Smartypants

Pete

by Maira Kalman

Having a dog in class is always a clue that it's going to be an interesting day, especially when the dog in question-and the one with all the answers-is the insatiable canine gourmand Pete, last seen munching everything from jellybeans to underwear on his way through the alphabet in What Pete Ate from A-Z .

Poppy Wise has mixed feelings about school and her teachers have mixed feelings about her dog, Pete. Pete wreaks havoc in math; causes chaos in science (Mrs. Magma has a meltdown when he swallows her microscope!); and is a star in art (Miss Crumple finds Pete colorful when he eats all the crayons). As Pete gets his fill of knowledge, he also serves as an impetus for learning rules are made to be broken and there is no end to learning. This new adventure is sure to be another "giggly meal for readers who relish ridiculousness, randomness, rambunctiousness and alliteration."-Time Out New York

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Animals, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2003

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

[Manik Sukoco · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is great. The font is all over the place, but it's funny. If you get the humor in it, you work through the difficult font to read on. Maria Kalman makes school life, something we all go through, interesting and not to be feared. Always a good reminder that life is okay, not so scary a place after all.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! This off-kilter book combines whimsey, stream-of-consciousness, information, a great palette and expressive illustrations to, of all things, make learning easier through the fun. I read this in the quiet room in our library and couldn't keep myself from laughing. Adults will need to assess whether their children will get this book...probably some adults won't either. The hand-lettered text ("text set in NUTSYFAGEN") is ideal for the book. The title page and its opposite are a must read too.

[Laura Madsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chaotic and strange.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these illustrations. This is another great Pete book. I think it will probably appeal more to adults than to kids, but the kids will like the art and dog in the story. Some of the jokes seem more adult, which I found so much fun. Its absurdity was highly appealing. My favorite page:

"Speaking of math (not), our teacher is Mr. Grompi Spitzer, the gribbliest teacher on EARTH. He lost his patience in a suitcase in Topeka, and now when he is nervous, his hair twitches and his nostrils get HUGE."

THAT is hilarious!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will I be ready for this "giggly meal"? Just one way to find out.

Reading starts now.

The writing's so fresh. For instance:

But then something WONDERFUL happens, like you win the Punchball Game or you understand Long Division...."

Altogether, this book is delightful. Likewise, it's also waaaaay intense.

If you're feeling timid, fellow Goodreaders? Maybe wait until tomorrow before you pick up this anarchic satire of elementary school.

When you are in the mood, though? FIVE STARS.

[Livia Cerna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the humor is dry and subtle but pretty perfectly captures the attitude and voice of a young girl who is tired of school. The illustrations are my favorite part, they make the book fun to read. I went back an reread it several times just to catch the minor details in the pictures that add characterization and humor to the otherwise fairly straightforward plot line.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter picked this up in a used bookstore, and I read it to her on the way home (husband was driving—I'm not *that* good at multitasking while reading). All I have to say is WHY WOULD ANYONE GIVE THIS UP? It is so, so funny! Our whole family loves (adores, cherishes) it. It's quirky and legitimately my new favorite children's book. I will keep this forever (always, eternally).

[Mandy Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, it wasn't one of my favorites. To me it just kind or dragged on and didn't seem very interesting to me. I would definitely put this in a 4th grade level reading class because the length of sentences and words.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and creative;)

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy Pete is at it again! I love his methods though...I only wish being smart was as simple as eating an encyclopedia!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

That wacky Pete! I would have loved this book as a kid. Best cliffhanger was near the end when Pete was about to eat one more thing!

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalman's humor, so hilarious, comes through loud and clear here. Kids would love it, but as an adult I also took total delight in the illustrations and story that Kalman created.

[Tess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this to my class and all they kept saying it was too long and doesn’t make sense. And they normally love books that have animals and about school settings.

[LaLa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this in bed the night before school started up again and it was VERY HELPFUL for school jitters.

[Ella Zig · Rating 1 out of 5]

i read this book to my toddler; i think he was too young for it.
there are a lot of words and pictures to look at and not in a way that
is tyypical for a toddler book.

however, with that said, i did not follow the narrative of the story.
i thought the quirkyness was just a bit too odd and not
entertaining for me.

some of the language was negative without a positive spin or putting
a lesson attached to it- stupid, idiot, ugly etc.

also, i know that there was a lesson somewhere in the midst but
as a teacher the sentence, "I hate school" even if there is a lesson
is just not something i want my child (or any child) to read in a story.

yes there may be a lesson to learn but just the phrase shouldn't
be read in a child's budding syntax.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! Pete the dog wreaks havoc at school. After he learns to talk, Pete turns into a real smartypants, reciting Gertrude Stein and answering every question. "There was no better dog or better day in school."

As much as I loved this quirky, fun, imaginative text, the extras make it just that much more fun. The verso is cleverly stylized and I showed it to my 5th grade students as an example of something interesting and different. And I loved the pop quiz at the end. This really is a picture book for older students. Recommended for grades 4 - 6; middle and high school students can also appreciate Pete's new found intellect and ability to talk.

[Kerri Harshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a a silly and funny book that will surely get your children laughing. Sometimes school may seem boring and not fun at all, but when Pete (the dog) enters the school, he begins exploring everything around school. The dog realizes how much fun school really is and begins to enjoy himself. This is a great book to read to students when they begin getting frustrated with going to school. They book is also full of many fun facts in all different subjects throughout the text.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, original story about a dog who eats a set of encyclopedias and then starts to speak, spouting all the knowledge he consumed. Unfortunately, the story line is buried in so many tangents that readers will easily become lost in the labyrinth of way too much unrelated text. The large handwritten font, the frenetic illustrations, and the busy design of the book all add to the confusion.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun picture book about a girl's daydream about her dog, Pete. In her imagination, Pete follows her to school and wreaks havoc, including eating an entire set of encyclopedias. The kid-like illustrations, along with a middle-graders voice, would make this a popular book in my classroom library.

[Michael]

I love Kalman's books and I've been a sucker for 'em for quite a while. I'm revisiting them a bit with this children's lit course I'm taking this term. I still say they are resounding excellent. Insightful, irreverent, hilarious, complicated, busy, wry, absurd, and a real joy to read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good childrens book, and frankly, I don't think many qualify! I recommend taking a peak at this book even if you are not reading to a child (although it enhances the experience). There is a snake named Judy in it. How awesome is that?

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a part where a dog recites a poem by Gertrude Stein. You don't see that everyday.

The text kind of reminds me of a Sark book. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I have never quite thought of a picture book as being self-indulgent until today.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I read so much, I do not buy many books. BUT this book is a book I had to buy. I read this book aloud to myself. I LOVE this book because it makes me grin ear to ear and I love the illustrations, the sense of humor, Poppywise and of course, Pete.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE Maira Kalman's work! She is so creative and very funny. I highly recommend this book, although perhaps not to the preschool crowd. I read it to two four-year-olds and they didn't laugh much at all, but their mama and I did!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

MK is a genius! Enough said.

[Lexi]

this is a kids book that includes the worlds largest piece of cheese and a reference to classwork being soporific. it's hoky and amazing and one of my favorite things to give as a present.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked how the end of the book had a pop quiz. I was able to ask the questions to my niece (5) and I was able to see how much of the book she understood.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among Henry's favorites. Apparently dogs who eat inedibles amuse him to no end.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Love it! Even better than Max in Love, which is by the same author and is also fabulous.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving her kids books. Great vocabulary. The Max series are a bit advanced, but I bought them anyway.