What Pete Ate From A- Z

Pete

by Maira Kalman

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year A Recommended New Book for Missouri Students A Miami Herald Best Book of the Year

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Dogs, Humor, Art

48 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Maira Kalman was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with her family at the age of four. She has worked as a designer, author, illustrator and artist for more than thirty years without formal training. Her work is a narrative journal of her life and all its absurdities. She has written and illustrated twelve children's books including Ooh-la-la- Max in Love, What Pete Ate, and Swami on Rye. She often illustrates for The New Yorker magazine, and is well known for her collaboration with Rick Meyerowitz on the NewYorkistan cover in 2001. Recent projects include The Elements of Style (illustrated), and a monthly on-line column entitled Principles of Uncertainty for The New York Times.

She lives in New York and walks a lot.

(http://www.saulgallery.com)

Reviews

[Jennifer nyc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this sight unseen for my 2-year-old niece, since she loves doggies, and I love the artist, Maira Kalman. Well, thank goodness she has an older brother. The A-Z in this book is advanced. It’s full of alliteration, and although it does follow the order of the alphabet, it does so in long sentences with lots of other words along for the ride. It’s full of big ideas, colorful pages, and fun silliness. I think my 5-year-old nephew is going to love it.

Meanwhile, if anyone knows of a good book for a smart 2-year-old that’s off the beaten path, I’m all ears.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alphabet story for tweens. This one would be a good one for inspiring young authors to write their own alphabet stories.

[Lisa Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky! Fun! Colorful with amazing artwork! What Pete Ate (which could also be titled What Finn Ate) is my new favorite alphabet picture book.❤️

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. This book is plain funny. The premise is hilarious, and the illustrations are humorous. The text is semi-sarcastic in places, and it took my five-year-old a few readings to get most of what the author was saying. The pictures and the idea are what had him coming back to this story many times a day.

My only criticism is that alphabet books are typically written for toddlers. Most five, and six, and seven-year-olds, who will get the biggest kick out of this book, are already well past learning their ABC's. This book isn't worth much to a three-year-old. The illustrations are colorful, and they might want to look at the silly pictures of the Pete, the dog, but they won't appreciate the D page where Pete "ripped the head off my dear doll Dinky." Frankly, that's my least favorite page...

I posted about sarcasm in picture books on my website several months ago. I think this book is just on the borderline of what works and what doesn't. One step further and I think it would be a case of a children's book written for a NY 20-something editor...

[Kwoomac · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always fun to talk about the crazy things dogs eat. Ask any dog owner- they will definitely have a story. Vets like to go one step further and tell you what they've seen on dogs' xrays. Silly dogs. Maira Kalman's artwork is wonderful. Every page could tell another story with all the details she includes.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that dog! Ate everything except what he is supposed to. Nuts to Pete. Not me but Buster says this. Holy Mackerel! Kids will love this.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book, but a few of the letters break the pattern (O, T, W), which always annoys me in an alphabet book. Plus the page on Z seems rather forced.

[Elayne Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maira Kalman's "What Pete Ate from A to Z" is not an "alphabet book;" instead, the alphabet becomes a handy structure for organizing a dog named Pete's many (many) gastronomic transgressions.

The result is a very funny (and good-natured) book that shines as brightly as an abdominal X-ray.

I've been hearing a lot in webinars and workshops about subtitles: those increasingly used (especially in the age of metadata) title supports, and I think this book was ahead of its time for this one: "What Pete Ate from A-Z" and then "where we explore the English Alphabet (in its entirety) in which a certain dog devours a myriad of items which he should NOT." The summary, the pitch, the hook: it is as simple and unique as that.

And yet, it's not. Pete is a complicated individual, and so are the people that surround him and (mostly—Mrs. Parsley, not so much) love him. The shared vignettes of Pete’s dietary disasters slowly build up a picture of each of the cast of characters in a way that Wes Anderson would be proud of. Case in point: Cousin Rocky who (until disastrous run-ins with Pete's adventurous mouth) owned an accordion, monogrammed underpants, a pair of pointy shoes from Japan, and a wallet-based aggrievement list. 😂

And—that’s not all—we learn similar tidbits about the musicality of the MC's brother Mookie, her best friend Doreen's dancing (and a whole lot about Doreen's mother), Uncle Bennie and his dog Buster...and of course...who could forget the Twinkle Twins. When I got to the part where the yo-yo contest is ruined due to Pete's most recent bender and the MC remarks, 'Oy-oy oy-oy oy-oy oy-oy OY," I knew this book would be on my bookshelf for a very long time.

