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ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City
Presents all the excitement, movement, and diversity of the Big Apple to beginning readers via lively full-color photos, bright illustrations, and city-inspired items, such as "B" for Bagel and "C" for the Chrysler Building.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2005
About the author
Joanne Dugan
7 books4 followersJoanne Dugan is an author and photographer and based in New York City.
Her latest hardcover book, "Summertime," curated and edited by Joanne, features the work of 46 emerging and established contemporary photographers and is published by Chronicle Books.
Joanne's photography and writing has been published in six previous books: "ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City," (Abrams Books), "123 NYC: A Counting Book of New York City," (Abrams Books), "Taxi Driver Wisdom," (Chronicle Books), "Beauty Parlor Wisdom," (Chronicle Books), "Mostly True," (fine art private press) and "To Music and Other Short Stories," (RDH, Germany).
Her work has been recognized with national awards from Communication Arts, Photo District News, Graphis, The Art Director’s Club, HOW Magazine and the AIGA, among others.
Joanne is a faculty member of the International Center of Photography in New York City, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA.
Her latest hardcover book, "Summertime," curated and edited by Joanne, features the work of 46 emerging and established contemporary photographers and is published by Chronicle Books.
Joanne's photography and writing has been published in six previous books: "ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City," (Abrams Books), "123 NYC: A Counting Book of New York City," (Abrams Books), "Taxi Driver Wisdom," (Chronicle Books), "Beauty Parlor Wisdom," (Chronicle Books), "Mostly True," (fine art private press) and "To Music and Other Short Stories," (RDH, Germany).
Her work has been recognized with national awards from Communication Arts, Photo District News, Graphis, The Art Director’s Club, HOW Magazine and the AIGA, among others.
Joanne is a faculty member of the International Center of Photography in New York City, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, MA.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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September 15, 2026See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/abc-nyc/
ABC NYC is a fun alphabet book that uses photographs and landmarks around New York City to teach the letters of the alphabet. Each letter is presented in a photograph from an image around the city and stands for something that can be found in the city, such as A for Atlas (the statue).
What I loved: This is a clever alphabet book that shares a love of NYC with young readers. Little ones love photographs and seeing real imagery, so this book will be perfect for young explorers who will enjoy seeing all the real places, people, and things in the photos. The letters of the alphabet are presented cleverly, with some letters having many photos but at least one being legible and giving that letter recognition for little ones. The book is quite artistic with great use of color and variety of images.
Final verdict: ABC NYC is a clever picture book that teaches about the alphabet, using artistic photography and landmarks from New York City. This is great for toddlers and preschoolers, who can enjoy the real images and continue their letter recognition journeys.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
ABC NYC is a fun alphabet book that uses photographs and landmarks around New York City to teach the letters of the alphabet. Each letter is presented in a photograph from an image around the city and stands for something that can be found in the city, such as A for Atlas (the statue).
What I loved: This is a clever alphabet book that shares a love of NYC with young readers. Little ones love photographs and seeing real imagery, so this book will be perfect for young explorers who will enjoy seeing all the real places, people, and things in the photos. The letters of the alphabet are presented cleverly, with some letters having many photos but at least one being legible and giving that letter recognition for little ones. The book is quite artistic with great use of color and variety of images.
Final verdict: ABC NYC is a clever picture book that teaches about the alphabet, using artistic photography and landmarks from New York City. This is great for toddlers and preschoolers, who can enjoy the real images and continue their letter recognition journeys.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 26, 2018
Copyright-2005
Number of Pages-56
Book Format-Hardcover
Reading Level-K-3rd grade
Genre- Children's picture book
Lit Requirement- alphabet book 3
Summary- ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City takes you on an adventure of things you would see in the city based on a letter in the alphabet. Each page has a picture(s) to help enhance understanding of what the sentences are saying. (ex. "C is for Chrysler Building. It sparkles silver on a sunny day." and has a picture of the Chrysler Building on the page next to the letter.)
Response- I liked this book because I am very interested in New York. There may be some students who are interested in, or who are from New York that would probably enjoy this book, too. The sentences are kind of small and hard to find. It is a picture book so the pictures are meant to be big, but it may be hard for younger children to locate the sentences and read about what they are looking at.
Number of Pages-56
Book Format-Hardcover
Reading Level-K-3rd grade
Genre- Children's picture book
Lit Requirement- alphabet book 3
Summary- ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City takes you on an adventure of things you would see in the city based on a letter in the alphabet. Each page has a picture(s) to help enhance understanding of what the sentences are saying. (ex. "C is for Chrysler Building. It sparkles silver on a sunny day." and has a picture of the Chrysler Building on the page next to the letter.)
