The Graphic Alphabet

The letters reveal themselves in a whole new way in this edgy ABC book by graphic designer David Pelletier. I especially liked I is for Iceberg with the I looming under the water, barely visible.

This alphabet book is more sophisticated than for young ones just learning their ABCs. These letters are turned into either words represented visually, such as C is for circle, and others are more conceptual, like the letter P appearing sideways to look like a smoking pipe. It is an interesting graphic design inspired book and is better left to older kids and adults.

This book is a very unique, and fun way to teach the letters of the alphabet. The letters are illustrated to represent the words that start with each letter. For example the letter H appears to be floating on the page to show that H stands for hover. This book would be a really great way to teach pre-k students the alphabet AND help them to associate the letters with their sounds in a new way.

This is a really cool take on an alphabet book. The exemplar letter becomes/is made of the word that it is at the beginning of. The 'w' is part of a spider's web, for instance, and the 'n's are made of noodles. Each page is really a mini-example of modern art.

Winner of the Caldecott Honor. Use for all elementary grades. Younger children will love the graphics and word association with letters. Older children can use as a tool to build vocabulary skills. The book takes the reader through an inventive, creative, beautiful rendition of the alphabet. Addresses creativity, imagination, perspective. For younger students who are just learning the alphabet, as a follow-up, have them cut out magazine pictures associated with each letter. This helps develop strong vocabulary. For older grades, have students create their own graphic alphabets in pairs or small groups. Facilitates vocabulary development, creativity, multiple intelligences.

Critiscisms aside, I think this would be a great book to explore if and when students had the opportunity to make their own alpahbet books. Incorporating the actual letter into the illustration of what it represents is a fantastic idea! This might be an especially good project to explore with 'buddies (Kinders with 5th graders)/'

Each page is devoted to a letter that both exemplifies the shape of the letter and the word it represents. Readers and listeners will have fun explaining many new word and be surprised at the manipulation of the letters to represent them while still staying true to form. A beautiful alphabet concept book.