ab@c: and other gramograms

This is a book of gramograms, little word puzzles where letters, numbers, and everyday symbols are spoken out loud to form words and sentences. Gramograms have been around for ages, but the first person to pair them with drawings was New Yorker cartoonist William Steig, in his classic 1968 book CDB! (See the Bee!). These days, with the ubiquitousness of shorthand texting and the familiar ＂at＂ symbol in email addresses, we all have a bit more gramogram experience, whether we realize it or not. AB@C builds on the form that Steig revolutionized with all-new gramograms--new words, new settings, and a few new symbols--each accompanied by a New Yorker-style cartoon that gives comedic context for the caption. (For instance, the book’s cover art, a drawing of a bumblebee in a boat on the ocean, helps reveal the translation of AB@C: ＂A bee at sea.＂)

Rob Meyerson has made a career of playing with words. As a brand consultant, he specializes in naming--finding, combining, modifying, and manufacturing just the right words to name companies and products. Rob is principal and founder of Heirloom, an independent brand strategy and identity firm, and author of Brand Naming. He lives in California with his wife and two children.

Illustrator Dan Misdea is a cartoonist for The New Yorker. His work has also appeared in Air Mail, Narrative, Reader’s Digest, Weekly Humorist, The Golfer’s Journal, and elsewhere. He is the author of the children’s book The Light Inside and has contributed to anthologies such as New Jersey Fan Club and Send Help! Dan lives in New York.