Response- I liked this book because I am very interested in New York. There may be some students who are interested in, or who are from New York that would probably enjoy this book, too. The sentences are kind of small and hard to find. It is a picture book so the pictures are meant to be big, but it may be hard for younger children to locate the sentences and read about what they are looking at.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2018
An ABC book Sesame Street style, illustrated with photographs.
The letters are found in signs throughout the city. Some of these photos are color and some black and white.
The pictures to illustrate that letter are about things found in NYC. These photos are all black and white.
There's a short sentence about each letter.
Some things (like "M" is for Manhole Cover and "S" is for Subway) will work for most big urban areas. Others (like "C" is for Chrysler Building and "F" is for Flatiron Building) are very very NYC specific.
The letters are found in signs throughout the city. Some of these photos are color and some black and white.
The pictures to illustrate that letter are about things found in NYC. These photos are all black and white.
There's a short sentence about each letter.
Some things (like "M" is for Manhole Cover and "S" is for Subway) will work for most big urban areas. Others (like "C" is for Chrysler Building and "F" is for Flatiron Building) are very very NYC specific.
January 28, 2018
Joanne takes children on an alphabetic photographic tour of NYC from A[tlas] to Z[oom] with B is for Bagel and S is for Subway and everything in between. Dugan's author's note with her reasons for writing this book is interesting. She received well meaning ABC books from friends and relatives but those didn't fit the NYC as there were examples that urban children were less likely to see in NYC. Great alphabet book for those who live in cities as well as those going to visit in NYC.
February 21, 2017
Great ABC book for NY'ers or anyone whose visited nyc. Excellent illustrations. Alphabet is letters from buildings, signs or subway grating. It really reflects ny with a description of where each was photographed.
February 3, 2018
"A is for Atlas. He cannot wave because he is carrying the world on his shoulders"
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Another interesting and unique idea of a book. It is safe to say that i got to know new york more by this photographs.
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Another interesting and unique idea of a book. It is safe to say that i got to know new york more by this photographs.
March 10, 2018
Wonderfully colorful book that teaches children the alphabet with visuals that associate with New York City. Only thing I would change is the number of words. Maybe three per letter would be better.
February 20, 2017
B is for Bagel. G is for Grand Central. N is for Newsstand. ABC NYC displays the alphabet through the letters and sights found within the beautiful, busy city of New York. The letters are very vibrant colors and the image of the objects next to it are black and white. ABC NYC displays the different letters found within the city, and beside it, is a picture of that object/letter. A cool thing about this alphabet book is that it tries to help engage the reader more, so they are not only focused on the specific letter. For example, "W is for Water Tower. Count them," is found within the book where the author has used this time to have the reader engage and look for how many water towers are in the image. The different take and engagement found within this ABC book is appealing and sets it apart from other alphabet books. This book is great for early readers all the way up until the teens, even adults. For a simple and relaxing read, go ahead and take a look at this alphabet book of New York City.
January 22, 2008
Excellent. Effervescent letters snagged from various city locations and gorgeous black & white photography offer dual visualization of familiar city sights from A to Z. Lends itself to much kid/reader interaction.
March 4, 2015
ALPHABET
This is a little bit different than the traditional ABC book in that it has black and white photography of New York City paired with colorful ABC letters. I think this would be a fun book to give to an adult who has been to NYC or who is missing NYC.
This is a little bit different than the traditional ABC book in that it has black and white photography of New York City paired with colorful ABC letters. I think this would be a fun book to give to an adult who has been to NYC or who is missing NYC.
October 13, 2007
This book made me SO homesick!!!
Just wonderful. And she even included the Little Red Lighthouse!
Just wonderful. And she even included the Little Red Lighthouse!
October 19, 2009
A BOOK WITH ME IN IT!!! And I'm not kidding
Turn to the page with R on it and thats me!!! YAy!!!!
Turn to the page with R on it and thats me!!! YAy!!!!
January 28, 2012
Love this ABRAMS ABC book. One really gets a feel for the city by looking through these letters and images.
January 28, 2012
I love giving ABC books as projects so it's always nice to have a few published ones on hand as examples. This is a great one to use to get kids to think outside the box.
August 16, 2012
Great book. Good example to start talking/teaching about the boroughs. Good to show as sample for projects.
November 5, 2015
I liked the variety of things the author used for each letter but I wish the photos had been in color. They would have looked like a higher quality photo and been more visually interesting.
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