Isreal Hicks, Jr. has a fresh idea about the ABCs.
His created a poster to spark a child’s interest in the 26 letters. He turned each one into a character, and calls them The Alphabet Heroes. There’s D-Dog, T-Man, Z-Rex and so on.
“I figured I could market and sell a poster and donate
the profits to buy supplies, equipment and computers for the classroom,” said Hicks, 50, of Arlington. “Costco is helping me create a pilot program.”
Proceeds will benefit the Lakewood School District.
“I spent five-plus years developing the characters,” Hicks said. “I realized I created not just a great educational tool but also a unique way to fund early education in Washington state.”
Six years ago his son, who is also named Isreal, was about to enter kindergarten. To prepare, the teacher suggested he learn the Dolch word list, Hicks said. In 1948, Edward Dolch published “Problems in Reading” that featured 220 words children should learn before first grade.
Hicks added to the list and Isreal memorized 300 words by the time school started.
The teaching experience got him thinking about how to make the alphabet exciting for children, Hicks said. He found an incredible artist, Daniel Weaver, at the Art Institute of Seattle, and they spent two months developing a book.
“Railroad Joe, The Sight Words Train,” uses words from the Dolch list on colorful, creative pages.
“The book is exciting for children with its funny and silly rhyming stories,” Hicks said. “It’s about a cool old engine, with boxcars, that feature the Dolch words.”
The book is in the library at Lakewood Elementary School. I bought a copy at Amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/3aotlo6.
We are reading it with our granddaughters, who are entering kindergarten and first grade in September. They also are studying the Dolch list of words, but it’s the intriguing animation of the boxcar book they adore.
“School starts at home first,” Hicks said. “If you are a parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure your child receives the best education you can provide.”
Hicks grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and was raised with two sisters. His mother made certain her children participated in church and went to school. The day after he graduated from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy to see the world.
He was stationed many places during his 15 years of service. He fell in love with Washington and the Northwest and worked as a welder for the City of Seattle for 12 years.
The Star Trek and Mickey Mouse fan is a music producer and lyricist, and he owns a carpet and upholstery cleaning business. He is working with Jeff Bacigalupi, assistant general manager at Costco in Marysville, on the poster idea.
“We are doing anything he needs us to do with a goal someday of using Costco for a vehicle to sell some of his things to raise money for schools,” Bacigalupi said. “We helped him with his first mock-up in our print center in Lynnwood.”
Bacigalupi said he sees nationwide potential in The Alphabet Heroes, which would fit in well with Costco’s encouragement for employees to help local groups.
“Some people get started by finding a niche at a local store and blow it up,” he said. “I see excitement in Isreal. The feedback he is getting is so impressive.”
For more information about The Alphabet Heroes, go to www.thealphabetheroes.com.
As his plan unfolds, Hicks sees The Alphabet Heroes as magnets, video games and in a Claymation movie. Artist Dennis Kutsenko is his partner in a company called EnterPlay Publishing.
Hicks said all products will be manufactured in Washington, creating new jobs. Bacigalupi said he sees Hicks bringing thousands of dollars for school districts.
“Feed the genius that dwells inside the imagination of your little hero,” Hicks said.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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