Its voicey MC (and her culinarily adventurous dog) will stay with you longer than, say, even a key in your stomach might. Highly recommend.

[Jordyn]

Awards- School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year, Miami Herald Best Book of the Year
Grade level- pre-k - K
Summary- This is a story of a cute pooch that eats his way through an entire list of items from A-Z! Staring with an acordion, on to a ball, and so on. It is a cute and funny introduction to the alphabet.
Review- I like this book because it is a break from the traditional alphabet book. It doesn't go through the list of letters using fruits or vegtables or animals; it is a fun take on a what some students may find a, not-so-much-fun topic.
In class uses- read aloud and make a class alphabet book, could be used to do graphic organizers

[Jorge Pigeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a very good book for any pigeon practicing their alphabet. I do wish the V word isn't veal. I am a pigeon against animal cruelty and there's no kindness in veal. On the back cover of the book it reads the author is the cofounder of The Rubber Band Society. I may write to her & inquire about membership-broken rubber bands are great nest building material. This book also drew me to the conclusion that canines are quite ridiculous-we pigeons would never eat all manner of inedible things! I am glad Pete ate the list of insults in the wallet. No one should carry around such a list!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maira Kalman is always charming so the anticipation to open this book and read it was immense. How her friends must be blessed to have her wit and charm in their lives!

What Pete Ate from A-Z (Really!) has me chuckling through the entire book. It would be wonderful to use with children where you can read it to them multiple times because it will take multiple readings to understand all of the lovely vocabulary new to that age group. For a one-off story time, it probably wouldn't work as well because you can't pour over the pictures laughing or stop for every new word. This book is immense fun.

Maira Kalman is a national treasure!

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

An alphabetical list of (mostly) strange things a dog has eaten. Definitely like the idea much better than the execution on this one. I don’t like when characters are talked about like we already know them (who/what exactly are the twinkle twins). I also didn’t like them at a few letters like O and N were not items that the dog ate. It breaks the flow for me when the pattern is interrupted like that. My kids thought it was funny at first but they just didn’t get too into it either. Finally, the art style didn’t suit me.

[Hyeryeong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy has a dog named Pete which ate all the things in his house. This tells a story about the many objects Pete ate in an alphabetic order. As this is an alphabet book, I liked it ordered alphabetically, because some alphabet books mixed their order just to focus on the stories. This book has quite an interesting story and presents a few examples at each letter. Teachers don’t have to search various examples of each letter since the book has enough.

[Michael Guillot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the letters didn't have a thing Pete ate and I was like, ok... so you just didn't feel like it Maria? Go off.

I like Pete's semi-human eyes and mischievous smile. I could have used more of him really. Accordion Pete was the best.

The illustration style is great, not typical of a children's book, so that was cool. Love some elevated art for the kids.

[Drew Slanina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. The book was based on a dog who eat anything with the start with a certain letter. This book would be good with students who are learning the alphabet, but also expanding their vocabulary as well. The book is lengthy, but it is full of adjectives as well.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny high-level humor alphabet book with charming/quirky art. I like the conversational feel of the text. It's really like a little kid talking about her dog and the scenarios are specific to her life, which gives it a funny, almost sarcastic tone--like a young Mrs. Maisel.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Maira Kalman book. But it does a really good job at running through the alphabet, using alliteration to become familiar with the letters.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Kalman's illustrations but this didn't work as a children's book for us.

[Bléu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would definitely read this to my child the very first time (s)he is just learning the alphabet. HAHAHA. I love Maira Kalman's art <3

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this. An adorable story.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun alphabet book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Maira Kalman

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

[Sally Van Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s rather wordy, but oh so delightfully, wholeheartedly, mesmerically Maira Kalman!

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete ate a lot of things, but it doesn't sound like he was a bad dog.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the wacky story and paintings.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved Kalman's illustrations of her beloved dog Pete, and this book is no exception. I lost it when I saw the illustration of the wild-haired dog Twinky though. So adorable!

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute way to work through the alphabet, via a mischievous dog.

[Candace Donato · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many A to Z books out there, but this one is really unique & funny!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of listing all the inedible things a dog couldn't eat in alphabetic order. But meh 🤷🏽‍♀️