Peter Blake (2) (1932–)

This ABC book is simple yet complex. Each 2-page spread comprises of 1 letter of the alphabet and a corresponding object that begins with that letter, portrayed in photographs. It looks like the letters (all capital letters) are the types you would find on a house address. The background of each page is plain, which allows both the letters and the images to stand out. The type is big and simple, but it is not necessarily a counting book you would use to introduce the letters of the alphabet. show more This is because there are some tricky items. For example, “G is for gnome,” but that’s not the “g” sound we usually teach kids right off the bat. Similarly, “K is for knots.” Even so, it is a great teaching tool, and may be used not only to invoke a conversation about the “exceptions to the rules” sounds that letters make, but also to some concepts today’s children may not be familiar with, such as “P is for punch,” depicting an old-fashioned puppet from the Punch and Judy show or a picture of the Union Jack flag for “U.” This would be a cool book to use in a photography class to inspire students to go out and make their own alphabet books using found objects. The book includes a note from the artist that lets you know all of the pictures came from his collection of toys and objects, and that he didn’t want to “talk down” to younger readers – which explains the reason for the non-mainstream objects. show less

The pictures are lovely, and the choice of objects unusual and amusing, but Blake has the same blinkers as most adults maing abc books - they choose objects whose name does not, in fact, start with the phonetic value of the letter.
For example, he has K (kay) is for Knot (not) which has got to mess with kids' minds. Most offenders are C (see) is for Cat (kat).
It is a puzzlement.

Does what it says on the tin, it's a picture book with one picture for each letter of the alphabet. They are collages of letters, other picture books, and other things related to the letter.

A creative ABC board book for very young children that uses Peter Blake's collection of interesting objects to present the alphabet.