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Alphabetabum: An Album of Rare Photographs and Medium Verses
A New York Review Children’s Collection Original
An ALPHABET book?
An ALBUM of old photos?
We named it ALPHABETABUM.
Here celebrated artists and authors Vladimir Radunsky and Chris Raschka put a delightful new old-fashioned spin on the alphabet book. Radunsky has selected portraits of children from his spectacular collection of antique black and-white photographs. Raschka has given the children names and written deliciously teasing rhymes about them.
The result is ALPHABETABUM, a book of letters and pictures to which readers will happily return again and again both to look and to learn.
An ALPHABET book?
An ALBUM of old photos?
We named it ALPHABETABUM.
Here celebrated artists and authors Vladimir Radunsky and Chris Raschka put a delightful new old-fashioned spin on the alphabet book. Radunsky has selected portraits of children from his spectacular collection of antique black and-white photographs. Raschka has given the children names and written deliciously teasing rhymes about them.
The result is ALPHABETABUM, a book of letters and pictures to which readers will happily return again and again both to look and to learn.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
66 people want to read
About the author
Vladimir Radunsky
44 books21 followersBorn in the Ural Mountains of Russia, Vladimir Radunsky migrated to the United States in 1982, when he was still a relatively young man. Since then he has become well known for his brightly colored artwork and dynamic collages. Among the many children's books he has illustrated are the Candlewick Press titles HOWDI DO, BLING BLANG, and MY DOLLY, in which his vibrant images bring to life the nursery songs of folk-singing legend Woody Guthrie--tunes that appealed to him because they reminded him of songs he loved as a child growing up in Russia.
In collaboration with fellow illustrator Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky wrote and illustrated a rather unique collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on a very important topic: TABLE MANNERS. Through their alter egos Dudunya (Vladimir) and Chester (Chris), the pair share their considerable wisdom in a how-to guide to mealtime behavior. The artist moved on to explore the world of shapes in SQUARE TRIANGLE ROUND SKINNY, a boxed set of fun, funky board books featuring his brilliant graphics.
"I don't pick the medium I work in, but rather it just happens," he says. "And most of the elements I use are repeated in various combinations. Recently I came across a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In it, I found this thought that pretty closely resembles my work principle: 'Ah, godfather could really tell fairy tales--they were long and plentiful. And at Christmastime he would take a thick, blank album and paste in it pictures that he cut out of books and newspapers. When he could not find a picture that fitted the story, he would draw one.'"
Vladimir Radunsky now lives in Rome, Italy.
In collaboration with fellow illustrator Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky wrote and illustrated a rather unique collection of tongue-in-cheek advice on a very important topic: TABLE MANNERS. Through their alter egos Dudunya (Vladimir) and Chester (Chris), the pair share their considerable wisdom in a how-to guide to mealtime behavior. The artist moved on to explore the world of shapes in SQUARE TRIANGLE ROUND SKINNY, a boxed set of fun, funky board books featuring his brilliant graphics.
"I don't pick the medium I work in, but rather it just happens," he says. "And most of the elements I use are repeated in various combinations. Recently I came across a story by Hans Christian Andersen. In it, I found this thought that pretty closely resembles my work principle: 'Ah, godfather could really tell fairy tales--they were long and plentiful. And at Christmastime he would take a thick, blank album and paste in it pictures that he cut out of books and newspapers. When he could not find a picture that fitted the story, he would draw one.'"
Vladimir Radunsky now lives in Rome, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 26, 2015
I checked this book out because I love names. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a photo of a child from yesteryear - late Victorian/Edwardian era - who has been assigned a double or triple-barreled name -- Agnes for "A", Freddy for"F", etc. I can see how this would increase the reading capacity of young children and many open-ended questions and story prompts could come from the photos themselves. Interesting idea and worth a trial to see if it clicks with your young reader.
August 10, 2015
Odd book - the title does not suggest what it is about.
It is a collection of turn of the century photos of children with a 4 line ditty to go with each. One for each letter of the alphabet.
The pictures are fascinating as is Radunsky's blurb at the back. But the cover and the title really doesn't suggest this.
It is a collection of turn of the century photos of children with a 4 line ditty to go with each. One for each letter of the alphabet.
The pictures are fascinating as is Radunsky's blurb at the back. But the cover and the title really doesn't suggest this.
January 7, 2019
I’m kind of shocked and bewildered about how this book got published. The words are cute, but have very little to do with the vintage photographs.... One caption mentions a hand on the hip, but the corresponding photo has no such thing. Another mentions an exotic pet, but again, there’s none in the photo. This happens over and over. My daughter and I were quite confused. The vintage photos didn’t even make up for it - they’re not unique, just an average collection.
