Alligators All Around
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Hardcover (28 November, 1962)
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Editorial Review

Those alligators really do get around! Whether they're entertaining elephants, making macaroni, having headaches, or throwing tantrums, the rascally reptiles are never napping! Maurice Sendak's alphabet book will have young "readers" reciting their ABC's in no time. The three-color illustrations endear these quite quarrelsome critters to readers' hearts. Mom, Dad, and Junior are brimming with personality; the collective images create a complete picture of the nutty--yet remarkably familiar--household. Somehow, these likable lizards manage to capture the foibles and peculiarities of human nature better than many bipeds ever could. Yet beneath their very vain and sometimes shockingly spoiled surface, the friendly fanged creatures have a charm that no one can resist. Sendak, beloved author-illustrator of such classics as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Chicken Soup with Rice, much like his green gator gang, is always getting giggles. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (6)

An ABC book fit for wild things
Maurice Sendak's Alligators All Around: An Alphabet portrays a family of three alligators through the ups and downs of daily life in their household.Not a traditional narrative, the personalities of the alligator family emerge in a series of humorous vignettes associated with each letter of the alphabet."D" shows the child grudgingly helping his father "doing dishes"; "G" shows the family enjoying each other's company "getting giggles"; "T" shows the child "throwing tantrums," which may be the cause for "H" showing the parents in bed with cold compresses "having headaches."Each letter receives one page, with three-color illustrations appearing in boxed panels.Sendak's unique style comes through, with the alligator parents showing shades of "wild things" and the alligator child marching across the pages like Max.Beneath the illustrations, an uppercase serif letter appears in the lower-left corner along with the associated phrase of words starting with the letter.Children will love the small size of the book (approximately 5"x7") and will notice the relationship between the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they make in words.

Alligator antics
This is an alphabet book featuring alligators drawn by Maurice Sendak.Each letter has the alligators doing some activity, such as getting giggles for "g" or throwing tantrums for "t".The book is cute and not scary.It has about 60 words.

A Awesome B Book C Creativity Concoction by Sendak
Wow! This is the best alphabet book ever! With words such as "N Never Napping, O Ordering Oatmeal, P Pushing People", along with adorable pictures of the goofy alligator pulling these stunts, this book is the loveof many young children. Any child who misses out on this book is missingout on a treasure! ... Read more

Isbn: 0060255307
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's Baby/Preschool    3. Children: Babies & Toddlers    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. English language    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile literature    8. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Alphabet   

Really Rosie (1975 Television Special)
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 May, 1999)
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Editorial Review

Carole King's 11 songs for the Really Rosie TV special (it originally aired in1975) came from characters found in Maurice Sendak's books The Sign on Rosie'sDoor and Nutshell Library, but it can easily be argued that the charactersnever really lived until given voice by King. Ostensibly the story of Rosie--a little girlfrom Avenue P, who, dontcha know, is a star just waiting to be discovered--there areother delightful characters here, including Johnny ("who lived by himself and liked it likethat!") and Pierre (who learns to care after being eaten by a lion). There are also a coupleof straight-up educational songs: one an alphabet song (the wonderfully alliterative"Alligators All Around"), the other a calendar song ("Chicken Soup with Rice"). Greatmusic that's delightful for children and parents alike, Really Rosie remains a familyfavorite for all the right reasons. --Randy Silver --This text refers to the Audio CDedition. ... Read more

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (53)

Finding Really Rosie Has Made My Year
I can't tell you how happy I am to finally find this childhood favorite of mine and my sisters.The first time we watched Really Rosie I was 6 and my sisters were 4 and 2.We listened to the soundtrack constantly.

I now have a 6 year old daughter named Rosie and I have been looking for this soundtrack since I became pregnant with her.I have tried for years to find this soundtrack or even the book by Maurice Sendak with no luck.

My sisters have both just given birth and I can't think of a better baby gift that would have the same sentimental value.Thank you so much for making it possible to share this favorite of ours with our children.

Fabulous Childhood Memories
I saw the original broadcast of this when I was only 6 years old.

My parents bought me the album - and I listened to it, until it just completely wore out.

We bought a Maurice Sendek video over the weekend...I cried when I realized how many songs I remembered.Went looking for this - it's been a quest for 4 years to find the CD...WOW.

