A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet

A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet is a remarkable journey of discovery about art and language through painting, collage, and sculpture by Caldecott Honor artist Stephen T. Johnson. With literal renderings of each letter, complete with witty titles and playful, alliterative captions, Johnson's abstract art forges connections between words, objects, and ideas.

Can you find the hidden letters? Look closely and you will see a letter C made of colorful candy, a letter H hidden in a hook, and an S in a soft shadow. From A to Z, each stunning, original work of art will stimulate the imagination and creativity of children and adults alike.

"Baby Einstein grads seeking their first coffee-table book might savor this abecedary, which pays homage to abstract expressionism and pop art. Johnson (Alphabet City) creates a multimedia artwork for each letter and describes it with a lengthy alliterative caption. Letter C's 'Camouflage' consists of 'countless colorful candies' in a 'clear circular container.' In H's 'Hoopla,' an installation of silvery-blue hula hoops hangs from an industrial ceiling, while M's 'Meditation on the Memory of a Princess' references fairy tales with eight stacked magenta mattresses and a 'mini mauve marble.' Connoisseurs will detect allusions to Rauschenberg, Lichtenstein and Motherwell; details of the pieces sometimes become microscopic on the pages, but a dust-jacket photo of Johnson in his studio confirms this project's impressive scope. Unfortunately, salient associations can be lost in transition to page with the reduction of scale. Crisp white backgrounds reinforce the book's resemblance to an exhibition catalogue, as does a disconcertingly lofty foreword where Johnson explains, 'I took ordinary objects and made them unfamiliar, removing functionality in order to reveal their potential metaphorical associations.' The apparatus may not enhance the ABC game, but opens the book to an adult audience. Ages 5 — 9. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Stephen T. Johnson is the creator of such well-known children's books as the Publishers Weekly bestseller My Little Red Toolbox, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner My Little Yellow Taxi, and the Caldecott Honor, New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year Alphabet City and the New York Times Best Illustrated and ALA Notable Book A is for Art.

His drawings and paintings are in numerous private and permanent collections, including the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Solo exhibitions of his work have been featured at the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, New York; the Katonah Museum of Art, New York; and the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. Among his public art is a mosaic mural at the DeKalb Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, New York, and a 70-foot mural planned for 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Johnson and his family make their home in Lawrence, Ka