Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Seeger (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">I Had a Rooster), the niece of folksinger Pete Seeger, has devised an artful lift-the-flap ABC. From A to Z, labeled die-cut openings in glossy black paper purport to show an "arrowhead," "balloons," a "cloud" and a "door." When readers peek beneath the paper frames, however, they discover a letter of the alphabet. What look like two horizontal white "eggs" on a gingham napkin are also the indentations in a letter E. Two parallel "nails," tilting on a diagonal, turn out to be the slanted angles of the capital N. A plump white "quotation mark" against a red background doubles as the oval center of a Q. And the curvaceous hollow body of a "ukelele" forms the dip in the letter U. Seeger inverts positive and negative space in her paintings, whose warm colors glow from the windows in the light-absorbing black paper; she even incorporates die-cuts into the dust jacket. Her words and images indicate which letter lurks under each flap, and her variably sized rectangular windows give tantalizing hints to the "hidden" shapes. The design is unerringly elegant: each flap lifts from bottom to top to reveal a solid, symmetrical letter form, and the 26 folded pages, printed on tough heavyweight stock, make for a thick but not unwieldy volume. Seeger makes an interactive game of the alphabet and fashions a sophisticated presentation. Ages 2-6. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

PreS-Gr 2-From the black book jacket with cutout openings for each letter of the title to the vibrant, painterly strokes of yellow on the endpapers, Hidden Alphabet is a visual delight. A black mat frames an object on each page. When it is lifted, each of these objects becomes a significant part of the letter's negative space (e.g., two balloons form circles to make the openings in the letter "B"). This clever trick of changing viewers' perspective from foreground to background will keep readers turning the pages to see the other optical illusions this pictorial byplay produces. Because of the way they are formed, the letters are not always completely conventional in shape. This may challenge very young children to identify them, but readers of any age will enjoy seeing a mouse turn into an "M" made of cheese with a few tiny chunks nibbled out of it. Seeger's interesting word choices-arrowhead, inkblot, olive, partridge, quotation mark, yolk-and her sophisticated paintings make this a fascinating artistic experience as well as a learning opportunity.-Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Seeger's Hidden Alphabet uses a timeworn approach to A through Z that matches each letter with a word that begins with that letter, then adds a lift-the-flap format and a striking graphic design to transform the book into something new. Each shiny, thick black page features a cut-away through which children can view vibrantly colored objects, such as balloons. By lifting the flap, children will be surprised to discover that the object actually forms part of a letter. Kids may need help recognizing some of the objects featured, but the design is bold and clean enough to make the letters easily discernible. It is a book that manages to be both child friendly and visually exciting.

Horn Book (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Sturdy pages made of card stock feature black die-cut flaps folding down from the top. Lift the flaps and foreground turns background as pictured images become the negative space defining the letter form. Within each image, delicately subtle shadows transform shapes from convex to concave (or vice versa) once the flap is lifted. This is great bookmaking, and a snazzy--though sophisticated--addition to the alphabet bookshelf.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

An outstanding alphabet book that is graphically distinguished as well as useful for the purpose intended: object and letter identification. Most objects pictured, one per page, will be common to young children (although a few like "arrowhead" and "quotation mark" may not), and they will be easily identified. The use of clean lines and simple shapes throughout, with occasional subtle texturing, renders the book artistic yet accessible. The organizing principle is clear and consistent as well as unique. Each keyword is printed in clear, lowercase typeface, white on black, with a black flap framing the object. The flap lifts to reveal that the picture is indeed part of the alphabet letter itself, therein making creative use of negative space. Two balloons representing the letter "b" actually form the holes in the capital letter "B." Each page comes as an ingenious surprise. Colors are saturated and show up handsomely inside the black frames. Printed on sturdy stock, this should survive many circulations in small hands. Beautifully designed, fascinating to browse, and eminently successful. (Picture book. 3-6)