I'm tickled ROSIE!!!!!!!!

Memories Galore
When I was a kid I had this album. I found it again on cassette probably 15 years ago now. It's finally available on CD and I can't wait to get my hands on it. The music is perfect for kids but mature enough that adults enjoy it too. I can listen to these songs over and over again and I still love it. ... Read more

Asin: B00000J2PJ
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Alphabet City (Caldecott Honor Book)
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 February, 1996)
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Reviews (7)

Recognizing letters
Stephen T. Johnson's Caldecott Honor Book (1996) Alphabet City is a wordless book depicting paintings of scenes from urban life cleverly depict each of the letters of the alphabet.Each letter (and painting) has its own page, such as an "E" in a side view of a traffic light, an "M" in the arches of the Brooklyn Bridge, an "R" in the cracks in the sidewalk, and a "T" in the negative space between two tall buildings.The paintings are photo-realistic in style and view scenes from a variety of unique vantage points, some showing an entire landscape while others focus on a small detail.The large size of the book and the high-quality glossy paper display the paintings to full effect.Children who have newly learned their letters will enjoy showing off by spotting the letters "hidden" in the everyday settings and will likely begin spotting more letters in their own surroundings.There is a secondary message in this book about the prominence of language in our daily lives and that we are surrounded by letters and language.

Beautiful art -- good for all ages
My son received a copy for Christmas and the adults enjoyed the carefully crafted illustrations as much as he did. Not all the letters are obvious at first making the book all the more fun.

Older Kids, Also!
My 5th graders enjoy this book.After "reading" this wordless book, we tour our school and observe the "alphabet school."It is amazing how many letters they find in the most obscure locations.The search continues for weeks.This is a great way to hone observational skills and attention to detail.Wonderful book. ... Read more

Isbn: 0670856312
Sales Rank: 51832
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's 4-8 - Language Arts    3. Children: Preschool    4. City and town life    5. Concepts - Alphabet    6. English language    7. Juvenile literature    8. Lifestyles - City Life   

The Graphic Alphabet (Caldecott Honor Book)
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 1996)
list price: $17.95 -- our price: $12.21
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Editorial Review

Most alphabet books for pre-readers and early readers set out to make the somewhat abstract idea of letters as clear and as clearly linked to words as possible. In The Graphic Alphabet, graphic designer David Pelletier has created an alphabet book that aims to explore letters for their beauty and complexity as design elements as well as help teach kids how to read. His "A," for example, stands for "avalanche," and with its normally pointed top tumbling down the right diagonal, the letter doesn't just stand for the avalanche, it becomes the word. Pelletier is equally ingenious throughout. And while this might not be the best book to make the concept of letters concrete for youngsters, it will certainly help instill in them a sense of wonder about letters and words. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A witty alphabet book
In an epilogue to his 1997 Caldecott Honor Book The Graphic Alphabet, David Pelletier explains his aim: "the illustration of the letterform had to retain the natural shape of the letter as well as represent the meaning of the word."The letter does not simply stand for the word, it becomes the word.So, a "D" represents the devil, by resting on its round side with serifs accentuated into horns; three "O"'s hang from strings as ornaments; "X" is represented in an x-ray image of crossed finger-bones.Each of the letters receives one page, on which the letter appears within a black box, with the word it represents printed below.The bright colors against the black background give the illustrations an intense and dramatic mood, with a sharp quality; the glossy paper plays up the clean lines of the work.Some of the illustrations are obscure and the letters so altered and distorted as to be unrecognizable; sometimes the illustrations seem a bit like an exercise for a graphic design class and not an instructional tool.This book is certainly not appropriate for making the concept of letters concrete for young children, though children who are newly able to recognize letterforms may appreciate extending their knowledge with this book.

Not just for little ones
I wondered how could an alphabet book win a Caldecott Honor.I examined this book with my class of 10 year olds.They loved it and it inspired them to write their own.This book isn't just for little ones learning their alphabet!

