City Alphabet - Softcover

The cover image of this photographic alphabet book will immediately grab readers' attention—it's an old metal sign that says CITY, its big orange letters against a clear blue sky. The other photographs, shot in Toronto by YA author Beam (Earth to Nathan Blue), are quieter meditations on the idea that, in the city, words are everywhere, the opening salvos in ongoing conversations. On the left-hand pages, each letter of the alphabet appears in upper and lower case, along with a museumlike tag about the medium of the word photographed on the facing page (vinyl decals stuck on glass) and the location where it was found (Construction barrier; Back-alley shed). Beam's photos contain muted emotion, like the floating no on a newspaper box above a weathered image that looks oddly human, or the forever crudely etched in concrete next to a withered leaf. Schwartz (Our Corner Grocery Store) and Beam both contribute to the afterword, which explains the genesis of the project. Stark, metallic and urban, these images may encourage children to think about alternate ways of seeing their surroundings. All ages. (Aug.)
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Grade 4 Up—This art book follows the letters of the alphabet found in words printed on signs, etched in concrete, and painted on various surfaces in downtown Toronto. Each photograph is paired with a clean white page containing the particular letter (in both upper and lowercase) and the featured word (printed in a clean bold font). Though the photos are clear, the lettering is occasionally indistinct and conveys the individuality of the people who created the original markings. The medium (including spray paint, vinyl decals, and ink) and location of each image are identified (e.g., for "Love," the caption reads, "Carved in wood. Tree-trunk monument"). Most inspiring is the potential for youngsters to use this urban alphabet as motivation to go out and find words where they live, discuss their purpose, and hear their own city speaking to them.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.