“ALPHABET EVERYWHERE,” by Elliott Kaufman, Abbeville Kids, Hardcover, May 29, 2012, $14.95 (ages 3 and up)
Letters are the building blocks of language. They have been combined to create some of the most inspiring speeches and most loved literature. In “Alphabet Everywhere” we discover letters hidden in plain sight.
When you’re little, letters can be a mystery — both confusing and intriguing at the same time. “Letters Everywhere” encourages recognition and turns the alphabet into a game of sorts. There are no words in this book, only letters. And those letters are discovered through the lens of architectural photographer Elliott Kaufman.
Each letter comes to life through Elliott’s photography. Door handles become “Ds” and light posts become “Js.” Each letter is shown in five images, helping to illustrate that the alphabet really is everywhere. It’s a fun idea that could become a scavenger hunt of sorts in real life.
The thing this book is missing — actual printed letters. While “Alphabet Everywhere” is a fun book, some of the images are somewhat abstract, and a beginner could have a difficult time picking out the letter. Because of that limitation, I suggest this book for more advanced youngsters who already know their letters or to families who will read it together, as it’s great as an interactive activity.