An ABC book which uses the letters themselves as examples.
This is an alphabet book for children in which each letter is coupled with a word that is graphicly illustrated by the letter. For example, the letter A is accompanied by the word avalanche and one leg of the letter iscollapsing as in an avalanch. The book was a 1997 Caldecott Honor book(i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a bookfor children. Children will enjoy identifying the letter with the"concept" representing it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0531360016
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Art    3. Children's 4-8    4. English language    5. General    6. Graphic Arts - General    7. Pictorial works   

Eating the Alphabet
Average Customer Review:
Board book (01 April, 1996)
list price: $6.95 -- our price: $6.25
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Editorial Review

Ages 1-3. This appetizing alphabet book shows fruits and vegetables so juicy and alive, you'll wish they could jump off the page and into your mouth. Even vegetable haters will find it hard to resist the vibrantly colored collage illustrations, which make each item look fascinating and appealing. Long a favorite picture book, this title is now available in a smaller board book edition, just right for introducing toddlers to the mysteries of endive, kiwifruit and papaya. Booklist called the original "bright, bold... well designed." ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Healthy Guide to Your Vocabulary
This vocabulary book goes through the alphabet and gives examples of fruits and vegetables that begin with said letter.No candy, sweets, meats, or any animal products in this one (guess they did not want to offend any dietary restrictions).

Each letter of the alphabet has at least one healthy example of food.Each food has a colorful illustration but readers may need help attaching each word to the appropriate picture.Some of the illustrations are a little questionable (I never saw a cauliflower like the one pictured).

Both of my kids enjoy this book and have had me read it a number of times on just the first day.I haven't noticed them wanting to eat any more vegetables than before but their vocabulary is better.

Learning the alphabet in the produce aisle
Lois Ehlert's Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z contains illustrations of 74 fruits and vegetables, from the everyday apple to the exotic jicama.Each letter of the alphabet is represented in large serif font in uppercase and lowercase and is represented by illustrations of one to eight fruits and vegetables.The illustrations are captioned with spellings of each fruit and vegetable, once in all uppercase and once in all lowercase.The illustrations depict the fruits and vegetables as they appear at the supermarket, even including the wide rubber bands often found on asparagus and broccoli and the cardboard tubs that hold strawberries and blueberries.The bright illustrations are in sharp contrast with the flat, white background.The overall effect of the illustrations and type styling is crisp, clean, and colorful.The book also includes a glossary of fruits and vegetables, with a small picture, pronunciation, designation as fruit and/or vegetable, and a brief description.This glossary is particularly useful for items such as xigua (she-gwah), the Chinese name for watermelon.Children will enjoy learning the more exotic fruits and vegetables.This book will aid children in recognizing letters and the multiple words for each letter allow children to recognize the pattern of sounds associated with each letter.

Take this book to the grocery store
We found this book at the library and I'm buying my own copy. It is colorful, has the alphabet in capital and lower case letters, AND they managed to find a fruit or veggie to go with every letter! There is also a section on the pronunciation and a little history of each fruit/vegetable in the back of the book (library edition).

My boys are 3 yrs old and have been coming to the grocery store with me since birth. However, they are also starting to become picky eaters. I plan to take this book to the grocery store and we can learn alphabet letters and find the produce items to match. Maybe I can even expand their taste preferences as we try a new "letter" each visit. Now if they just had a little cookbook to go with this book..... ... Read more

Isbn: 015201036X
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. English language    6. Fruit    7. Juvenile literature    8. Vegetables    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Concepts / Alphabet   

The Z Was Zapped : A Play in Twenty-Six Acts
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (26 October, 1987)
list price: $18.95 -- our price: $12.89
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Reviews (13)

Allsburg's ABC picture book is a classic masterpiece.
This is a classic amoung alphabet picture books.I have always loved the simplicity of alphabet books.Sharing them with children is more fun than anything.But Allsburg takes the fun up a notch with exciting illustrations and a witty humorous twist to the traditional alphabet book.Though his drawings are in black and white because they were done in pencil, Allsburg captures the reader and the audience in a refreshing rendition of this beginning reader collection.
As a liesure artist, I find Allsburg's work very refreshing.His illustrations are detailed and realistic.In this particular collection, Allsburg demonstrates mastery in shading and form.I love his illustrations.Any child that loves to draw will be inspired by Allsburg's work.
I also love the way Allsburg's illustrations bait the reader to guess what words are used to describe what is happening to each letter.By strategically placing the words for each illustration on the back, readers are encouraged to say what they think is happening.Dialogue is an exciting way to learn reading.By encouraging this kind of sharing, Allsburg has created an excellent book for children learning to read.
Allsburg is an inspiration to young writers and artists.This is not his first children's book and only adds to an already growing collection of fantastic works.Every teacher, babysitter, storyteller and parent should keep this one handy as well as a pad of paper and plenty of extra pencils.Once you've read The Z Was Zapped you will want to put your hands to work as well.

