The Hidden Alphabet

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Book Overview

Open this unusual book and you'll be greeted by a striking image of an arrowhead, surrounded by a simple black frame. Lift the frame and the arrowhead will be magically transformed into the letter A. And so it goes, from Balloons, Cloud, and Door, through Leaf and Mice, to Yolk and Zipper. Bold distinctive images and a simple yet ingenious format make this a concept book, and a gift book, to treasure.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761319417
• ISBN13: 9780761319412
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Neal Porter Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.4" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 2 to 6 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 1

Customer Reviews

Very Artistic

I bought this book because I wanted something other than the typical "A is for Apple, B is for Ball" kind of alphabet book. Although this book is no more complicated than that from a language acquisition perspective, it is a much more artistic book than any alphabet book I found in my search. The artwork is very beautiful and sophisticated, not just silly cartoon illustrations that so often fill children's books. I also like that it's interactive in that child lifts the flap to see not just more of the artwork but also the letter underneath -- it's more likely to hold a small child's attention that way. The paper is pretty thick, so I'm hoping it will be fairly durable for use by a single child or family. (It might not stand up to the constant use of a nursery school or library.) Another really artistic alphabet book I'd also recommend is Animalia by Graeme Base, but that one is probably better for older children.

Alphabet as art

A book that manages to break out of the endless stream of alphabet books clogging the shelves of libraries and bookstores. It's got a style all It's own and a sophisticated view on what we all see as a letter and how we attach meaning to letterforms and words. The cutout form is used to great effect here by not giving it all away for free. You have to think to devour this book. both before you lift the cut-out page and after. The reader needs to look carefully at some letters than younger kids may not get right away - and all the better. A smart kid will get smarter looking at this book, and a new reader will be satisfyingly challenged. Satisfying for adults, it is a great example of how art can have meaning to all ages.

Easily goes far beyond the usual a-b-c primer

It's hard to peg this presentation: Laura Vaccaro Seeger's The Hidden Alphabet's fold-out pages mean it's unlikely to remain durable enough for library lending, yet its unique approach to an artistic look at the alphabet deems it of interest to an older audience than the usual alphabet book would appeal to. Nonetheless, fans of artistic alphabet presentations will find The Hidden Alphabet easily goes far beyond the usual a-b-c primer, inviting fresh perspectives on alphabet art.

Aphabet book for kids and adults!

What a surprise this book was! The beautiful illustrations pop right off the page. I just had to have it to share with my kindergarten students. When I shared it with my colleagues and principal, 4 of them ordered it right away! It would make a wonderful treasure to share with any age group!