The Human Alphabet
Kindergarten-Grade 4–Alphabet books are a dime a dozen, but it's fair to say that this offering by dance company Pilobolus is one of the most striking ones around. As photographed by Kane, the flexible dancers bring posing to a new level. They present the 26 letters and 26 corresponding images, par usual. However, their amazing ability to contort (with the help of some trick photography) induces a startling head rush of impressions. Some of the photos, such as L for Ladder, M for Mirror, and Z for Zipper, are quite clever. Others, frankly, are creepy–an overwhelming mess of bodies. Translating the fluid choreography of what is an obviously athletic dance troupe into still photography doesn't always work. Children may well have to consult the key to identify a good number of the images. All that said,The Human Alphabetis an extraordinarily inventive interpretation of what is becoming an overworked genre. Children, with their wonderfully open minds, will accept it for what it is–an alphabet book with bendy people. A must-have only if your alphabet collection needs beefing up, or if yoga is highly popular in your community.–Kara Schaff Dean, Needham Public Library, MACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.