Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Adults Only

The sixth grade class loved this, especially the parts about their parents and teacher. Never before had I heard kids blurt out "Noooo! Don't do that!" so many times while reading a book. There was also much laughing and looking back at the teacher with an expression of "Do you dare me?"

The only letter I didn't read was G, even though most of the class probably knew the word. I told them to get their own copy of the book if they want to know what that letter is for. I also fudged J and said J is for a joke from the sixties that isn't funny nowadays. They found that pretty funny. By the end they were analyzing the meaning behind the words and trying to outguess each other on what the next page would be about.

I just bought this book for the third time. Possibly the fourth. I don't know what happened to the copies I used to have, but I hope they've found good homes.

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book is utterly brilliant. It is among the funniest books I have ever read, and may well be the funniest, full stop. But it is also a litmus test for people with a warped sense of humor. This is for those who like their comedy dark. Those in that camp will be rolling in the aisles; those who don't either won't find it funny or will find it outright offensive.

(I love that this is from the same guy who brought us The Giving Tree. Uncle Shelby was large; he contained multitudes.)

This book is amazing! I will warn those with no sense of humor(C is for corn cob… pull it out of the place where the sun doesn’t shine and live a little) to skip it. My dad read this book to my brother and I when we were young. 🤣 If you have great kids mature enough to get the humor…. Then the book is perfect. I still love this book as an adult and have shared it with my son. The depth of this author is very impressive! I wish there was a second ABZ book. Thank you Mr. Silverstein for making the world a less serious place with your wit!

This is NOT for children - and unless you like very dark humor ("B is for Baby....Mommy loves the baby more than she loves you"), skip this one.

I found this awesome and disturbing, and immediately ordered copies for myself and for my younger brother, who also enjoys truly messed-up jokes.

Recommended for adults who like their humor sick and wrong!

I had a friend describe this book to me years ago and I decided to finally find a copy and read it. This is not the book a parent would buy their kid to read but more of a book a aunt or uncle mad at their sibling would get their niece or nephew. This would also make a great shower gift for the laughs. The book covers the alphabet but not in the correct order and gives bad advice to kids that would get them into lots of trouble. Overall I got several laughs out of the book but I will not be putting into my nieces or nephews hands anytime soon.

"Uncle Shelby" hates kids, wants to get them into trouble, and use them to embarrass their parents, and his method is an ABC book. Decidedly not for young children: in the first place, they wouldn't get some (most?) of the jokes (one hopes not, anyway); in the second place, it does the letters out of order; and in the third place, you don't want to risk their taking parts at face value (e.g., that coupon for the free pony). For any adult, whether she loves or hates children, whether she has some of her own or no.

The language is squeaky clean (after all, "Uncle Shelby" intended it for kids), but makes allusions, that "Uncle S." wouldn't expect kids to know, to adult...um...behavior.

This book is downright hilarious. Full of whit and twisted humor it is a must read for any adult. Take a trip into Uncle Shelby’s mind, which is full of bad and twisted advice for children and where the ABCs aren’t necessarily in order. It’s a quick read and fairly entertaining as well. Definitely recommend this book if you’re in need of a pick-me-up.