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Seeger, Laura Vaccaro

The Hidden Alphabet

40 pp. | Holiday/Porter | October, 2024 | Trade ISBN 9780823443345 $19.99
Reissue (2003)
(2) PS These lift-the-flap books creatively showcase threatened or endangered creatures (Countdown) and the ABCs (Alphabet; a reissue from 2003, rev. 1/04). In Countdown, left-hand pages present a spelled-out number, beginning with ten and counting down to one, on a textured mixed-media background that hints at a habitat. Right-hand pages (which lift up) are matte colors with square or rectangular die-cuts revealing additional glimpses of the scene below -- and in the general shape of the numeral being highlighted. The number nine, for example, shows a glimpse of an elephant's curled-up trunk, and eight is the negative space of a giraffe's markings. They're not all obvious; careful looking and use of imagination are bonuses, and additional creature facts are appended. Alphabet goes from A to Z, with clean black backgrounds and a word on every page (arrowhead, balloons, yolk, zipper8). From Lolly Robinson's original Magazine review: "Lift the flaps and foreground turns background as pictured images become the negative space defining the letter form...This is great bookmaking, and a snazzy -- though sophisticated -- addition to the alphabet bookshelf." Sturdy flaps; thoughtfully placed and well-sized die cuts; abundant surprises; and visual delights make both of these volumes welcome and artistically elevated concept books. Review covers these fall 2024 titles: Animal Countdown and The Hidden Alphabet.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

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