To Do: A Book of Alphabets and Birthdays

To Do is an alphabet book, meant originally for children, in which Stein planned an orderly progression through the alphabet with four names for each letter. But things quickly developed, spiraling out of simple childlike progression, so that by the time she reached the letter H, Henriette de Dactyl, a French typewriter (who exchanges typed messages with Yetta von Blickensdorfer, a German typewriter, and Mr. House, an American typewriter) wants to live on Melon Street and eat radishes, salads, and fried fish, and soup. By the time Stein had completed this charming book, friends and editors thought it inappropriate for children because of its lack of episode. Stein refused to alter it, and it remained unpublished until the Yale edition in 1957.

Contemporary readers can decide for themselves whether this delightful book would engage children (this editor is convinced children will love it), but there is no doubt that adults will find Stein's romp through the alphabet an enjoyable one.

See the PIP Biography of this author