What Pete Ate from A to Z [Paperback]

Maira Kalman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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

Is there anything Pete won't eat? Poppy's charming yellow dog starts off by eating Rocky's accordion. All of it. He snacks on a bouncing ball that belongs to Uncle Bennie's dog Buster, and then makes a meal out of the rest of the alphabet. From glue sticks to underpants, Pete works his way through all twenty-six letters in Maira Kalman's creative take on traditional alphabet books. Packed with Kalman's trademark bright artwork and a hilarious story filled with wordplay and repetition, this alphabet book is pure fun from A to Z.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You would not believe the things this dog Pete puts in his stomach. An accordion, for starters. Then an eggbeater, a glue stick, Mrs. Parsley's pink pocketbook, and cousin Rocky's underpants. ("Uggh!") Pete's faithful mistress, Poppy Wise, is at her wit's end. And yet, she can't help loving that dog. ("Quite a lot.") So, from A to Z (in a loose, meandering way), Poppy inventories her insatiable pooch's intake, with loads of parenthetical asides, witty commentary, and an unforgettable cast of characters. Maira Kalman, zany and talented source of Next Stop Grand Central, Ooh-la-la (Max in Love), and other exquisitely quirky picture books, uses the alphabet as a framework for what is truly an ode to a well-loved if incorrigible--dog. Her spectacularly rich gouache paintings are just the thing to illustrate this linguistic playpen. Read this one aloud—-kids and adults alike will sit enthralled. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Kalman (Next Stop Grand Central) unleashes her extravagant whimsy in this loquacious alphabet book, "in which a certain dog devours a myriad of items which he should not." Shaggy yellow Pete, staring benignly from the book's flame-red cover, is an omnivore. According to his astonished owner, who speaks in a torrent of interjections and parenthetical asides, Pete first dined on an "accordion. All of it." Pete's torso takes on the instrument's shape as he springs in the air. He next "ate a bouncing ball that belonged to uncle Bennie's dog Buster. (Buster is no bargain. He barks all the time, but still...)." A wan fellow stands with a frowning white bulldog at his feet, gesturing at a picture of the vanished ball; empty chairs in a composition reminiscent of Matisse augment the sense of tongue-in-cheek tragedy. Pete proceeds through the letters of the alphabet, enjoying sticky stuff ("Gooey gluey dog"), "Mrs. Parsley's pink pocketbook" and a pair of "underpants. Uggh!" A loose story line emerges as Pete eats Bennie's money ("Now Bennie has no money [none] to buy Buster a new ball...") and the Parsleys make multiple appearances. Kalman paints affectionate portraits of the unstoppable Pete, the now-missing objects and their disappointed owners, and her hand-printed text acts as an element of the illustrations. Her overblown alliteration and fabulous gouaches gush with glamour. All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014250159X
• ISBN-13: 978-0142501597
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Baby-3 > Basic Concepts > Alphabet

More About the Author

Maira Kalman is an illustrator, author, and designer. She has created many covers for The New Yorker, including the famous map of Newyorkistan (created with Rick Meyerowitz). Ms. Kalman's twelve children's books include Max Makes a Million, Stay Up Late, Swami on Rye, and What Pete Ate. She also has designed fabric for Isaac Mizrahi, accessories for Kate Spade, sets for the Mark Morris Dance Company, and, with her late husband Tibor Kalman under the M&Co. label, clocks, umbrellas, and other accessories for the Museum of Modern Art. Ms. Kalman's work is shown at the Julie Saul Gallery in Manhattan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amazing, Alphabetical Pete...., November 20, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Pete Ate (Hardcover)

Meet Poppy Wise and her dog Pete. When it comes to eating, Pete is far from discriminating. If fact, he'll eat just about anything. So Poppy begins at the beginning with the letter A and chronicles exactly what this ever-hungry canine has gotten into. Moving letter by letter this includes Cousin Rocky's Accordion...All of it, a Camera, an Eggbeater, a Fez, and her brother's magic Key. At the Lucky dog show he ate all the Leashes which Let Loose all the dogs. A bit later he ate Mrs Parlsey's Pink Pocketbook, a Stinky Sneaker, Cousin Rocky's Underpants (Uggh!), and a Yo-yo. And as Poppy finally tells us, the only thing Pete won't eat is Zug Zug Dog Grub..... Maira Kalman has written a charming and hilarious walk through the alphabet that's full of unforgettable characters, wordplay, irreverent commentary, and witty asides. Both kids and adults will smile, giggle and eventually laugh out loud at the antics of four legged eating machine. Her delightful and energetic text is told in an easy to read, conversational style, and complemented by bold, bright and busy child-like artwork. Youngsters will enjoy poring over the pictures and finding all the silly details on each page. Perfect for kids 4-8, What Pete Ate From A-Z is a special, joyous romp, that makes a terrific gift, and is a wonderful addition to all home bookshelves.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AS GOOD AS ALL HER OTHERS - WHICH IS GREAT!, July 12, 2003

By 

traceybeehive "traceybeehive" (Laguna Beach, Calif.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Pete Ate (Hardcover)

Maira Kalman does it again. She has written a book that I (as a godmother) love to read over and over to my god-daughter who loves to hear it again and again. Everytime we read it, we find something new to say about it and talk about. This writer is so original and charming and even, sophisticated. Her style is very conversational and really creative. She is a perfect companion to see the world with... New York's Grand Central Station, India, Paris and even Hollywood (from her Max series). The children that I read this book to respond to her curious and playful nature. She doesn't pander to kids but challenges them and invites them into her original and artistic world.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of my son's favorite books, December 17, 2005

By 

K. Marchbanks "Mom of George & Nathan" (Napa, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Pete Ate (Hardcover)

Great book. I have read to my 3 year old son a hundred times, he loves it and it has letters from A-Z. Not your normal book for pre-schoolers because it's interesting for adults too. I am giving it for XMas gifts to nephews.