March 17-23, 2005

art

Alphabet City

by Harriette Behringer

Micah Kleit was in the Midwest when he came across a book, M Is for Minnesota. He had an idea. Why not publish P Is for Philadelphia here at home? So, Kleit, senior acquisitions editor at Temple University Press, sat down with Janet Francendese, editor in chief, and came up with the idea of having elementary schoolers do the art. The self-confidence generated would be beyond belief, Francendese thought. And with the help of local author Susan Korman, Temple published its first children's title.

Korman celebrates Philadelphia — its history, food, architecture and culture — skillfully. The format is simple: Each page exhibits a letter, in alphabetical order, with text and fantastic illustrations by children. A is for Athletics to Z is for Zoo. There are up-to-date, specific topics as well: C is for Cheesesteaks (a memorable drawing of a girl with grease running down her chin), M is for Mummers, K is for Kimmel Center — not to mention representations of city leaders like Rev. Leon Sullivan and feminist Maggie Kuhn, and of course, the iconic images of Ben Franklin and William Penn.

Five thousand participants from the Philadelphia School District submitted illustrations to a student drawing contest for the book; art teachers honed it down to 500 finalists, and winners were selected by three judges: Richard Cohen, former art department chair at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts; Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, founder of The Literary; and Hester Stinnett, acting dean of Temple University Tyler School of Art.

Korman has written more than 20 children's books, including a few for the Smithsonian Institution's Backyard series. Her enthusiasm for the city surfaces in every sentence. She holed up in a downtown hotel writing the book after hiking for miles. "I wrapped my arms about Philadelphia," she says.

Susan Korman will read and sign P is for Philadelphia on Wed., April 13, 7 p.m., at Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-665-0716.

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