Alphabet Books

Alphabet Books

Learning letters and the alphabet is so important yet it can be so difficult for little ones.  As a parent, reading the same alphabet books over and over can get slightly repetitive (to put it lightly).  so, each book in our list has something unique and fun that will make the repetition enjoyable for everyone.

Alphabet books should be included in your child’s library to promote reading readiness. We have an entire blog series dedicated to the building blocks your child needs to master in order to be ready to read. From phonological awareness to early reader books, you might want to check out our series on reading readiness and the importance of reading

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Best Alphabet Books for Babies

ABC Touch and learn alphabet books

Author: Xavier Deneux

Year: 2016

Genre: Board Books

Age: 1 – 2

I love it when books have texture. That added tactile element can make the difference when it comes to engagement for some kids. 

This book is tactile and a feast for the eyes. I think I enjoyed it even more than my kids!

Find this book in: Best Books for 1-year-olds / Alphabet Books

alphablocks

Author: Christopher Franceschelli

Illustrator: Peskimo

Year: 2013

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 3

More info: An Abrams Block Book

Each page in this book is cut into the shape of a letter with chunky pages that are easy to turn.  This huge board book is amazing to hold and a definite favorite. It’s also the first in a series featuring countablock, dinoblock, and 12 more!

I love how tactial this book is for babies. The illustrations are so beautiful you can proudly display it in your home!

Find this book in: Best Books for 2-year-olds / Alphabet Books

eating the alphabet

Author: Lois Ehlert

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Year: 1989

Genre: Board Books

Age: 1 – 3

Getting kids to eat new foods can be challenging.  These great pictures have fruit and vegetables from A-Z.  And who knows, it might encourage your little one to try something new too.

The illustrations of the food are delightful and the end of the book provides a glossary of all the gorgeous illustrations.

Find this book in: Best Books for a 1-Year-Old / Alphabet Books / Kids Food Books

A to Z and other alphabet books

Author: Sandra Boyton

Illustrator: Sandra Boyton

Year: 1984

Genre: Board Books

Age: 1 – 3

Who doesn’t love Sandra Boyton? With her signature illustrations, this book goes through a list of animals on A to Z adventures.

I will forever for a Sandra Boyton fan. This is the first alphabet book I ever read to my children and it’s one I know I’ll read to my grandkids someday.

Find this book in: Best Books for 1-year-olds / Alphabet Books

Best ABC Books for Babies

ABCs of kindness

Author: Samantha Berger

Illustrator: Ekaterina Trukhan

Year: 2020

Genre: Board Books

Age: 2 – 5

This book was inspired by the 365 days of kindness movement and was designed to inspire kindness from a young age.

I love this adorable story that shares an act of kindness for each letter of the alphabet. From joining hands to making a heart, your toddler can practice each act even at a young age.

Find this book in:  Best Books for 2-year-olds / Alphabet Books

The Gaybcs

GayBCs by M. L. Webb

It’s important to teach your children to be inclusive from an early age. This book is wonderful for teaching the appropriate LGBTQ+ terminology to everyone, young and old.

abc scanimation

Author: Rufus Butler Seder

Illustrator: Rufus Butler Seder

Year: 2016

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 4

Each page of this book has incredible “moving” animals to go along with the alphabet theme. Each letter is accompanied by a moving lenticular making the animals come alive.

If you have never seen these amazing books, they are perfect alphabet books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The moving images completely capture their attention.

Find this book in: Alphabet Books / Best Books for 3-year-olds

Physics ABC

ABC of Physics ( Baby University) by Chris Ferrie

From Atom to Zero Point energy, this book is the perfect introduction to physics for the youngest babies.  Don’t forget the ABC’s of Science, ABC’s of Mathematics and ABC’s of space as well.

Dr. Seuss ABC

Author: Dr. Suess

Illustrator: Dr. Suess

Year: 1963

Genre: Classic Picture Book

Age: 1 – 4

This book is a classic. It is hilarious enough to read over and over!!! Told with his signature illustrations and wacky words, Dr. Suess’s take on the ABCs is sure to delight toddlers everywhere.

This is a perfect pick in alliteration books for preschool kids. It is just silly enough to keep even the littlest readers engaged.

Find this book in: Alphabet Books / Best Books for 3-year-olds

Alphabet Books for Toddlers

chicka chicka

Author: Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Year: 1989

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 4

More info: Chicka Chika #1

Rhyming? check. Letters? check. This classic book checks so many boxes with the added bonus that it is fun to read with your kids. Even the name itself is a perfect example of alliteration in books.

If you have not picked up yet, it is a must-read for any preschool child and a perfect book to help with reading readiness as well.

Find this book in: Alphabet Books / Rhyming Books / Books for a 1-year-old / Alliteration Books / Classic Books for Kids

alphabet

Author: Matthew Van Fleet

Illustrator: Matthew Van Fleet

Year: 2008

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 3

More info: New York Times Bestseller

In this bestselling, tactile book, animals and plants from A to Z demonstrate opposites, action words, and synonyms all while spelling out letters with their bodies and tails.

This amazing book has everything- plants and animals that begin with each letter, moving parts, and textures.  Each page is totally interactive with flaps and pull tabs. There is even a scratch and sniff.

Find this book in: Best Books for 2-year-olds / Alphabet Books

LMNOPeas

Author: Keith Baker

Illustrator: Keith Baker

Year: 2010

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 5

More info: Part of the Peas series

This delightful book showcases each letter of the alphabet in a story about peas and all the jobs they can have. Told through rhyme, your little one will eagerly hunt for the peas matching the described jobs.

I love any book that has a great rhyming scheme but this one is hilarious with adorable illustrations to match. There is so much to look at on each page that you could read this over and over and never get bored.

