Simple as ABC, 123!

Alison Gore — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:42:13 +0000

Letter and number primers are a necessity in any lil’ ones’ library, and we are in love with author and photographer Deborah Donenfeld’s beautifully photographed Baby ABC and Baby 123, two books that will captivate your lil’ ones. Deborah’s books are unique in that she uses black & white photographs of children and pops of color with props, creating a simple yet vibrant page which appeals to both lil’ ones and adults. We had one of our sitters test these books and then asked Deborah a few questions about the motivation for creating these books.

Shannon read these to two lil’ boys and they couldn’t put the books down! Both enjoyed the real-life baby pictures and the bright colors. They especially liked the use of photographs of children and enjoyed all the different colors.

Shannon and the boys had a blast with the books!

LLD: What inspired you to write this book?

DD: As kooky and new-agey as it may sound, the idea for this book came to me during my morning meditation. As a children’s photographer, and a mother of two (now 17 and almost 14), I am very aware of the scarcity of children’s books using photography. I also loved the idea of babies looking at babies, and having a book that is very simple and clean for the littlest ones. And I also like to look at a page that is designed simply, so I think that other parents will also enjoy looking at it.

LLD: Your limited use of color is unusual in a children’s book, why did you choose to highlight only one color per page?

DD: Again, I really wanted to keep it simple. One object on a page, one color, that corresponds to the color of the letter that represents that object. The point is that even the earliest “reader” could make that connection, or could easily learn to make that connection.

Intently learning his numbers!

LLD: How did you choose your pictures?

DD: Well, choosing the pictures was hard! I had shot multiple babies with each prop, and multiple props for many of the letters, so there were a lot of images to choose from. I mainly wanted the babies to look natural and engaged, and I wanted to be sure to have a range of expressions and positions. I wanted the pictures to feel authentic (as well as cute!). I also considered the layout and design – which images would look good next to one another, and how would the overall flow of the book be. The only other thing I will say is that what I think makes these books especially engaging is that the babies seem to all be in the middle of a moment in their day that feels authentic, that any parent or child will be able to relate to and recognize. It feels real. I am hoping that this, coupled with the fact that they are only wearing diapers and most of the props are fairly classic, will allow the book to feel current and relevant for a long time.

We really love these books for their simple layout and appealing images and think that your lil’ ones will enjoy them too! For more info on the books and to get your own, check them out here!

-Deborah Donenfeld is a photographer living in New York City with her two children. To learn more visit her website.

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Simple as ABC, 123!