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A is for Salad (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Mike Lester (Author, Illustrator)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
List Price: $6.99
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Book Description

Release date: January 14, 2002 | Age Range: 3 - 8 years | Series: Picture Puffins
A is for what? A is for salad, and B is for Viking. Welcome to the wacky world of Mike Lester, where nothing is as it seems. Is A really for salad, or is it for the alligator eating a bowl of mixed greens? And maybe B is for the beaver wearing a Viking helmet. You'll have to look twice to figure out what each letter really stands for in this irreverent alphabet book. Learning your ABCs has never been so much F-U-N.

Mike Lester “turns the alphabet picture book on its hoary head . . . the book is hilarious, right down to its view of X and Y: 'not important. Never use them'." US News and World Report

Frequently Bought Together

A is for Salad (Picture Puffins) + Green Eggs and Ham (I Can Read It All by Myself)
Price for both: $13.61

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Lester stands ceremony on its ear in this deviant abecedarian aimed at an audience who already has a firm grasp of their ABCs," said PW. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 1-Lester presents each letter of the alphabet through a cartoonlike animal that actually begins with that letter, accompanied by totally unrelated text. For example, "A is for salad" has an alligator munching on a bowl of greens, "L is for hair dryer" has a lion blowing out his mane, etc. The back endpapers provide the correct correlation ("A is also for alligator"). Children just learning their letters will not benefit from this type of confusion, and the book provides little substance for older readers whose sense of humor has progressed past the tiger-in-underwear stage. Some of the examples are simply pointless, such as "X and Y are not important letters. Never use them." This spread depicts two garbage men carting the letters off to their truck. Many unique and interesting alphabet books are available such as George Shannon's Tomorrow's Alphabet (Morrow, 1998) or Stephen T. Johnson's Alphabet City (Viking, 1995). Pass on this one.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Age Range: 3 - 8 years
  • Paperback: 40 pages
  • Publisher: Puffin (January 14, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0698119266
  • ISBN-13: 978-0698119260
  • Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Mike Lester Page
Mike Lester
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
(22)
4.9 out of 5 stars
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See all 22 customer reviews
“ Great sense of humor Mr. Lester! ” A. Burns  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
“ My kindergartener saw this book at his school and begged me to buy it. ” E. Greer  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Is for Salad March 25, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book is an alphabet book intended for both children and adults. I say that because as I read, I could not stop laughing. Each page has an illustration of an animal representing the letter, but the animal is performing an activity. A perfect example the cover where "A Is for Salad" refers an alligator eating salad. It will be a challenge for youngsters and a delight for adults.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not your everyday abc book July 27, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
When I first saw this book, I couldn't get over how much fun it was! I've seen ABC books based on fireman's activities, on baby's day, on animals from Montana, but this stands the whole genre on its head! A is for the alligator eating the salad--and a kid who has just learned his ABCs is going to get the joke. It's sophisticated humor for the young reader, and I think that kids will enjoy being let in on the fun.

I definitely recommend buying it. A great activity: Have kids write & illustrate their own non-traditional abc book.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars B is for hilarious! April 10, 2000
By Sue Keefer
Format:Hardcover
I'm the director for a bookmobile and I'm always searching for good kids' books to read aloud. I LOVE this book...the illustrations are GREAT, the idea is fantastic. I chuckle every time I look at the cover. As soon as I got it, I read it to my husband and 14 year old daughter. Please, Mike Lester, write more...soon!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars S is for Incredible!
What a terrific book! Both of my kids loved it when I would read it to them, questioning each page's assertion: "A is for ... Salad?" And they'd say, "Noooo ... A is for aligator! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jason Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars Beginning Sound FUN.....
This is a WONDERFUL beginning sound challenge book. Good for grades K & 1. My class was thrilled with the crazy characters, and couldn't WAIT to tell me that
the LETTER on... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jersey teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars School Library Journal Strikes Again!
I love the editorial reviews from the School Library Journal. They are either absolutely exactly on point and 100% helpful, or so laughably, wackily, churlishly, sourly wrong that,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Pop Bop
5.0 out of 5 stars thought provoking
Amusing for the young and the less young, makes them think, and does not confuse them as much as you might think.
Published on March 31, 2011 by Narada
4.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE IT!
This is a HILARIOUS little book for kids who already know the tired old, tried-and-true routine of A is for alligator, B is for bird, C is for cat, D is for dog. Read more
Published on July 17, 2010 by Ulyyf
4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, but forcumb kids
I love the idea for this book, but it's definitely not a great book for teaching kids their letters.
Published on September 27, 2009 by Matthew Carroll
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun!
While my 2-year old was playing at the library my husband and I were reading this book. It made us both laugh out loud. We new we had to buy it! Great sense of humor Mr. Lester!
Published on September 17, 2009 by A. Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't listen to the snarky Library School lady
This book is fantastic! I love it, my kids love it! The first time we read it, Grace was only two years old, and I would read it and say, "A is for salad. Read more
Published on July 28, 2009 by ASR
5.0 out of 5 stars A is for salad
This is not only a delightful book to read it is thought provoking for the kids that hear it. They disagree and they seek the reality. Does an Alegator eat salad? Read more
Published on July 4, 2009 by Gary Thurber
5.0 out of 5 stars Best ABC Book
I think this is a great satire on all the other boring ABC books. I love that x and y are "not important" and thrown out ( a yo-yo and a xylophone), and that z is for "the... Read more
Published on August 19, 2008 by John W. Robertson
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