A B C Pop (Picture Books) [Hardcover]

Rachel Isadora (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Series: Picture Books

Each letter of the alphabet is represented by illustrations in a pop art style in this homage to such pop art masters as Lichtenstein, Warhol, and Oldenburg. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With a tip of her hat to such '60s icons as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg, Isadora (The Little Mermaid) whips out a zinger of an ABC book. Playing her retro riff across the pages, she blends strongly linear graphics and repetitive images with such signature elements of pop as polka-dot shading and bold, cartoon-like outlining. For the letter H, for instance, a trio of hot dogs parade across a white background, while a quartet of pigs in harmonious shades of pink, green and blue do a Warholesque turn for the letter P. Primary colors combine with accents in aqua, hot pink and avocado green to resurrect (and even superimpose) visual puns from the past, such as a daisy, that ubiquitous '60s symbol, held by The Manchurian Candidate's Queen of Hearts (for the letter Q, of course). The book ends with a "Zing! Zoom! Zap!", the words encased in the kind of explosively jagged comic book bubbles that mark Roy Lichtenstein's works. Even the endpapers and dust jacket continue the theme, as a sassy "Bye-Bye" bids readers farewell from the back cover. Baby boomers will find this artistic homage a nostalgic hoot, while their offspring will appreciate its verve. All ages.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 5Isadora, whose impressionistic-style images have beguiled many a reader, turns her hand to pop art in this exuberant alphabet book. In a tribute to Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Claes Oldenburg, she matches letter with object in imaginative ways that are right on a childs wavelength. B, for example, finds King Kong heading up the Empire State Building, H showcases three plump hot dogs (each with a different topping), N sports a long-nosed Pinocchio, U finds an umpire calling safe as a player slides into base, and Y consists of a series of swinging yo-yos. The artist carefully varies the pages: some are double-page spreads, such as W, where a spider crawls over a large but fragile-looking web; others repeat an image, such as P, which features four pigs in either blue, olive, lavender, or pink, all shaded with black dots in comic-book style. The energy and bright colors will captivate young viewers; for older readers, this could make a great lead-in to Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordans The Painters Eye (Delacorte, 1994).Barbara Elleman, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670883298
• ISBN-13: 978-0670883295
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,891,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book and took it to school, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A B C Pop (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

I took this book to school with me because we were learning the alphabet. My teacher and friends thought it was very different from the other books we saw. My teacher had us draw pictures like the ones in ABC POP! We had fun and the pictures were hung up in the class. I want to be an artist and do books too. I liked the colors and the way each picture was so funny. Will there be more books like this?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars POP Magic!, January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A B C Pop (Picture Books) (Hardcover)

Went to the library and found this book for my son. We have enjoyed many hours discussing modern art because of its stimilation. We discussed color, style and form. I explained how this art has influenced style, art, music, etc. today. And then we went to the museum to look at Pop art. What a wonderful book- I will always treasure it- I hope Ms. Isadora comes up with more books like this....Numbers POP! and I hope she reads this review!

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars, July 16, 2003

By 

Harry (Pensacola) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ABC Pop! (Picture Puffin Books) (Paperback)

What a great book!!! I think these drawings belong in a museum. There was a lot of talent and creativity that went into this. I will purchase this book for any children, both young and old, that I know. Thank You Ms. Isadora