The Human Alphabet

by John Kane, Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Pilobolus

The company's dancers join limbs, twist, and grip to form 26 letters-- an alphabet made of the human body, captured in glorious color photographs. Alongside each letter, they've also composed a Ants for A; Butterfly for B; Circus for C--and so on through Z, a human Zipper. Can you guess what each one shows? Pilobolus brings their creativity and hallmark visual style to a unique picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Photography

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

When John Kane was younger, he liked to make up stories for his little sister. Jimmy and Bear, who appeared in them, are still remembered to this day.

John lives in Dublin, but has also lived in Australia, where he set up Australia's number one independent advertising agency.

His first book is I Say Ooh. You say Aah and his plan is that it won't be the last.

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a clever and fun alphabet book. Each letter gets one or two pages. Dancers, dressed in colorful leotards, make shapes. For each letter they make the shape of a letter and then they make the shape of an object that begins with that letter. At the end of the book there’s a 2 page spread that shows the dancers in the shape of the letter, the capital and lower case version of each letter, and the name of the object for each letter that they made. For instance: ant, butterfly, circus, dinosaur, etc.. It’s a very cool idea and it’s a great book for dancers, appreciators of the art of dance, alphabet learners. The dancers’ names are given in the front of the book, so they do get credit, as do the costume designer and the choreographers.

[Reader]

You have the wrong JOHN KANE as the author here. I am the Author, JOHN KANE same name different person.

[Savannah Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and clever book by John Kane! It makes you really appreciate the movements of our body and how much we can portray with body language (am I the only one who says those words like Ursula!? 😂) My kids had a blast trying to make the letters; Ari couldn't stop giggling! We had fun guessing the word portrayed on each page, some were much more abstract and difficult than others but the answers were in the back of the book. There's an assortment of men and women of all colors in the book working together to create the alphabet. Great way to focus on gross motor and the shape of letters while studying your ABCs!

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unsettling. VERY unsettling. Many... awkward poses and letter guessing... Especially on V.

[Paul Hankins]

The performers of Pilobolus work together to create the alphabet and images associated with each letter. Maddie (10) loved this one, snatching it from my TBR pile before I could get to it this afternoon.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing alphabet book that uses the bodies of the Philobolus dancers to form the letters, as well as the vocabulary words that accompany them. There is a guide at the back for those that are too hard to decipher. A nice addition to an alphabet collection.

[Marilyn Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great kids book! very clever!
you might discuss leotards. answers in back of book, if you get stuck.
a cute ABC BOOK! kids love it!

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

straight forward alphabet book with people posing as the letters and items for each letter. Some of the letter objects are easier to identify than others.

[Terry]

10-year-old explored this on/off for a week after borrowing it from her school library.