Spellbound: Making Pictures with the A-B-C

In an eye-catching collection of "letter art," Australian graphic designer Coote reveals how letters can be used not as the building blocks of language but of artwork. A section titled "Architext" features typographic recreations of famous buildings from around the world%E2%80%94swoopy capital Rs and Ds form the distinctive shells of the Sydney Opera House, for example, with rolling S waves below%E2%80%94while the second and third sections, "Alphabeasts" and "Letterheads," show how letters can be transformed into portraits of animals and people. Throughout, Coote encourages readers to try their own hand at making letter art, offering pointers, different skill levels and challenges, and information about typography itself. Readers will finish the book both awed and eager to embark on their own typographical experiments. Ages 7%E2%80%93up. (Nov.)