ABCs from Space

Starred review from July 24, 2017
This remarkable bird’s-eye (okay, satellite’s-eye) view of the planet peers down at dramatic overhead images of lakes, clouds, rivers, fjords, and other phenomena, finding the letters of the alphabet hidden within them. Science writer Voiland smartly keeps the book wordless, allowing the satellite images to speak for themselves, but several closing pages let readers know exactly what they are looking at: the widening Congo River forms a Q around Bamu Island, cracks in Arctic sea ice create a spindly W, and a zigzagging band of snow in the U.S. closes out the book with a Z. The dramatic coloring of many of the images owes to false-color photography, explained in one of two FAQs (the other delves into geological science). In more ways than one, it’s a book that lets readers see Earth—and the alphabet—in a new light. Ages 4–8. Agent: Farley Chase, Chase Literary.

July 1, 2017
Ever wonder what the Earth looks like from space? This highly unusual and scientific alphabet book will intrigue those sky gazers who see shapes in the clouds.A beginning "Note to Parents and Teachers" provides an explanation for the idea for the book that led to the search for alphabet letters in satellite images of Earth: "A few years ago, I noticed a cloud of smoke over Canada that had the shape of a V." The full-page photos bleed off the page without any text, amplifying the drama of the visuals. A sandbar acts as the back of the D of Morocco's Marchica Lagoon; Y is formed by the convergence of the Tigris and Great Zab rivers in Iraq. Some images are more distinct than others, ranging from swirls of color to squiggly lines, making discovery part of the process for readers. The author is a science writer for a NASA website, providing credibility. A five-page legend in the back cites the locations photographed and dates when the photos were taken. Backmatter has a two-page map that locates each of the letters, FAQs on both images and science, and a glossary. Similar in concept, ABC: The Alphabet from the Sky, by Benedikt Gross and Joey Lee (2016), is more accessible to young readers learning their alphabet. Definitely not your usual ABC book, this sophisticated approach will best appeal to science teachers and scientifically minded children. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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August 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-There is a certain nerdy awesomeness to Voiland's photographic journey through the Roman alphabet-the sheer wonder of finding patterns in nature, especially ones that happen to resemble A's and B's. Voiland combed through countless NASA satellite images to find waterways, weather systems, and cloudscapes when compiling this collection. An ending key identifies each picture (A is Lake Mjøsa in Norway) and provides a detailed description (what satellite took the image, the date, and more). A world map is also featured. The photos are fascinating and the concept is intriguing, but the layout begs the question-who is this for? Will the presumed audience for alphabet books-preschool and early elementary-really be interested in flipping back and forth between the alphabet and image key? The process of locating and recognizing the pictures is the most valuable aspect of the book, but may very well be above the heads of most young readers. VERDICT The subject matter doesn't quite line up with the complexity of the format, and little effort is made to integrate the two, making this an idiosyncratic but enjoyable read for the most scientifically-minded of kids.-Emilia Packard, Austin, TX

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