Books that teach the alphabet are essential for every children’s bookshelf. But, let’s be honest, sometimes they’re boring. And the same books keep being recommended over and over (looking at you, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom).
So, to liven up your bookshelf, here are 7 not-your-average ABC books:
Bear Is Awake!
by Hannah E. Harrison – An endearingly illustrated picture book with a clever concept. Each page focuses on one letter, and all the words start with that letter, as in most ABC books. But here is where the similarities end. Bear Is Awake is all about the story: the adventures (and misadventures) that happen when a bear wakes up and rings the doorbell of a cozy cabin. A little girl answers – what is she supposed to do with this big new friend?
Z is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham – Get ready to laugh! As Zebra is directing everyone into their correct spots in this alphabet book, Moose can’t wait for his turn. Organized Zebra certainly didn’t account for Moose when he was making plans! And when Moose isn’t picked for M, the real fun (i.e. mayhem) begins…
LMNO Peas
by Keith Baker – These are some seriously cute, ambitious, pea-ple! In rhyming text, the peas take the reader through the alphabet and their various hobbies, interests, and careers.
Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters
by Oliver Jeffers – Instead of just introducing a letter and moving on, each letter has its own story, which makes this book longer than your average ABC book and better suited for ages 3-6. Kids will love these funny & sometimes twisted tales, including: An Astronaut (who is afraid of heights), Burning a Bridge (about Bob and Bernard, battling neighbors with a bridge between them), and The lumberjack’s Light (about Jack Stack the Lumberjack who has been struck by lightning 111 times, so far). If you and/or your kids are fans of Monty Python and Shel Silverstein, you’ll love this book.
A is for Apple
by Tiger Tales – This board book is like a lot of the other ABC books out there (similar setup and alphabet words) except for one thing: it’s interactive. Each letter has a track that kids can trace to learn its shape. Not only that, there are flaps to lift for even more interaction. Great for ages 1 – 3.
A is for Bee
by Ellen Heck – What?! Bee doesn’t start with A! Well, yes, that’s true, in English. But in other languages, it starts with A: aamoo in Ojibwe, abelha in Portuguese, and aṅū in Igbo. An innovative picture book that introduces other languages and encourages us to see more than just our small worlds.
P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever
by Raj Haldar – Funny, informative, and wildly unique. Focusing on the strange idiosyncrasies of English and its silent letters, this is definitely NOT a “normal” ABC book. It could even be helpful for all ages. Hey, English is hard.