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. 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.… (more)