Very good book
The Z was Zapped is an alphabet book.The book presents the letters in different acts.One act per letter.The book starts out with a picture of the letter of the letter A with rocks falling down around it.You turn the page and the text says "The A was in an avalanche."On the opposite side of the page, there is the picture of the letter B. The picture has the letter B getting bitten by a bear.This format continues through out the whole book. Once you understand how this book is laid out and why it is done this way, the book makes sense.Initially, if you are unaware of why this is happening, it might be somewhat confusing as the pictures do not seem to go with the words.The artwork in this book is fabulous.The pictures are black and white sketches done in pencil.There is an incredible amount of detail in these pictures.Readers will gain some knowledge of new words which the pictures help to clearly illustrate the concept.This is a wonderful book.

splendid!
The illustrations along with the imaginative text left me chuckling and enlightened.I commend Van Allsburg's fantastic use of personification. The blending of art and literature breaks the mold of mediocre, mundane, overprocessed, otherwise typical alphabet books.This work reaches well beyond the superficial rehash of today's expected societal response to the English language, offering the audience a broader perspective of our inner dialog and interpersonal struggle for understanding. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395446120
Sales Rank: 33712
Subjects:  1. 1987    2. Alphabet    3. Alphabet books    4. Boston    5. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Concepts - Alphabet    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Massachusetts    10. Juvenile Fiction / Concepts / Alphabet   

The Accidental Zucchini: An Unexpected Alphabet
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 1997)
list price: $7.00 -- our price: $7.00
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Reviews (2)

I thought the book was good
Max Grover is great!He is my uncle and he is very talented at his work.This book is the best of them all!Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!

this works in the classroom --unlike many of the new ABCs
This books keeps the letters graphically clear as symbols ( so kids can ID them ) yet is funny and appeals to their magic thinking.Kids love it, and as a footnote adults will like it too. ... Read more

Isbn: 0152015450
Sales Rank: 250990
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Concepts - Alphabet    5. English language    6. Juvenile literature   

The Gashlycrumb Tinies
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (15 October, 1997)
list price: $9.00 -- our price: $9.00
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Editorial Review

"A is for Amy who fell down the stairs. B is for Basil assaulted by bears. C is for Clara who wasted away. D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh..." The rhyming couplets of this grim abecedarian are familiar, of course, to devotees of macabre humor, but the darkly crosshatched drawings are (as Poe put it) "the soul of the plot." Several years went by during which The Gashlycrumb Tinies: Or, After the Outing was not available in a small hardcover edition like this one, which is the true format for Edward Gorey's specialty, the adult picture book. (For those who wish to share the gloom there's a 10-copy assortment with The Curious Sofa.) ... Read more

Reviews (69)

Gorey <3
Well, one thing is for sure, you have to have a weird sense of humor, good tastes in art, and an understanding of the macabre to thoroughly enjoy this story. Love love love.

Will grace my bookshelf forever...
To begin with, this book is how I learned my ABCs as a young child.Does this mean that I would suggest others use it for this purpose?No.But for those of you with a proclivity for the macabre and the strangely beautiful... please buy this tiny gem of a book.I have bought it for all of my friends (all adults I assure you...) and they delight in its uneasy glee in describing the demise of 26 unique children.Call it funny, call it odd, or call it horrid... it's still a must-read!

Drop-Dead Humor from A to Z
Edward Gorey's dark subversion of children's alphabet books is a tiny book guaranteed to bring a sinister smile to the face of every one with a twisted sense of humor.Opening with "A is for Amy who fell down the stairs" and running all the way to "Z is for Zilla who drank too much gin," the simple but inspired rhymes combine with Gorey's pseudo-Victorian Gothic crosshatch illustrations to wickedly funny effect.

Although his disaster-specific illustrations (such as "R is Rhoda consumed by a fire") are macabrely witty, Gorey is really at his best when he leaves the most to your imagination.Consequently, it is really his illustrations of impending doom ("P is for Prue trampled flat in a brawl") or the shocking aftermath of an unknown circumstance ("K is for Kate who was struck with an ax") that are most likely to inspire a mischievous grin.

