ALA Booklist

If you are looking for an unusual alphabet book, look no further than this offering, in which the title clearly defines the premise. At first glance, the idea and the illustrations may seem simple, but the execution is sophisticated and snarkily funny. "Without the A, the Beast is Best," sets the tone, and each letter has its own two-page mini story, which rewards careful observation. Di Giacomo has laced her illustrations with fairy-tale references that are a delight. A fiddle-playing cat announces "Without the N, the Moon says Moo," as a caped and booted cow soars over a smiling moon. Text and illustrations that are created in a subdued palette with brighter highlights work in clever concert to make each page a new treat. This book is packed with potential use in a classroom and just as wonderful for repeated reads on laps. Pair this with Oliver Jeffers' Once upon an Alphabet (2014) for another, different approach to a familiar theme.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2015)

This creative twist on the traditional alphabet book takes a word (e.g., beast), removes one letter to make a new word (best), and imagines a scene that incorporates both: "Without the A / the BEAST is the BEST." Di Giacomo's outside-the-box illustrations interpret the word pairings in unexpected ways. Text and art play effortlessly off each other, enhancing humor and meaning.

School Library Journal (Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 1-3 This is a clever and engaging "alphabeast of a book" for children capable of basic word recognition. The premise is that less is indeed more, as Escoffier moves through the alphabet, and removes a letter on each spread. Taking away an "A," "B," or "C," etc., transforms each highlighted word into a totally new one, and the wacky, almost surreal (plants wearing pants) images reinforce the humor and add to the literal wordplay. For example, "Without the D DICE are ICE" shows a wolf and a goose playing cards, while sipping umbrella drinks with ivory cubes inside. "Without the K the MONKEY makes MONEY" features a monkey ringing up sales on a cash register at his banana stand. Kids will have fun coming up with, and illustrating, reductive examples of their own. Inspired and instructive silliness. Luann Toth , School Library Journal