Alphabet City

This book was just photographs of different parts of the city that were shaped like the letters of the alphabet. such as a using a sideways traffic light as an 'E' or a bridge to make an 'M'. The different perspectives made this book possible in order to get every letter. I enjoyed this because I've often found myself playing this game in my head while I'm walking through the city.

I love abecedaria and this is beautiful one - and a Caldecott Honor Book to boot! The premise is simple and hardly original: to collect letters of the alphabet hidden within the urban landscape. The Zs of a fire escape, the G of a lamp-post's ornamentation, the N of a bridge's trusswork, the A of a sawhorse...

Stephen Johnson's paintings are lovely vignettes of the physical props to urban living: handrails, shadows, light fixtures, brickwork, pipes, windows, brackets, and flagstones. The paintings are realistic without being too photographic and their colour palette conjures urbanity as both grit and mystery. This book has no words - only capital letters.

This book takes an interesting perspective in presenting a very simple concept. Kids are familiar with the alphabet and the shapes of the letters from an early age. This book displays all the letters of the alphabet as he found them throughout urban settings. Some stand out clearly while others are more not as easily recognized. The author explains his book's purpose in a short introduction that gives the reader an even better sense of his accomplishment. I would challenge my fourth-graders to find the letters of the alphabet in their neighborhoods...or out in nature rather than in the city.

Alphabet City is a wordless alphabet book. Readers will feel as though they are taking a walk through a city and discovering that the letters of the alphabet are hiding amongst city objects, such as streets, buildings, parks, signs, bridges, and the list goes on. This picture book will inspire beginning readers to seek out the alphabet within their own city. All ages

For this picture book the medium of art appears to be different kinds of painting methods. Even though this book contained no story line consistent with its picture I absolutely loved this book. I found the artwork to be detailed, stunning and imaginative. I had originally flipped through the pages but it was not until I read the first page that I realized the pictures were not photographs but instead paintings. I was absolutely shocked and amazed at every turn of the page. With each picture I feel as though any students imagination would be broadened just a little more to use what they are learning in the classroom in the outside world. Overall I think the was a really good picture book with beautiful artwork.

This is a must include version of the alphabet, the gouache images are incredible. A great way to get young children (and older) to pay attention to their surroundings and see things differently.

While I can see the concept idea behind this ABC book, I do not think it works for the age group that needs it most. I could barely find half of them (and still don't agree with some on what they're supposed to be). I like that the author is trying to use examples from real life but I don't feel it translates well. I wouldn't use it in a story time or even as a recommended concept book. The illustrations are beautiful but not for an ABC book.