26 Alphabet Books for Families
There are approximately a bajillion alphabet books in existence. You can find an alphabet book on just about any topic. Granted, some are better than others, but overall there are more than most people will ever see. If you’re lucky your local library or independent bookstore might have a whole section that focuses solely on alphabet books. If you’re not so lucky, how do you find alphabet books that resonate with your family?
Alphabet books also make great baby shower gifts! I usually try to find one that fits the parents’ interests or careers. We got one for our friends that was Dungeons & Dragons inspired which was super adorable. Unfortunately, I find that alphabet books can be difficult to share in storytime because they are often very long and work much better in a one-on-one setting. With 26 letters, it can get a little arduous to go through the whole alphabet, especially in toddler storytime. But, that’s just my opinion, if you love reading alphabet books in storytime go for it!
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Early Literacy Skills
Alphabet books are really great tools to increase a child’s early literacy skills. These are the skills kids need to develop before they learn how to read. Letter knowledge is the recognition of letters, being able to name all 26 (uppercase and lowercase) and what sounds they produce. Alphabet books are a great jumping off point for developing letter knowledge.
Another great way for kids to practice letters is to use manipulatives and other hands-on activities to practice letters. Magnetic letters on the fridge or dishwasher are great, especially if your little one tends to get underfoot while cooking dinner. You can also try simple things like shaving cream in the bathtub. Squirt a little on the shower wall and practice writing letters. Kids also love those bingo daubers and they can be used to practice letters too. You can print out worksheets from DLTK’s Sites for Kids for each letter. Hands On As We Grow has a HUGE list of simple alphabet activities that you can incorporate into your day-to-day life.
Alright, enough chit-chat, let’s get to the main event! Below are 26 alphabet titles for families. I’ve broken them down into three categories – classic, funny, and new. I love when adults recognize books from their childhood, but I also want them to experience great, new titles as well! Plus, there are some absolutely hysterical titles that I just had to include too.
26 Alphabet Books for Families
Classics
A to Z
by Sandra Boynton
In this delightful introduction to the ABCs and animals, the readers will be charmed by these silly critters and lively text. A favorite of little ones and grown-ups alike, this concept book is a must-have for any toddler’s library.
AARDVARK ADMIRING
BEAVERS BALLOONING
CATS CLEANING…
XYLO XYLOPHONING
YAKS YAWNING
ZEBRA ZIGZAGGING
(ALL DONE!)
The Alphabet Book
by P. D. Eastman
From American ants to zebras with zithers, kids will love exploring the alphabet in this classically creative P. D. Eastman alphabet book.
Alphabet City
by Stephen T. Johnson
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.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
A told B,
and B told C,
“I’ll meet you at the
top of the coconut tree”
In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack
by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
The cows on Farmer Brown’s farm are typing again. Duck can’t wait to show everyone their latest note. Just what are they up to this time? Duck’s not telling, but if you follow the alphabet one letter at a time, you’ll find out. And you’ll have as much fun as the animals are going to have, and learn your letters, too! This alphabetical adventure for the very youngest fans of Duck brings alphabet books to a whole new level — click, clack, quackity-quack!
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z
by Lois Ehlert
Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwi fruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert’s lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.
At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.
Apple to Zucchini,
come take a look.
Start eating your way
through this alphabet book.
I Stink!
by Kate & Jim McMullan
For fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train comes a noisy addition to the hilarious read-aloud series from Kate and Jim McMullan, the popular creators of I’m Bad! and I’m Dirty!
“Know what I do at night while you’re asleep? Eat your trash, that’s what!”
With ten wide tires, one really big appetite, and an even bigger smell, this garbage truck’s got it all. His job? Eating your garbage and loving every stinky second of it! And you thought nighttime was just for sleeping.
Max’s ABC
by Rosemary Wells
Everybody’s favorite bunnies, Max and Ruby, are back, starring in their very own ABC concept book. Max’s ants have escaped from their farm, and now they’re searching for food. The ants start with Max’s sandwich, and soon they’re everywhere! Fortunately, Ruby comes to the rescue. Max’s ABC teaches the alphabet by featuring a different letter on each page, large and colorful so they’re easy to spot.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
It’s the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her twenty-six new students. Meanwhile, Adam Krupp wakes up, Brenda Heath brushes her teeth, and Christopher Beaker finds his sneaker. Miss Bindergarten puts the finishing touches on the room just in time, and the students arrive. Now the fun can begin!
