ABC Books for Kids
25 Picture Books Exploring the “ABC’s”
The alphabet was created thousands of years ago. Today, the English version of the alphabet is a culmination of many languages and cultures. Everything in life is an evolution including the current 26 standard letters we use to make up our English alphabet.
According to Today I Found Out, the origins of the English alphabet and evolution are what make English one of the most difficult languages to learn. Kids learning their ABC’s and especially alphabetical order might agree with the scholars.
This post is a good reference to exploring only 25, well 26 because there are 26 letters in the alphabet, of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of books written over the years about the ABC’s and the English alphabet. Enjoy!
Dr. Seuss’s ABC
“Arguably the most entertaining alphabet book ever written, this classic Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss is perfect for children learning their ABCs. Featuring a fantastic cast of zany characters—from Aunt Annie’s alligator to the Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, with a lazy lion licking a lollipop and an ostrich oiling an orange owl—Dr. Seuss’s ABC is a must-have for every young child’s library.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Eating the Alphabet
This is a book about fruits and vegetables. It is words and pictures in alphabetical order. This would be a fun book to take to the grocery store or a farmers market as part of an ABC scavenger hunt. CLICK HERE to visit the Farmer’s Market Guide Page.
Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet
“Mrs. Peanuckle’s Bug Alphabet introduces babies and toddlers to all sorts of interesting bugs. Perfect to read aloud, this creepy, crawly adventure will engage children and parents alike with its vibrant illustrations and fascinating facts about bugs. Learning the ABCs has never been so bitingly fun!” – Excerpt from Amazon
AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First
Always last, at the end of the line. It is so unfair says Z. Kids will love this book as they begin to learn about alphabetical order. Cute and fun this is sure to be one the kids will want to read again and again!
Alphabet City
“The urban landscape will never look the same again. As Stephen T. Johnson demonstrates in a series of strikingly realistic pastels and watercolors, a simple sawhorse can contain the letter “A”–while lampposts alongside a highway can form a row of elegant, soaring Ys. A 1996 Caldecott Honor book, this sophisticated, wordless alphabet book is sure to appeal to young and old alike.” – Excerpt from Amazon
LMNO Peas
“Get ready to roll through the alphabet with a jaunty cast of extremely cute and busy little peas in this Classic Board Book edition of Keith Baker’s hit concept book. This fresh and fun alphabet book features bright colors, bouncy rhyming text, and silly pea characters who highlight the wide variety of interests, hobbies, and careers that make the world such a colorful place!” – Excerpt from Amazon
Max’s ABC
Rosemary Wells does it again. This is a lovely book about the ABC’s. When Max discovers that his ants have escaped, he tries some inventive attempts to get the ants to cooperate.
The ABC Bunny
The historical content of this book is enough to add to any library in the home and school. Wanda Gag is an American artist and print maker. The ABC Bunny was first published in 1933 and is sure to remain a classic for many future generations.
An Annoying ABC
“Imagine a preschool classroom with 25 cranky kids and one beleaguered teacher. It only takes one small annoying act from Adelaide to set off a chain reaction of bad behavior. Dexter is drooling, Flora is fuming, Jasper is jeering, Kirby is kicking . . . and before you know it, Stella is stumbling, Todd is tumbling, and Winthrop is weeping. Oh, oh, oh! What will it take to turn this annoying day around? Readers will be amazed and amused to see what happens when Adelaide . . . apologizes?” – Excerpt from Amazon
A Zeal for Zebras
“An embarrassment of pandas, a galaxy of starfish, a shiver of sharks…these are all collective nouns used to describe their groups. Woop Studios, acclaimed for their work on the Harry Potter movies, has illustrated these quirky phrases, creating a series of extraordinarily beautiful art that has been collected here for the first time. The colorful introduction to animals and the alphabet is accessible for young children, while the gorgeous, whimsical art and clever wordplay make it perfect for design-savvy parents and inspired gift givers. Longer than the standard picture book, with high design and production values, this is a volume readers will want on their coffee tables in addition to their child’s bookshelf.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Z is for Moose
“Zebra thinks the alphabet should be simple. A is for Apple. B is for Ball. Easy! But his friend Moose is too excited to wait his turn, and when M isn’t for Moose (Mouse gets the honor), the rest of the letters better run for cover. Exuberant and zany storytelling brings to life two friends and one laugh-out-loud comedy of errors that’s about friendship, sharing, and compromise. The incomparable Paul O. Zelinsky’s artwork is bursting at the seams—literally—with child appeal. Breaking the borders of the page, and creating the art both digitally and traditionally, Zelinsky turns convention on its head. The result is a picture book that is innovative, hilarious, and begging to be read over and over again.” – Excerpt from Amazon
G is for Goat
