The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!
by Steve Martin, Roz Chast
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 119)
Read in September, 2008
Genre: Alphabet Book
Grade: 2-4
This book was written by the comedian and actor Steve Martin. It is a fun and creative way of demonstrating pictures and words that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The book is structured so that one page has one sentence describing what is happening on the opposite page. The sentence uses letters that start with one letter of the alphabet, and are written in a rhyme. The picture contains many examples of objects that start with the same letter, alo...more
Grade: 2-4
This book was written by the comedian and actor Steve Martin. It is a fun and creative way of demonstrating pictures and words that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The book is structured so that one page has one sentence describing what is happening on the opposite page. The sentence uses letters that start with one letter of the alphabet, and are written in a rhyme. The picture contains many examples of objects that start with the same letter, alo...more
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Read in April, 2008
Unique ABC book with clever wordings including words that both start with and include the letter. Illustrations are incredibly detailed and give ample opportunities to explore each letter. Some images, such as the drunk for letter D might bother some parents. Still, entirely amusing for all ages.
Kirkus Review:
"...crossover will slide effortlessly onto the bestseller lists, but it's not likely to win its creators many new adult fans-or any child ones. Showing a fine disregard for fo...more
Kirkus Review:
"...crossover will slide effortlessly onto the bestseller lists, but it's not likely to win its creators many new adult fans-or any child ones. Showing a fine disregard for fo...more
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1 comments
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
read-together, great gift book
Okay, so Jamie Lee Curtis isn't the ONLY shining light in the wasteland of celebrity picture books -- I now acknowledge a place for Steve Martin, as well. This book is a hoot to read, especially if you've ever played the game that starts "Alice lives in Alabama and sells apples," etc. Your tongue will get twisted, and yet the rhymes aren't awkward as with some rhyming books. But the real fun is in the illustrations. The cartoons are chock-full of further alliteration and many more leve...more
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This is a good example of one of those books that poses as a children's book, but isn't one. I mean, the text is not children-friendly; it features difficult words that don't even rhyme all of the time. There is alliteration, but that doesn't really mean alot to a kid when he doesn't know what is being said. The sentences are a stretch, at best. The illustrations are alright; basically, to me, this book was written for the gratification of the author, or for adults who think Steve Martin is ...more
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Read in March, 2008
Just plain bad. I love Steve Martin, but he got this published on star power alone. It's too risque to be a children's book (one of the pictures on the page for the letter D is a drunk, stumbling down the road), but not smart enough to appeal to adults.
I don't believe in censorship, but I've recommended that this be put in the 400s instead of in the picture books. It's an item reconsideration just waiting to happen.
If Steve wants to write for kids, I think he'd have better luck with t...more
I don't believe in censorship, but I've recommended that this be put in the 400s instead of in the picture books. It's an item reconsideration just waiting to happen.
If Steve wants to write for kids, I think he'd have better luck with t...more
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Read in February, 2008
Cute, with trademark Steve Martin and Roz Chast humor, but found (surprisingly) that it's not much fun to read aloud to the kids because most of the humor is visual. It's kind of a cartoon silly funny version of Graeme Base's Animalia, in which each picture contains seemingly endless items starting with the letter for that page. Better for older children, though too old and they won't be particularly interested in alphabet books.
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Read in February, 2008
I bought this for my 7yo daughter based on an interview I heard on NPR (mostly as a novelty because I think he's a great humorist - my 7yo doesn't need an alphabet book). Although it could be an alphabet book for toddlers, its sentence structure and word usage easily transcends beginning reading. I highly recommend this book for young children. Once you experience his excellent word usage, you'll understand why.
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Read in November, 2007
Okay. I have to start by saying that is picture book really isn't for the kiddos. BUT this is also not your typical alphabet book. The illustrations had me rolling on the floor with laughter; they so perfectly express and surpass the text. Thank you, Steve Martin (or perhaps Roz Chast), for yet again making me laugh.
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Read in February, 2008
I heard a blurb about this book on NPR and was excited to check it out...now, not so much. Basically, it only got the air time because Steve Martin wrote it! I guess maybe adults would like it, but it seems a bit over the top for a kid's book, especially an alphabet book.
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Read in October, 2007
I knew as soon as I saw the headline "Steve Martin releases children's book" I was going to love it. Zany as he is, this is an entertaining version of the standard a-z book. Each page is loaded with words and pictures that feature the individual letter.
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Read in December, 2007
Even though I am 36, I still am still drawn to children's books from time to time. It's really fun to find all the objects in the illustration that begin with the respective letter and poem. This is a completely fun & charming & non-traditional ABC book.
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Read in March, 2008
Another children's book really written for the adult who is reading it aloud. Lots of alliteration in the drawings. A fun read because of the sing-song text, but some of it goes over even a 9-year-old's head. The vocabulary used has to be explained.
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I'd give this a 3.5. I'm not sure who the audience is for this book, 1 on 1 read alouds, older children? But I thought this book was clever with cute illustrations, reminding me of Dr. Seuss's ABC book and Graeme Base.
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Read in November, 2007
PLEASE don't revoke my BACA membership, but I thought this book was mostly pretty funny. A few of the couplets are misses, but the vast majority (including the tricky "q") work. Chast's illustrations are great fun.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
small children and small adults
Bad baby bubbleducks
beat up his bed with bashed up bananas
and old moldy bread
BRILLIANT!
I love this book, but I think my son can't wait for me to stop reciting the above quote over and over to him.
beat up his bed with bashed up bananas
and old moldy bread
BRILLIANT!
I love this book, but I think my son can't wait for me to stop reciting the above quote over and over to him.
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Read in June, 2008
This would be your standard alphabet book except for the weirdo drawings. Oh, and that it was written by Steve Martin.
"Yesterday Yuri the yeti did yoga,
Today he spilled yogurt all over his toga"
"Yesterday Yuri the yeti did yoga,
Today he spilled yogurt all over his toga"
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Definitely an exception in the "celebrity picture book" genre (although Martin is an exception in himself, being an actor who can write well).
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Read in March, 2008
Very funny, wonderful illustrations that catch the children's eyes. We loved the pure silliness of this.
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Read in April, 2008
This book is very funny. I especially love the end papers. This is one celebrity author I appreciate!
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need to buy a gift for a well-read friend with kids? can't get much better than this.
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