Too bad. The premise had promise.
Too bad. The premise had promise.
September 1, 2014
Have you ever been strolling around antique shops, flea markets, or a remote farmhouse auction and stumble across a big box of antiquated photos of children and adults staring soberly up at you pleading you to give them a loving home? The black and whites are nameless and anonymous but once they were part of a family and belonged....but now they are just images on a piece of paper ready to be sold to the highest bidder. Most people turn away and dismiss them as irrelevant now in this day and age of digital but Vladimir Radunsky opened up his heart and adopted them, giving them life and significance once again. These stilted, frozen in time people from another era, dressed in their picture-taking best, were then named and re-instated by the talent of Chris Raschka. His imagination took these images and each were highlighted by an alphabet poem to suit their names and personalities.
People back in that day had their pictures taken infrequently and only on special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, or long-separtations etc. Prints were costly and were made by hand. Whole families would go to the photographer's studio, where the subjects posed against rich backdrops which were painted in oils. Everyone was expected to look perfect and wearing your best clothing was a must.
These selected photos are over a hundred years old so they very likely could be someone's great-great-great-grandparents. Important pictures were sometimes lost, sold by the photographer or just thrown away by the families. I really liked the book. It made me stop and re-evaluate the importance of my own personal photo collection. In a hundred years I hope they will still be within my family so they can have an important part of our familiar history.
People back in that day had their pictures taken infrequently and only on special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, or long-separtations etc. Prints were costly and were made by hand. Whole families would go to the photographer's studio, where the subjects posed against rich backdrops which were painted in oils. Everyone was expected to look perfect and wearing your best clothing was a must.
These selected photos are over a hundred years old so they very likely could be someone's great-great-great-grandparents. Important pictures were sometimes lost, sold by the photographer or just thrown away by the families. I really liked the book. It made me stop and re-evaluate the importance of my own personal photo collection. In a hundred years I hope they will still be within my family so they can have an important part of our familiar history.
October 22, 2014
I was so impressed with both the concept and execution here! 19th and early 20th century studio photographs of children accompanied by 26 inventive verses each focused on a letter of the alphabet. Some coordinate better than others, but all are entertaining. The vocabulary is fairly sophisticated; in fact, this book is not a typical 'alphabet book' directed at preschoolers. It would be entertaining for the adult who does the reading, but the significance of the pictures and the vocabulary would be lost on (and possibly boring for) a young child. Better choice for those 10 and up, way up! I loved it and may even buy a copy, since I love old photos and truly appreciate the inventiveness of the whole package here. Great fun to browse through and share with like-minded children and adults!
September 10, 2014
What a cute book with rare photos and so much more. Ages: 4-8 grade level: Preschool- 3. The photos are in alphabet style and a collection of rare photos found in various places, including flea markets. Written with rhymes about each photo. Any family would be thrilled to have this collection of rare photos in their library. Youngsters will learn much more than their alphabet with this collection. I was thrilled as well as educated. A photo album as well as an alphabet book, what a concept.
*Received for an honest review from the publisher*
Rating: 5
Heat rating: N/A
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
*Received for an honest review from the publisher*
Rating: 5
Heat rating: N/A
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
October 30, 2014
Seriously...it is simple and sweet...seems like something perhaps a grandparent would read to a very small child...while it did make use of the alphabet I highly doubt the verses will mean much to any child young enough for this book...also I do not believe anyone of the ages 0-5 will really care to look at the photos...sure they are beautiful and WE all enjoy seeing them but no...children of today are not into antiques...so sorry...while I can appreciate the work I can not recommend it for the child
December 16, 2014
If you love old photographs you are really going to enjoy this picture book. The authors took old photos of children and turned them into an alphabet book. Each child gets a wonderful name with the letter they are assigned as well as some quirky characteristic. While most of the characteristics do come from the photos themselves there are a few that are just made up. Lots of big words in this one so parents are going to have to have the dictionary handy.
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May 28, 2016I love the collection of cool old photographs. I think k the kids might find them interesting.
The cataloging for our library copy put it in the ABC/language section but it seems more poetry to me. And the poetry was less successful than the art direction in the book with the photos and stamps and insignia.
Also ... is the bit in the "about the author" about making fanciful clothes for large animals real or satire? Feel silly for not being able to tell.
The cataloging for our library copy put it in the ABC/language section but it seems more poetry to me. And the poetry was less successful than the art direction in the book with the photos and stamps and insignia.