Although you might not want to give this to your anxiety-prone niece or your traumatized stepson as a Christmas stocking stuffer unless you wish to make them worry about your intent, older children will likely find it every bit as comical as adults--but adults are the real audience here, much more likely to catch the drop-dead humor involved.Wickedly amusing and sinisterly charming in every way.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Isbn: 0151003084
Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. American wit and humor, Pictor    3. American wit and humor, Pictorial    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. English language    6. General    7. Humor    8. Individual Artist    9. Techniques - Cartooning    10. Techniques - Pen & Ink Drawing    11. Art / Cartooning   

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Adults Only
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (09 September, 1985)
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Reviews (50)

Primer for Adults?
For starters, I think this book is funny and clever, and I was planning to pick up a copy for a buddy who just had a baby...However, I'm bummed about the "Primer for Adults" part. The book is even funnier as a mock kid's book and the "Primer..." line spoils the fun and gives away the joke before you even open the book.

With the original title, the book is clearly 5 stars.

Wickedly funny
You surely don't need me to introduce you to the late Sheldon Allan Silverstein. Even if you're not aware that he wrote the lyrics to e.g. 'A Boy Named Sue' and 'Cover of the Rolling Stone', you've undoubtedly at least heard of _The Giving Tree_ and _Where the Sidewalk Ends_ and _A Light in the Attic_ and _Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back_ and _The Missing Piece_ and . . .

You probably don't need me to introduce you to this wickedly hilarious and subversive book, either. It's one of the most side-splitting things Silverstein ever wrote, and if you know who he was, you've probably heard of it. It's brilliant, and it's guaranteed -- maybe even deliberately designed -- to annoy the sort of person who says 'I have a sense of humor, but'. (Which always, _always_ translates to 'I don't have a sense of humor'. You can take that to the bank.)

But if you don't yet have your own copy, you might be put off by the fact that the new edition's title says it's for 'adults only'. That's misleading; in fact it's almost exactly the reverse of the truth. There's no 'adult material' in the entire book -- just some stuff that might be a little risky for kids too young or unsophisticated to understand the jokes.

But the jokes are most definitely for kids -- even really tall, forty-plus ones like me. Do you know any 'adults' who would be amused at the sly hint that you should give Daddy a haircut while he naps because, having spent all his money on toys and oatmeal for _you_, 'poor poor poor poor Daddy' can't afford to go to a barber? Or who would laugh uncontrollably at the suggestion that if you tell the kidnapper your daddy has a lot of money, maybe he'll let you ride in his really keen fast car?

'Adults only', my tochis. Kids understand this humor _way_ better than 'adults' do; any grownup who laughs at it is really a great big kid. I'm giving a copy to one of my daughters for her birthday, with strict instructions not to show it to my wife. [Later note: Her reaction when I gave it to her was to laugh herself silly on every page and say repeatedly, 'That is _so_ wrong.']

Kids are nowhere near as touchy about this dark-humored stuff as 'adults' are. When I was a toddler, my parents used to sing me a cute little song about chopping me up for kindling wood; I don't think I suffered any emotional scars. And most 'nursery rhymes' -- not to mention fairy tales -- are bloodthirsty horror stories. When most kids find out what 'Ring Around the Rosey' is _really_ about, they think it's _cool_.

Your own kids' chances of keeping their sense of humor into 'adulthood' increase immeasurably if they have a copy of this book to help them. Give it to them at once. No loving parent subjects a child to an unnecessary risk of maturity.

"K" is for "Kidnapper"...
This book is one of the most sinister- cruelly entertaining things I've ever read! It's no wonder they have added to the title that it is not for kids; I would hate to see the damage that would happen if it ever fell into an innocent childs hand! This book begins with a forward about hating children (so brilliantly written you think he loves them until you take a second look) and then commences on a journey to bring as many perils upon children as there are Alphabet letters- and then some! There's even "game time" where the kids are taught a way to play hop scotch- with reall scotch! It's great for older people, but like I said, beware if a child gets this book. It should be locked away and snickered at in secret until the kids are grown. ... Read more

Isbn: 067121148X
Sales Rank: 10168
Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. Education    3. General    4. Humor    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    6. Humor / General