Alphabet City

Stephen T. Johnson (1995), 32 pages

Audience: toddlers, pre-K

Format: picture book

Find letters all around the city, in signs, on buildings … everywhere! Can you spot the “A” shape in the slide of a sawhorse? Or spy a “D” in outlined park planters? Does the profile of a stoplight form an “E”? Maybe a wrought iron curlicue reminds you of a “G”? Perhaps you see the letter “S” in the concrete scrollwork on the side of a building? Well, you can! Johnson has created an entire alphabet hidden in the architecture of the city. Using pastels, watercolors, gouache, and charcoal on hot pressed watercolor paper, Johnson produces a series of unbelievably photo-realistic paintings that mimic real landscape and cityscape. This Caldecott honored book is brilliant in its imagery and content! Parents and educators can use this book as an introduction to letter knowledge (alphabet recognition). Simply trace the letters with your fingers while saying the name of the letter – or use this book as inspiration and go on your own tour; walk your own neighborhood locating all kinds of shapes and letters found in the environment around you!

Reviewed by Katharine Quinn, SJSU MLIS Student

If you liked this book, you may like: Q is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game by Mary Elting or Alphabet Adventure by Audrey Wood

Other books by this author: City by Numbers, A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet, My Little Red Fire Truck, My Little Pink Princess Purse, and My Little Yellow Taxi