B Is for Brooklyn

Starred review from June 4, 2012
Alko (My Subway Ride), among the most visually eloquent promoters of junior-sized urbanism, turns her talents to the multicultural New York City borough of Brooklyn. It’s a love letter through and through—there isn’t even a scintilla of Portlandia-style spoofery—with Alko’s outpouring of affection limited only by the physical capacity of the pages. “C,” for example, includes Carroll Gardens, Court Street, Cherry Esplanade, and the Williamsburgh Savings Bank’s clock tower, along with Coney Island and its subsidiary “C” words (clam bar, cotton candy, Cyclone). Each letter’s visual
mélange, rendered in thick, saturated gouache and collaged elements (Alko is particularly fond of maps and the New York Times), exudes an appropriately artisanal vibe as it mashes together Brooklynites of every stripe (a Hasidic family, laptop-gazing “Intellectuals,” transplants from around the world) just as the borough itself does. The visual shout-outs are fun as well, heralding the contributions of chocolatier Jacques Torres, Junior’s Cheesecake, and even Walt Whitman. It’s a loving tribute that successfully captures Brooklyn’s diversity and character. Ages 2–6. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

July 1, 2012
An engaging and hip alphabetical trip through the largest and most populous of New York City's five boroughs--Kings County--better known as Brooklyn. The Canadian-born Alko embraces her adopted borough. She's a curious and avid collector of human experience and visual delights. The book is organized alphabetically but eccentrically. For example, "ornaments," "Ocean Parkway," "organic foods" and the "Old Stone House" (George Washington's headquarters during the Battle of Brooklyn) all appear on the same letter "O" page. Despite these and other Brooklyn "insider" choices, readers will be attracted by the book's kid-centric style and hold on for the Cyclonelike roller-coaster ride ("C"--"Coney Island") because of the book's celebratory look and feel. Kaleidoscopic mixed-media pages (gouache and collage) are chockablock with vibrant images that fairly burst from the pages. A pleasantly informative author's note and a rudimentary map attempt to orient and situate the reader. Though families who seek a simple and straightforward "A is for apple"-style alphabet book will be disappointed, the more venturesome will want to pay a visit to Brooklyn and return to sample the book's (and borough's) vitality over and over again. It is said that one in every seven Americans has Brooklyn roots; this lively love song to Brooklyn's 2.5 million people and nearly 82 square miles is a welcome celebration of its rich ethnic, culinary, racial and religious diversity. (Picture book. 3-7)

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September 1, 2012

K-Gr 4-The most colorful, populous borough of New York City comes alive in this eye-popping alphabet book. Beginning with a neighborhood map, each page is an exuberant celebration of the myriad places and people within. There are antique shops along Atlantic Avenue, the aquarium, the Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island, the public library and museums, bridges, playgrounds, a petting zoo at Prospect Park, stoop sales, street fairs. ... Hungry? Locals have a hot dog at Nathan's or some cheesecake at Junior's. There's also pizza, egg creams, Italian ices, borscht, sausage, and falafel. Arabic shop signs, the Russian Baths, and the West Indian Parade are more evidence of this borough of immigrants. People of diverse skin tones and dress populate the pages. A dreadlocked dad pushes a baby stroller, a tattooed tough chick hangs out under the Brooklyn Bridge, and a Hasidic man appears with his family in Williamsburg. Writers and intellectuals sitting with laptops at neighborhood cafes, a street musician playing the xylophone on Avenue X, shoppers with turbans or hijabs, children running to the ice-cream truck-all call Brooklyn "home." Subtle elements including bits of street maps, postage stamps, fabric swatches, tickets, and crossword puzzles are incorporated into the vibrant, gouache-and-collage illustrations. A must-have for local libraries.-Barbara Auerbach, P.S. 217, Brooklyn, New York

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