Alphabet Everywhere - Tapa dura

From School Library Journal Gr 1-3-The author's experience as an architectural photographer translates into more than a hundred images that challenge readers to find as many forms as possible that "resemble the alphabet in ways that are accidental." Youngsters will find the expected "A" formed in the frame of a ladder, a steel I-beam, B- and C-shaped door handles, or a "Z" on a garage door, but sidewalk shadows and nature images such as the blossoming tulip (V), a serrated grapevine leaf (M), or an ocean wave approaching the shore (R), move beyond man-made art and architecture and are more difficult to pick out. An unusual collection of photographic art from city to country, this compendium includes creative angles and perspectives, further informing readers with a final index of all the photo sources. Compare this book's artistry and imagination to Krystina Castella and Brian Boyl's Discovering Nature's Alphabet (Heyday, 2006) or combine it with Stephen Johnson's Alphabet City (Viking, 1995). This collection of images stretches through 60 pages, perhaps a challenge for younger readers, although the die-cut ABC on the cover is instantly eye-catching. A general purchase for all libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TXa(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

There is a world of letters just waiting to be discovered in the world around us -- if we know how to look for it. In this engaging and delightful book, photographer Elliott Kaufman reveals the "secret" life of the alphabet through his photographs, showing how letters can be found in things we encounter everyday. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by multiple images, each unintentionally created by the intersection of architectural details, shadows, light, or natural elements as caught by Kaufman's keen eye. Some are obvious, while others demand a little more imagination to recognize, inviting the readers to start their own game of hunting for letters! This fun approach also reinforces the notion that learning to see the familiar in new ways encourages visual literacy and creativity.