I love alphabet books, but let’s face it, they can be a little bland. That means that I am always on the lookout for alphabet books that incorporate fun features or implement a fun twist for teaching the ABC’s. Don’t get me wrong, I am still a fan of the more simple and traditional alphabet books too, but give me one with a gorgeous design or a little something else that makes it extra special.
Are you the same way? If you are, below are over 15 books that feature the alphabet and there is a wide range of awesome ideas implemented to make them extra fantastic. (Everything from tactical features to witty alliteration.). Check them out for alphabet fun that is great for young children as well as older children. (And, let’s face it, even adults too…)
*affilaite links below
Board Books
“Alphablock” by Christopher Franceschelli- The hefty board books in the “block series” from Abrams are wonderful and this book is no exception. It is one of our absolute favorites and couldn’t be any simpler. Another one that is like flash cards in book format.
“A B SEE” by Elizabeth Doyle- I love the search-and-find aspect of this alphabet book as you search for items on each page that start with the featured letter. Lots of fun.
A to Z Menagerie by Suzie Ultman- This hefty little board book has pull out tabs and letters that you can trace with your fingers. The font of the letters is pretty modern so it makes recognizing the letters a little more challenging, which I don’t mind for a step-up in practicing from more basic font alphabet books.
“Touch, Think, Learn ABC” by Xavier Deneux- This whole series of board books is wonderful! The pages are textured so that you can touch and outline the letters as well as other features. Plus, the design simply cannot be beat. Love it!
“Twinkle, Twinkle ABC” by Barney Saltzberg and Fred Benaglia- An ABC book done to the lyrics of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”?! Yes please! It took me a few tries, but I have become quite proficient at singing along with this one. (At least proficient enough for my kiddos! haha)
“LMNO Peas” by Keith Baker- We absolutely love this whole adorable series! It has the most adorable illustrations featuring peas with fun little details in each page spread. This is the board book that focuses on the alphabet and it couldn’t be cuter.
“Cement Mixer’s ABC: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site” by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Ethan Long- They made board book primers featuring the “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site” Vehicles! Obviously wonderful! This is the one that features the alphabet.
Alphabet Street by Jonathan Emmett and Ingela P Arrhenius- This is one of my favorite board books of all time. It pulls-out accordion style into a whole city street where each letter gets it’s own little feature and flap to lift in store windows and more. So creative and charming.
Picture Books
“Alphabet Kingdom” by Staria Michelle Halfmann- This is a gorgeous oversized book where each page features a beautifully artistic letter of the alphabet and an animal from the animal kingdom. That’s it. It works as beautifully designed flashcards in a way.
“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr, John Archenbault and Lois Ehlert- I think this one is pretty “solid” as a modern classic and I can see why. It has a catchy rhythm to it when you read it aloud and is such a fun twist for introducing the letters of the alphabet.
“ABC is for Circus” by Patrick Hruby- This is a simple and basic alphabet book with one word per letter. What makes it extra fun is the bold colors and fantastic design of the circus illustrations.
“The Zoo’s Grand Opening” by Judith Drews- This alphabet book is pretty basic, but feels fresh and interesting. You get to read as an alphabetical array of animals join the zoo for it’s grand opening. The zookeepers are our favorite part of the book!
“Adventures with Barefoot Critters” by Teagan White- This ABC book is another beautiful book that is a more traditional format for an alphabet book and features one letter for each page. We adore it.
“Once Upon an Alphabet” by Oliver Jeffers- This is one of the most clever and fun ABC books ever! It is a thicker book with a bit of text to read for each letter of the alphabet. It is one that older kids can enjoy, and parents too! This one knows no limits!
“Betty’s Burgled Bakery” by Travis Nichols- This book makes the perfect read aloud! It is packed with alliteration that starts with the letter “a” as it moves through the entire alphabet. All the while it tells the mystery of what happened to Betty’s baked goods.
“Animalia” by Game Base- I remember this one from my childhood. The illustrations are what “stuck” with me and the alliteration is fantastic. I think this one will be popular for generations to come.
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