“Letter by letter, meet cart-pulling goats; clothes-munching goats; head-butting, hill-climbing, tail-wagging goats! Cats, chicks, dogs, and bunnies play along with these friendly goats, joining in the fun. From A is for Apple to Z is for Zoe, these rascally animals just won’t stop until they’ve romped through the whole alphabet. Patricia Polacco, beloved author and proud owner and friend of many goats, has created another wonderful book to be treasured by all.” – Excerpt from Amazon
P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever
“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!” – Excerpt from Amazon
Firefighters A to Z
“Every day, brave firefighters come to our rescue. When the fire alarm sounds, men and women put on their uniforms, slide down the firehouse pole, jump in their big red trucks, and rush to save our lives. From the minute the fire alarm rings, the day of a firefighter is filled with adventure — and danger. Wherever there is a fire, we can be sure that firefighters will always be there!” – Excerpt from Amazon
A is for America
“From the British and our Constitution that replaced their rule, to Yellowstone Park and Zane Grey’s stories of the west, “A is for America” is a sweeping tribute to all we know and love about our country. With delightful poems that beg to be read aloud, and expository text to broaden a student’s horizons, this American alphabet will make you fall in love with the United States over and over again. Bright, beautifully detailed illustrations from California artist Pam Carroll bring each letter to life, from eagles to Thomas Edison to the veterans of two World Wars.” – Excerpt from Amazon
R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet
“Bring the magic of poetry to life with R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet. From acrostics and ballads to meter and metaphor, author and poet Judy Young has written a delightful collection of poems to illustrate poetic tools, terms and techniques. Each term or technique is demonstrated in an accompanying poem so readers can see the method at work. Whether haiku or rap, sonnets or cinquain, budding writers of all ages will be inspired to put their imaginations to work crafting their own poems.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Backseat A-B-SEE
“Vroom! Vroom! Whether on a cross-country road trip or a quick jaunt across town, there’s no end to what a child can see from the backseat of a car. Using familiar road signs, this striking book introduces little ones to the alphabet as well as the world around them. Equally suited for transportation obsessed children and those just learning their ABCs—and newly republished on sturdy boards, perfect for little hands—this fresh and dynamic book will entertain and educate at home, in the classroom, and on the go.” – Excerpt from Amazon
The Little Red Cat who Ran Away and Learned His ABC’s (the Hard Way)
“It starts with an ALLIGATOR and a BEAR chasing a CAT. When a DRAGON (and a chicken and an egg!) join in pursuit, things start to get REALLY interesting. A wild and wacky chase through snow and ice, and to jungles and over mountaintops, leads the whole crew to a wonderful realization: They’re better off as friends.” – Excerpt from Amazon
My First Sign Language Book
This book is a great book for teaching kids the letters of the alphabet using sign language.
The Sleepy Little Alphabet
This is such an adorable little book about all the things that kids need to do before they go to bed. Only these cute little watercolor kids are the alphabet.
The Racecar Alphabet
‘A is for Automobiles, machines on wheels.
B is for Belts turning, fuel burning, the buzz and bark of engines.
C is for Curves and crowds and cars, of course —
A century of racecars, from bare beginnings to present-day marvels, from stock cars to Formula 1, from Ford to Ferrari, caught in crackling action, in fan-friendly pictures, and in words that bounce and jounce for the fun of it.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
“In this lively alphabet rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no – Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!” – Excerpt Amazon
I Spy A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles
All the I Spy books are wonderful to have in any classroom and every home! IN this book kids will have fun finding the hidden letters and at the same time learn valuable brain training skills!
Alligators All Around: An Alphabet
“From A to Zippity zound, Alligators All Around has made learning the ABCs fun for over fifty years. The combination of Maurice Sendak’s signature humor and artwork creates all-around irresistible alphabet fun.” – Excerpt from Amazon
The Ocean Alphabet
“Learn your ABCs in this aquatic exploration of everything under the sea. Best-selling author Jerry Pallotta delivers a fun first concepts book that covers sea creatures from A to Z. From speckled cod to jellyfish to the shiny shells of scallops, readers will be introduced to over twenty-six species that live in the North Atlantic Ocean. Jerry Pallotta’s signature witty while scientifically accurate text paired with fun and detailed illustrations by Frank Mazzola Jr. make this a fun read aloud that kids and parents will be eager to dive into.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
“The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet–and they’ll walk the plank if they’re missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won’t (ahem, can’t) rest until they’ve found an A, a Z, and everything in between.” – Excerpt from Amazon
Thank you for taking the time to explore these 26 alphabet books. I chose 26 because teachers and parents could explore one book for each letter of the alphabet.
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