P Is for Pterodactyl : The Worst Alphabet Book Ever - by Raj Haldar & Chris Carpenter (Hardcover)

About the Book

Turning the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, this whimsical, unique book by Haldar (aka rapper Lushlife) tackles silent letters and absurdhomophones. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A New York Times Bestseller!

A "raucous trip through the odd corners of our alphabet." --The New York Times

Let's get real--the English language is bizarre. A might be for apple, but it's also for aisle and aeons. Why does the word "gnat" start with a G but the word "knot" doesn't start with an N? It doesn't always make sense, but don't let these rule-breaking silent letters defeat you!

This whimsical, funky book from Raj Haldar (aka rapper Lushlife) turns the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, poking fun at the most mischievous words in the English language and demonstrating how to pronounce them. Fun and informative for word nerds of all ages!

Review Quotes

"Are you a logophile (someone who loves words)? If you are, this delightful picture book will be your new favorite alphabet book... In this book, 'A is for Aisle' and 'H is for Heir.' What? Below each letter and illustration is a sentence describing each word. "M is for Mnemonic. // But now Mr. M. can't remember why." Isn't this a delight for readers and writers of all ages? It's my new favorite." - Imagination Soup

"This atypical alphabet book humorously addresses "mischievous words" that ignore the rules of phonetics and spelling... Each letter's sample is illustrated with cartoony, full-color drawings followed by a comically absurd sentence highlighting other examples. "G is for Gnocchi. / The gnome yells, 'Waiter! There's a bright white gnat nibbling on my gnocchi!' ...the concept will help new readers and new English language learners conquer some of the more peculiar aspects of our language." - Kirkus Reviews

""P Is for Pterodactyl" is a word lover's delight and an almost mandatory read-aloud... Amid all the humor, wordplay, and silliness, there's solid, brain-teasing information about words and how they're spelled. It a delight from start to finish, especially for word lovers and their offspring." - Common Sense Media

"A win for word nerd kids and pun-tastic dads everywhere." - The Dad

"The book spotlights words that have silent letters, or weird grammar rules, and invites you to ponder dangerous word traps and oddities. And you might learn something new along the way...While other lessons teach really important principles that, honestly, could change your life and maybe even help you find love." - Funny or Die

"Explore the many quirks and anomalies of English spelling and pronunciation in an A-to-Z tribute to some of the most unconventional words in the lexicon. Learn why Y is not for "why" and U is not for "you," but V is for "five" and C is for "czar." With this book full of puns, alliteration, playful artwork, and plenty of entertaining observations, children of all ages will enjoy celebrating the exceptions to the rules." - Foreword Reviews, STARRED Review

"A raucous trip through the odd corners of our alphabet." - The New York Times