Customer Reviews

The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is an excellent book that will keep Mom and Dad interested during those MULTIPLE readings. Steve Martin and Roz Chast have created an extraordinarily clever treatment of the alphabet. Martin's typically off-the-wall humor is evident throughout. His couplets are saturated with alternative useage of each letter and sound of the alphabet. The vocabulary is engaging and stimulating. Chast takes it to a deeper level through often hilarious illustrations and additional vocabulary. You cannot get it all the first time.

This book will prompt questions and comments from your child that will result in true conversation. The references to unusual places, animals and literature will encourage your child to explore new things and exercise his or her imagination and curiosity. What other similar book introduces the beatnik or frijoles? "A" is no longer just for "apple." It is for "appendicitis," "acne," and "ampersand."

My only reservation is for some of the content. This book includes references to alcohol, and one character shouts the invective, "That's a lousy lie, you lowlife!" Some readers may choose to exercise caution before introducing these concepts during bedtime story time.

All-in-all I highly recommend this book for its intellectual stimulation and creativity. This is probably the most unique book of its kind I have ever seen.

I love Steve Martin and I love the books he writes for adults. I bought this book without having read it first, and now I wish I had not. This book is definitely not for a child just learning their ABC's--the reason that I bought it (for my 2-1/2 year old). The words are too complex, and the illustrations are not what I would consider kid-friendly. By the time you find an age group that would "get" the humor in the book, and have an attention span long enough to really look at all the illustrations, these kids are well beyond wanting to read books about the alphabet, because they have already mastered it. (The illustration's captions really are complex, and use a lot words relating to the letter they correspond with, but young children will not "get" most of the humor that is intended.) I grew tired of reading all the little side-bar comments that went with the pictures after the letter "M". It just took too long to explain all the meanings of the words(to my 6 year old), and he began to lose interest. The bright spot to the book, is that the author does use unusual words for each letter, so if you are looking for something other than the standard fare like "A is for apple, and ant and airplane...", you will find it refreshing. I am not sure what age group Mr. Martin was targeting, but I think that it misses the mark at just about all age levels. I would recommend getting the book from your library first to see what kind of interest your child has in it, before investing in your own copy. I wish that I had.

I can't imagine a more ridiculous funny alphabet book. It's vocabulary is beyond most kids, but what the kids will love is the sound of the language used, the alliteration, the rhyming couplets. it's awesome.

The gods smiled when they hooked up Steve Martin & Roz Chast for this book -- both brilliant in their respective fields! After this book, all of us will approach the alphabet with new respect, and barely muffled laughter!

I heard about this book on NPR. They interviewed Steve Martin and the illustrator about the book. Steve read some excerpts from the book; they were quite witty; funny for adults too. It reminded me of the Dr. Seuss ABC book, but perhaps even more witty. I will definitely get it for my new sweetheart baby daughter.

I purchased this book for my son (he's 7 months old but I started building out a library). I can't evaluate how funny he will think the book is - but having read it - I think its probably funnier for an adult who is familiar with Steve Martin as a comic. My husband and I enjoyed it!

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my 25 year old boyfriend since he's a huge fan of Steve Martin's. And of course, I flipped through it when I got it and was surprised at just how amusing it was. (I should have been tipped off by the title, I suppose.) I don't know how this would fare with a kid, they might miss a lot of the details that make it amusing to an adult (sometimes for the better), but it was worth it.

The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!
What an incredibly funny and appropiate book for "kids" of all ages! My seven year-old daugher adores the book and has a few more vocabulary words under her belt as well! I love the book. I am a 5th grade teacher.

This is a great book for anyone with an offbeat sense of humor. Kids will love the cartoon art and enjoy discovering all sorts of hidden alphabet references. Honestly though, I probably get a bigger kick out of the book just reading the phrases aloud.

Steve Martin has a winner in this one. From cover to cover the art work and sing song text is hilarious and full of interesting detail. A cute poem for each letter makes going through the alphabet fun for parents and child. I bought this for my 2 year old neice...it may take a while before she can fully appreciate all the hidden humor in this book but she enjoyed the story and I couldn't put it down which is a nice change when reading to a little one!!!