Also ... is the bit in the "about the author" about making fanciful clothes for large animals real or satire? Feel silly for not being able to tell.
December 18, 2014
Age: Kindergarten-1st grade
Concept Skill: Alphabet
Delightfully unique, Radunsky supplies antique black-and-white photographs while Raschka gives humorous and intriguing rhymes about who they may have been. I can see the appeal to parents, for sure, but I think older children will also have fun with the vast array of characters. This would make a great writing prompt, teachers!
Concept Skill: Alphabet
Delightfully unique, Radunsky supplies antique black-and-white photographs while Raschka gives humorous and intriguing rhymes about who they may have been. I can see the appeal to parents, for sure, but I think older children will also have fun with the vast array of characters. This would make a great writing prompt, teachers!
February 4, 2023
This may be more of a children's book for adults than for children. I haven't tested it on a child yet. I found the photos and book design fantastic, and the verses a nice place to start for thinking of my own (possibly better?) corresponding verses. Particularly like thinking about the idea "Are these children our great-great-great-grandparents?"
August 13, 2017
High concept but ultimately just didn't work for me because the concept beat out the substance. Kids who like this however, might eventually climb the reading ladder to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs when they're older.
January 25, 2015
Entrancing old photographs are paired with 3-line alliterative poems about the subjects. Each page made me want to linger, wondering who these children were. This book would pair beautifully with an upper elementary writing project.
October 25, 2015
Charming antique photos with descriptive verse, always spot on and often humorous. Add to your alphabet book collection or use photos to generate new tale/verse. Recalls WD Myers treasure Brown Angels.
November 29, 2015
Just my kind of odd and quirky! Not one I'd choose for storytime or recommend to every single family I come across, but definitely charming and delightful for those that are the right kind of weird. :)
November 3, 2014
Weird, but i like it.
November 10, 2014
Ransom Riggs could go to town with this collection of photos.
November 29, 2014
Spare and elegant in concept and execution, this enchanting alphabet book is one to look at gain and again.
Admirers of Edward Gorey will enjoy this.
Admirers of Edward Gorey will enjoy this.
March 18, 2015
More could have been done with it. The captions for each photograph need work because they often do not go with the photo. Cute idea, though.
January 16, 2015
I love looking at old pictures but the accompanying poems kind of lost me.
January 26, 2015
Interesting if you're a grown-up who likes old photos with witty-ish captions. No child appeal at all.
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January 2, 2016Not really for kids. But I can think of jumping off points for class projects.
February 14, 2016
Well, this is weird. This is dark… i don't know.
October 6, 2016
The pictures are really neat, but the text is not that good.
October 21, 2018
Interesting alphabet book using old photographs
January 20, 2015
Summary: "Here celebrated artists and authors Vladimir Radunsky and Chris Raschka put a delightful new old-fashioned spin on the alphabet book. Radunsky has selected portraits of children from his spectacular collection of antique black and-white photographs. Raschka has given the children names and written deliciously teasing rhymes about them.
The result is ALPHABETABUM, a book of letters and pictures to which readers will happily return again and again both to look and to learn." Amazon
Pub.: 2014
Theme: Alphabet, alphabet poetry, then and now, photography
The result is ALPHABETABUM, a book of letters and pictures to which readers will happily return again and again both to look and to learn." Amazon
Pub.: 2014
Theme: Alphabet, alphabet poetry, then and now, photography
March 30, 2015
Old photos of children with a descriptive sentence to go with each.
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December 23, 2017Alphabetabum is dubiously classified as a children's book. Some children at one age or another might well enjoy it, and it does have some text to read as one turns the pages.
But the drollery is for grown-ups, part of which is the repeated demonstration of the power of captions, which here render old photos amusing and occasionally perhaps uneasily enjoyed.
I admired Sesame Street for providing amusement for grown-ups while they watched with children, so I admire this book for the same reason. But if the child you look at it with doesn't like it, I wouldn't persist: for some it could be eerie and unsettling, and the material of bad dreams.
For others, you might have to field a lot of questions -- it could lend itself to very active reading and discussion.
But the drollery is for grown-ups, part of which is the repeated demonstration of the power of captions, which here render old photos amusing and occasionally perhaps uneasily enjoyed.
I admired Sesame Street for providing amusement for grown-ups while they watched with children, so I admire this book for the same reason. But if the child you look at it with doesn't like it, I wouldn't persist: for some it could be eerie and unsettling, and the material of bad dreams.
For others, you might have to field a lot of questions -- it could lend itself to very active reading and discussion.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews