Having alphabet books available for your children, is one way to make your home literacy-friendly.
Today I will look at five diverse alphabet books. Just looking at the titles and cover art of the books gives us a hint of the broad range of style and content that alphabet books can encompass.
Do Your ABC’s, Little Brown Bear written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Margie Moore
Alphabet Book for preschoolers published by Puffin; Reprint edition
Beginning with Do Your ABC’s, Little Brown Bear we discover a way to help a child learn her alphabet. On a walk with Papa, Little Brown Bear looks for things that begin with each letter of the alphabet. I enjoyed the sweet interaction between Papa and Little Brown Bear. It is hard to imagine any family sharing the book without embarking on their own alphabet exploration. Appropriate for children aged three and up.
Do Your ABC’s, Little Brown Bear at Amazon.com
Do Your ABC’s Little Brown Bear at Amazon.ca
Northern Lights A to Z written and illustrated by Mindy Dwyer
Alphabet Book for kindergarten published by Sasquatch Books
Northern Lights A to Z will appeal mainly to older children (aged five and up) particularly those who have a special interest in the night sky or legends. Beautifully illustrated, the author seamlessly mixes science and myths and shares her knowledge in an engaging, accessible format. I can still remember the emotions I felt when I saw the aurora borealis. This special alphabet book captures the extraordinary experience beautifully.
Northern Lights A to Z at Amazon.com
Northern Lights A to Z at Amazon.ca
A Is for Africa written by Ifeoma Onyefulu
Alphabet Book for kindergarten published by Puffin; Reprint edition
A Is for Africa features gorgeous photographs of people and things found in south-eastern Nigeria. Best for children aged five and up, I was struck by the author’s respectful tone and the way her photographs draw us into the atmosphere in the community. Although written in an alphabet book format, one can easily imagine an older child using this book to learn about life in an African village.
C is for Caboose written and illustrated by Traci N. Todd
Alphabet Book published by Chronicle Books
When my boys were young, books about trucks and trains were very much “top of the charts” as far as they were concerned. C Is for Caboose features a mix of bright, bold illustrations and archival photographs. This will appeal most to children who are already fascinated by rail travel and enjoy historical photographs.
C Is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z at Amazon.com
C is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z at Amazon.ca
Stargazer’s Alphabet Night-Sky Wonders from A to Z written by John Farrell
Alphabet Book for primary grades published by Boyds Mills Press
For older children (aged six and up), Stargazer’s Alphabet is “out of this world.” Featuring fabulous photographs of the Milky Way, Jupiter, Mars and more, this book uses a terrific format to its best advantage. Large pages each feature a rhyme: “V is for Venus, a lovely dazzling disk”, a factual paragraph plus photos, maps and diagrams. Great for families where the youngest child can enjoy the rhyming text and older children (and adults) can read detailed explanations. Featuring a glossary and the author’s thoughts on space, the breadth of the material covered will make this a valuable family resource for many years.
Stargazers Alphabet at Amazon.com
Stargazer’s Alphabet at Amazon.ca
Some more information we’ve shared about learning the alphabet and alphabet books