On Market Street
by Arnold Lobel, illustrated by Anita Lobel
Enter a wondrous marketplace like no other that has everything from A to Z! Inspired by 17th-century French engravings, Anita Lobel’s delightful illustrations imaginatively clothe each shopkeeper in their wares. Find one shopkeeper dressed completely in gloves, another covered in wigs, and even one completely dressed in oranges! This beautiful and unique tale takes you on a journey through the alphabet as you discover all the things one boy buys for his special friend during an incredible shopping trip.
Funny
A is for Salad
by Mike Lester
A is for what? A is for salad, and B is for Viking. Welcome to the wacky world of Mike Lester, where nothing is as it seems. Is A really for salad, or is it for the alligator eating a bowl of mixed greens? And maybe B is for the beaver wearing a Viking helmet. You’ll have to look twice to figure out what each letter really stands for in this irreverent alphabet book. Learning your ABCs has never been so much F-U-N.
AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis, illustrated by Bob Kolar
It’s chaos! It’s pandemonium! And it’s definitely not as easy as A-B-C! Filled with visually humorous details, Bob Kolar’s colorful illustrations are the perfect foil for Alethea Kontis’s snappy story about the comic confusion that comes when the letters of the alphabet, like a class of unruly children, step out of order and show that each one has a mind of its own.
P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever
by Raj Haldar & Chris Carpenter, illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia
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!
Q is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game
by Mary Elting & Michael Folsom, illustrated by Jack Kent
This contemporary classic, celebrating its twenty-fifth year in print, is no ordinary alphabet book. Why is “Q” for “Duck”? Because a duck quacks, of course. Even the youngest readers will delight in the riddle-like text and lively, humorous illustrations. Now in vivid full color for the first time, this interactive treat is sure to be enjoyed by a whole new generation of readers.
Z is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham & Paul O. Zelinsky
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.
New
ABC Dance! An Animal Alphabet
by Sabrina Moyle, illustrated by Eunice Moyle
Dance through the alphabet from Aardvark to Zebra!
Hey! Is that your toe tapping? Well, go on! Strut your stuff!
Shake your boots with newts, lambada with llamas, and slide with sloths!
A is for Activist
by Innosanto Nagara
A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for.
A is for Artichoke
This is so much more than an alphabet book! From artichokes to ganache and from oven to zest, this is a whimsical and informative introduction to words and kitchen concepts. Future chefs and food fans of all ages will delight in reading about everything kitchen-related! Three levels of learning means this book will grow with your little one from foodie basics to kitchen confidence! No other board book features ABCs and food in this way―and no other board book features the expertise of the cooks at America’s Test Kitchen!
The Alphabet’s Alphabet
by Chris Harris, illutrated by Dan Santat
Here’s a totally twisted take on the alphabet that invites readers to look at it in a whole new way: An A is an H that just won’t stand up right, a B is a D with its belt on too tight, and a Z is an L in a tug-of-war fight! Twenty-six letters, unique from each other — and yet, every letter looks just like one another! Kind of like…one big family.
Animalphabet
by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Sharon King-Chai
From ant to butterfly to caterpillar . . . to zebra and then back again, Animalphabet is an entertaining puzzle as well as a gorgeous alphabet book to treasure.
Who can slither better than a rabbit? A snake! Who can growl better than a snake? A tiger! There are clever hints and peekaboo holes within the artwork that will amaze and delight young children as they learn to use the alphabet. This is a preschool must-have.
B is for Baby
by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
One morning after breakfast, Baby’s big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba’s bungalow in the next village. He’ll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn’t realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle! Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.
Big Words for Little Geniuses
by Susan & James Patterson, illustrated by Hsinping Pan
Filled with amazing A-to-Z art, this clever New York Times bestselling picture book by James and Susan Patterson includes sophisticated words and definitions for clever children to learn. This is the perfect gift for the little ones in your life with “bibliomania,” who will appreciate the “juxtaposition” of impressive words and bright, beautiful illustrations. Includes a list of extra words in the back for further learning.
The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC’s (the Hard Way)
by Patrick McDonnell
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.
LMNO Peas
by Keith Baker
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!
TouchThinkLearn ABC
TouchThinkLearn: ABC is an interactive board book with scooped-out die-cuts and raised elements that invites little readers to explore the letters of the alphabet in a whole new way.
Y is for Yoga
by Greg Paprocki
An engaging collection of 26 illustrations featuring yoga poses, terms, and techniques from downward dog and visualize to yoga mat and warrior pose. Illustrator Greg Paprocki’s popular BabyLit alphabet board books feature his classically retro midcentury art style that’s proven to be a hit with both toddlers and adults. Discover new details in each illustration with every successive reading.
If you’re interested in purchasing any of the titles above from my list of 26 Alphabet Books for Families, please use my affiliate links for Amazon or Bookshop. When you purchase from the links above, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.