Find this book in: Alphabet Books / Gender Neutral Baby Books / Food Books for Children / Best Books for 3-year-olds

superhero ABC

Author: Bob McLeod

Illustrator: Bob McLeod

Year: 2008

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 3 – 5

Using alliterations to work on letter recognition, this superhero book is in a league of it’s own. It’s funny and informative!

I have never met any child who didn’t think this book was hilarious.  The funny superhero names on each page have kids laughing in this alphabet book.

Find this book in: Alliteration Books / Alphabet Books / Best Books for 4-year-olds

Best Alphabet Books for Preschoolers

Fraidyzoo

Fraidy Zoo by Thyra Heder

This is one of the cutest alphabet books in my collection. A little girl is afraid of something at the zoo, but can’t remember what. So her family dresses up as different animals in A-to-Z order to help her overcome her fear.

Why We Love This Book: With vivid images depicting homemade animals of every letter, there is so much to see in this fun tale.
Appropriate for ages 4-8
Find this book in
Zoo Books, Alphabet Books, Books for 4-year-olds

Once Upon an Alphabet

Author: Oliver Jeffers

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Year: 2014

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 3 – 6

Oliver Jeffers is just the most brilliant writer and illustrator. This collection of short stories for each letter is a lovely item for any library and is one of my favorite alphabet books. 

With gorgeous illustrations and lovely words, this book is an excellent one to gift to pre-k graduates!

Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Alphabet Books

the most magnificent makers a to z

Author: Ashley Spires

Illustrator: Ashley Spires

Year: 2023

Genre: Picture Books

Age: 4 – 8

More info: Part of the Most Magnificent series

This book teaches maker space vocabulary from A to Z with the beloved characters from the Most Magnificent series.

I enjoy this whole series, but this might just be my favorite of the bunch! It’s perfect for word lovers!

Find this book in: Best Books for 4-year-olds / Alphabet Books

alphamals

Author: Graham Carter

Illustrator: Graham Carter

Year: 2017

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 5

Graham Carter uses his unique illustration style to delight readers with an a to z introduction to the animals of the world.

From aardvark to zebra, your animal-loving preschooler will love the gorgeous illustrations throughout. The text is delightful and is sure to engage readers of all ages.

Find this book in: Best Books for 4-year-olds / Alphabet Books

Best Alphabet Books for Kindergarten

the dictionary story

Author: Sam Winston

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Year: 2024

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 3 – 8

Dictionary wants to bring her story to life after being jealous of all the other storybooks on the shelf. As words come to life and travel through the pages, Dictionary is delighted at first but then everything becomes a hairy, tangled mess and she needs to get everything back in order.

With rhyming words and fun illustrations, this story is incredibly unique and simply marvelous. It’s a fun story about alligators and moons and ghosts and puddles and alphabets.

Find this book in: Alphabet Books / Best New Children’s Books of 2024

Miss Bindergarten and other alphabet books

Author: Joseph Slate

Illustrator: Ashley Wolff

Year: 1996

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 5 – 6

More info: Part of the Miss Bindergarten series

Using the letters of the alphabet, readers meet each kid in the class as they get ready for school. We also see Miss Bindergarten get ready for school by cleaning, organizing, and decorating her classroom.

If you are looking for first day of school books for kindergarten, this is a really cute choice.

Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / First Day of School Books / Alphabet Books

animalia

Author: Graeme Base

Illustrator: Graeme Base

Year: 1987

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 8

In 15 years, I don’t think I have ever found everything on ANY page in this book. The illustrations are completely amazing, creative, and mesmerizing as well. This is the alphabet book that I can read with all my kids (including my 16-year-old).

This is one of the best alliteration books I have ever read and the fact that it is also a mystery makes it a wonderful pick for the whole family.

Find this book in: Alliteration Books / Alphabet Books / Animals Books for Kids / Best Books for 5-year-olds

Big Words for Little Geniuses

Author: Susan and James Patterson

Illustrator: Hsinping Pan

Year: 2017

Genre: Nonfiction Picture Books

Age: 2 – 6

More info: Big Words for Little Geniuses #1

When I came across this book I thought it was, well, genius.  It is also fun to read with its huge vocabulary words inside from A-Z.  There is also a list of other big words in the back listed alphabetically. 

I love the pictures but, it’s also pretty hilarious to hear a 4-year-old use the word loquacious correctly in a sentence.

Find this book in: Best Books for 5-year-olds / Alphabet Books / Books for Baby Shower

Alligatos all around

Alligators All Around Board Book by Maurice Sendek

This sweet little book comes with three other books in the Nutshell Library.  One book teaches counting, one teaches months of the year and one story teaches about caring.  This sweet book teaches the alphabet and even has a song to go with it.

The importance of Reading

The Importance of Reading and 7 Helpful Reading Readiness Tips

For more books like these, head over to our reading readiness posts to get you and your little one on the path to successful learning

How do I teach my child to recognize the alphabet?

Repetition is key when you try and teach your child to recognize the alphabet. And don’t forget, recognizing the letters is not the same as knowing which sound the letters make. If you want more information on this, you can check out our reading readiness post.


Why are alphabet books important?

Alphabet books are important because letters are the building blocks of reading. Even though not every letter makes only one sound, these are the foundation for reading.

What alphabet books are we missing? Did you find a cute one to add to your home library?

Books About Colors

20 Vibrant Books About Colors for Preschoolers and Toddlers

If you love these counting books, check out these fantastic books about colors

For more books for toddlers and preschoolers, check out our list of books for 1-year-old, 2-year-old, 3-year-old, or 4-year-old readers.

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