Alligator Arrived With Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast (School & Library Binding)

~ (Author), Jose Aruego (Illustrator), Ariane Dewey (Illustrator) "A feast for you..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A menagerie of exotic partygoers introduces the alphabet as it shows up, laden with vegetarian fare, for a stupendous Thanksgiving gorge. Guests range from a dragon and deer who pedal a tandem while bringing diced dates, to an Australian wombat who has "whipped up wild rice and walnuts with wine." Everyone is shown with place cards at the meal's start, which helps to identify such attendees as the iguana, llama and the quetzal. The two host pigs conclude "we ate our way from A to Z" as the diners contentedly doze off afterward. All the delectables are arranged in alphabetical order and labeled on a spread at the front of the book, which (like a menu) hints at the goodies to come. Aruego and Dewey's bouncy illustrations give this meal a carnival-like merriment, making this a jubilant feast for the eyes. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 This A to Z Thanksgiving dinner arrives on wheels as alphabetical animals scoot, skate, or bicycle their foods to the feast. Even the verbs begin with the appropriate letters. Dragonwagon's choices bring problems. The text includes many foods that are outside children's experience, and they are sure to puzzle over ``potluck'' and ``pickled peaches,'' let alone ``elderberry elixir'' and ``trifle.'' And how does one describe a ``zaftig zucchini?'' Verbs such as ``imparted'' and ``kicked in'' will also be beyond children's understanding. Brightly colored illustrations are in pen-and-ink and gouache. They extend the text with such details as the animals' names on place cards at the dinner table. Animals race in against a colored backdrop while the opposite white page shows the gathering guests in various happy activities. Illustrations aren't integrated with the simple introductory and closing rhymes. When the table is empty, the text states that it is full; and when food and friends are all over the table, the words claim ``There are no scraps.'' Sophisticated vocabulary and illustrative detail limit this book to one-on-one sharing with only the most persistent child. Colorful but confusing. Jane Saliers, Highland Library, Atlanta
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• School & Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785700102
• ISBN-13: 978-0785700104
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,777,853 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another alphabet book!, June 19, 2000

By	"winifredfroglette" (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alligator Arrived With Apples : A Potluck Alphabet Feast (Paperback)

As a kindergarten teacher I am always on the lookout for alphabet books that portray letters and sounds in a different way than I read just the day before, while keeping to the same concepts. We really enjoyed the illustrations here. Several of my students noticed that this illustrator drew the ducks in the book we used on our first day of school because the pictures are simple, clear, and not too ornate. We enjoyed this work, and heartily recommend you stop by to have lunch or dinner with these folks while learning the a, b, c's.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FUN Feast !, November 30, 2006

By	History_of_Art_Geek (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alligator Arrived With Apples : A Potluck Alphabet Feast (Paperback)

Alligator Arrived with Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast is an endearing story. It is so cute; it begs to be read repeatedly. The illustrations are adorable, and they remind me of a cross between Sandra Boynton's crazy characters, and Richards Scarry's Busytown animals. Technically speaking, the illustrations are very basic with simple washes of color, but the personalities of the animals are so droll the pictures are irresistible.
I wasn't sure how my son would react to this book. He's in Kindergarten, thus, he's outgrown alphabet books, but he adored this Thanksgiving tale. Many of the food items are new to his young eyes, and he was curious about each one. The copyright page is a two-page spread that features all the menu items. The food is in alphabetic order, and labeled accordingly. I think we discussed this page four separate times. We also poured over the picture where the tables are set, and the place cards are aligned in front of the each place setting. My son wanted to address each animal, and was distraught when he discovered there wasn't an animal for the letter "R". He kept telling me that the Pigs should have invited a rabbit. What could I do but agree with him?

Parents will like reading this short, 40-page tale because it's clever, and amusing. The vegetarians will be pleased as well, because all the food choices are vegan. The book doesn't offer an age recommendation, but I think 3 to 6 years is probably appropriate. This is an unexpected holiday delight.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exuberant, low-key food/Thanksgiving ABC, subtly vegetarian, November 2, 2002

By	Noveau Magnolia (Dunwoody, Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alligator Arrived With Apples : A Potluck Alphabet Feast (Paperback)

A delightful and rollicking ABC, this picture-book will be appreciated by anyone who loves good food, celebration, Thanksgiving --- and maybe most of all, anyone who does all these things and is ALSO a vegetarian. Not that there's a vegetarian agenda --- the book is not at all evangelical --- but it happens that at this Thanksgiving feast, Turkey is a guest, not an entree, Trucking in Turnips (just as Bear Brought Banana Bread, Biscuits & Butter and Cat Carried Cherry Compote and Cranberry Cobbler). We read ALLIGATOR aloud before every Thanksgiving at our home, and it makes all of us, of all ages, giggle, cheer, and happily dig in. A true celebration of a book, and delicious.