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Paul Thurlby's Alphabet    by Paul Thurlby Amazon.com order for
Paul Thurlby's Alphabet
by Paul Thurlby
Order:  USA  Can
Templar, 2013 (2013)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Bob Walch

If there is such a category as alphabet books for adults, then this board book should be placed at the top of the listing. The clever illustrations for each letter showcase Paul Thurlby's artistic abilities as he works the shapes into interesting pictures.

For example, two mountains form the letter “M” while strips of newsprint create “N” for newspaper. But while adults will appreciate the pretty girl's face that forms the letter “P”, young children might have trouble visualizing the letter.

Therein lies the problem for this book. Certainly an older audience will appreciate the way the illustrations represent the letters in unconventional ways, but a young child will have problems identifying some letters. The letter “S” is portrayed as an “s” shaped space station, the letter “R” is bent into the shape of a cute rabbit and “J” for Jazz becomes a trombone being played by a musician.

That's all very nice, but if you are trying to teach a young child his or her ABCs, you want the letters to be clearly formed so there's no doubt what you are looking at. Also, I think I prefer to use the word apple rather than awesome to model the letter!

On the other hand, if you are looking for something unique or collect alphabet books, this one would be a must purchase.

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