Bertie Bumble Bee was full of excitement at the prospect of starting school, but soon becomes disenchanted and demoralized. He realizes he cannot learn in the same way as the others in his class. One day he makes a mistake in front of the whole class and becomes a victim of the class bully, Willy Wasp. Bertie feels humiliated and rejected when even his best friend laughs at Willy Wasp's cruel jibes. Bertie develops a school phobia but Mummy Bumble realizes there is a problem and shows Bertie how to overcome his confusion with the letters b and d. Mummy's solution works and Bertie becomes "alphabet smart." This vital children's book, accompanied by 14 bright illustrations, also contains a structured and fun program to help children to develop the ability to recognize and write the letters of the alphabet, an important prerequisite to good reading and spelling. Early readerages 5-8.