions.