AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen T. Johnson
PUBLISHER: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated PUBLICATION
DATE:
1995
AWARDS: A
1996 Caldecott Honor Book
ALA Notable Award
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year
A 1996 Children’s Book of Distinction by Hungry Mind Review
A 1996 Children’s Books Mean Business ABA-CBC
A New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Horn Book Magazine Starred Review and a Horn Book Fanfare Award
Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award
Parents Magazine’s Best Books of 1995 and a Parents Pick of the Year
Publishers Weekly Starred Review
School Library Journal Starred Review
Children’s Book of the Year and marked for Outstanding Merit by The Bank Street Child Study Children’s Book Committee
Wisconsin Library Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature
Featured in it entirety on ABC’s Good Morning America with Charlie Gibson and Joan Lunden
ALA Notable Award
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year
A 1996 Children’s Book of Distinction by Hungry Mind Review
A 1996 Children’s Books Mean Business ABA-CBC
A New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Horn Book Magazine Starred Review and a Horn Book Fanfare Award
Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award
Parents Magazine’s Best Books of 1995 and a Parents Pick of the Year
Publishers Weekly Starred Review
School Library Journal Starred Review
Children’s Book of the Year and marked for Outstanding Merit by The Bank Street Child Study Children’s Book Committee
Wisconsin Library Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature
Featured in it entirety on ABC’s Good Morning America with Charlie Gibson and Joan Lunden
GENRE:
Nonfiction PB READING LEVEL: age 5
BRIEF OVERVIEW:
Through the use
of water colors, the author uses objects of the urban setting to demonstrate
that the alphabet or letters are not only seen in books but as well as our surroundings. Johnson’s photo-realistic images give a tour through the city, finding letters
in places that no one usually pays attention to. So pay close attention to the illustrations,
otherwise you might miss the “P” on the rails.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Throughout the day (including at home, the bus ride,
hall ways, and school) look around and try to recognize a letter and sketch in
journal and demonstrate drawing to classmates the next class day. Once they
have their image, students will get to paint their image using watercolors. This
way they become more aware of their surroundings in their environment.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: (Nancy Guerrero, Valdosta State University ECSE)
LABELS: city life, nonfiction, wordless picture book, art
