Turning the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, P is for Pterodactyl is perfect for anyone who has ever been stumped by silent letters or confused by absurd homophones. This whimsical, unique book takes silent letter entries like “K is for Knight” a step further with “The noble knight’s knife nicked the knave’s knee.” Lively illustrationsprovide context clues, and alliterative words help readers navigate text like “a bright white gnat is gnawing on my gnocchi” with ease. Everyone from early learners to grown-up grammarians will love this wacky book where “A is for Aisle” but “Y is definitely not for Why.”

What Kind of Book is P Is for Pterodactyl

Topics

alphabet (ABCs)first concepts vocabulary humor alphabets wordplay

Genres

funny and humorous nonfiction

Reviews

Lauren Hancock

5.25

So funny! This book - which calls itself the "worst alphabet book ever" - features 26 words with spellings that just don't seem to make phonetic sense. It's silly, and clever enough to appeal to older children and adults. To top it all off, the artwork is unique and wonderful!

The Goodfather

4.00

Marmee

4.50

Book Lists That Include This Book

The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way)

Books about alphabet (ABCs)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Books about funny and humorous

Books about first concepts

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Raj Haldar

Raj Haldar, also known as LushLife, is the son of a schoolteacher and an electrical engineer who emigrated from the Indian state of Bengal. His work has been featured by NPR, Boston Globe, the New York Times, Pitchfork, Village Voice, Mental Floss, BBC, Spin, and many more. He has written op-ed pieces including a piece for the Washington Post regarding racial inequality and profi ling. This is his fi rst book.

Author

Chris Carpenter

Illustrator

Maria Beddia

Maria Tina Beddia was born and raised on the green grasses of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She received her BFA in Printmaking from the California College of Arts and Crafts in 2007. Currently based in Philadelphia, Maria spends her days at her studio designing, illustrating, and teaching hand lettering at the University of the Arts. Her dogs Bruce and Willie like to watch her create and find any crumbs she drops under her desk. Her personal illustration style is young, playful, and colorful which lends itself to the child’s imaginative spirit. She has always been inspired by Dr. Seuss.