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Alpha

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Alpha

Hardcover

$18.99

Hardcover
$18.99

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Overview

Discover the NATO phonetic alphabet—and find layers of connection in every letter—in a stunning abecedarian from celebrated artist Isabelle Arsenault.

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie . . . Since 1956, whenever time and clarity are of the essence, everyone from firefighters to air traffic controllers has spelled out messages using the NATO phonetic alphabet. Now, with equal precision—infused with a singular wit and whimsy—award-winning author-illustrator Isabelle Arsenault interprets this internationally recognized code and makes it her own. From the elegant Tangoto the enigmatic Echo, from the humorous Kilo to the haunting Romeo and Juliet, the striking art in this remarkable ABC book elicits laughter and curiosity, calls up endless associations, and will draw the viewer back again and again.

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About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763678524
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	08/25/2015
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Isabelle Arsenault is the acclaimed illustrator of Jane, the Fox, and Me, winner of the Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration, and numerous other picture books. She lives in Quebec.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

05/11/2015
Canadian illustrator Arsenault’s (Jane, the Fox, and Me) alphabet book presents the words of the NATO phonetic alphabet, the “Alpha Bravo Charlie” series used for absolute clarity when spelling out words for radio transmission. Each word appears on the left in imposing block letters, accompanied by a painting on the facing page worked in milky shades of gouache, watercolor, and other media. The objects are often metonymic, giving the part for the whole: “Charlie” shows Chaplin’s iconic black bowler; “Mike” shows a pair of red boxing gloves. Other entries are more obvious: a glamorous couple dancing for “Foxtrot,” a mountain for “Sierra,” a heavy cocktail glass for “Whiskey.” Sometimes there’s a witty leap of logic, as with the slice of chocolate cake for “Kilo” or the red plastic Monopoly game piece for “Hotel.” And some of the images are truly haunting, like the faint image of a ghostly girl reflected in an empty glass bottle that accompanies “Juliet.” Fine artwork and design sense give this creation quiet allure. Ages 5–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

For kids who may have heard the letters used in movies or on TV, learning this code alphabet could turn into a game.
—Kirkus Reviews

Fine artwork and design sense give this creation quiet allure.
—Publishers Weekly

...beautifully designed and lovingly illustrated in Arsenault’s signature retro style..."
—School Library Journal

Alpha is a smart, nice-looking, and useful take on the classic children’s abecedarian.
—Words on the Word (blog)

This would be an engaging selection for a teacher or librarian to share with intermediate grade students in a whole-group setting.
—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

07/01/2015
Gr 3 Up—This unique abecedarian tackles an unusual topic for an alphabet book-the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, also known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet "used by various emergency services." From "Alpha" to "Zulu," each spread features a full page watercolor/gouache/pencil illustration on the right and the word printed in large blocky black letters on the white expanse of the left, with the first letter highlighted in light blue. As the blurb at the back explains, the book aims not only to teach the readers this "internationally recognized code" but that "each page, each letter, each word, and each image invite investigation." The latter sentiment is somewhat of an understatement, as most of the image/word pairs require a level of sophistication beyond most children. Readers might grasp why "Charlie" is a bowler hat, or that a tumbler with ice and brown liquid, though not exactly child-friendly, stands for "Whiskey," but a picture of alpha particles for "Alpha," a pair boxing gloves for "Mike," or chocolate cake for "Kilo" may stump even some grown-up readers. VERDICT Though beautifully designed and lovingly illustrated in Arsenault's signature retro style, this book seems destined for a niche audience.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

School Library Journal

2015-04-15
Themed alphabet books are a dime a dozen, but this distinguishes itself by illustrating the NATO phonetic alphabet, officially named the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet. Each letter is a one-word code universally used by those who cannot afford to be misunderstood, such as firefighters, police, and the military: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie. Each letter-code is given a double-page spread. The word appears on the verso in large, painted block capitals, and the image that illustrates it is on the recto. Many of the references and depictions are adult, even antique, in connotation. "Mike" is represented by a pair of boxing gloves (presumably for Mike Tyson), and the painting for "Oscar" is a woman in a fancy ball gown (Oscar de la Renta?). A black derby hat represents "Charlie" (Chaplin, one assumes); "Victor" appears opposite a gramophone, evidently standing for Victrola. The picture for "Sierra," an aerial view of a mountain range, is visually confusing. The images are frequently witty, and their execution is painterly and accomplished, but if the intent is to help kids learn this phonetic alphabet, the choice of items for the illustrations seems too sophisticated. For kids who may have heard the letters used in movies or on TV, learning this code alphabet could turn into a game; otherwise this is more an art book for adults than an alphabet book for children. (Picture book. 6 & up)

Kirkus Reviews

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