7 Great and Classic ABC Books for Every Family
There is no lack of variation on the alphabet book theme, and every family with young kids probably has at least one or two ABC books. However, some authors manage to take a simple subject and make it new and fun again. Here are seven great ABC books that are favorites at our house.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss
Big D, little d, what begins with D? Dr. Seuss at his finest, laying on the nonsense rhymes that somehow stick with you. After having read this one a hundred times together, my two-year-old likes to tell me she’s “itchy itchy Ichabod, I, I, I!” when she gets a mosquito bite.
Animal Alphabet: Slide and Seek the ABCs by Alex A. Lluch
First you see “A is for…”, then you slide a little panel over to reveal an alligator. Each letter gets its own window and animal. Not only is it beautifully illustrated, it’s also sturdy enough for little hands to slide the panels back and forth without sustaining much (if any) damage. A definite plus for parents with, ahem, enthusiastic little readers!
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
All the lower-case letters are racing each other to the top of the coconut tree…until they come crashing down! With simple, bright images, an easy rhythm, and a silly premise, it’s no wonder this one is a perennial favorite among toddlers.
A Is for Angry: An Animal and Adjective Alphabet by Sandra Boynton
This book takes alliteration to silly new levels, with as many words as possible worked in for each letter. It’s silly and funny…exactly what you’d expect from Sandra Boynton.
B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC by June Sobel
If your kiddo loves big trucks and heavy machinery, this is a must-have. The pictures show bulldozers, cranes, and excavators hard at work, as simple rhymes take you through the alphabet.
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
There’s no story here; just gorgeous illustrations. Not only will this book help your child learn the alphabet–both upper- and lower-case letters–but it will also introduce them to delicious fruits and vegetables that begin with each letter.
Animalia by Graeme Base
This book is as much fun for parents and older kids as it is for the little ones. The words are simple alliterations–“crafty crimson cats carefully catching crusty crayfish” for example–but the pictures are what makes this book a treasure. Every page is full of exquisite details, and you could easily lose track of time searching for all the things that begin with any given letter.
Jen is the mother of two sweet girls; her days are filled with Dr. Seuss books and laundry, block castles and pink tutus. Reading is her first passion. Finding and testing out delicious recipes is a close second. She and her husband are working on making their fixer-upper home into something amazing. It’s a satisfying but painfully slow process. Read more from Jen at her blog: Nothing Can Come Of Nothing.
Jen makes her home in the Alberta prairies with her husband and young daughter, where she writes about all things DIY. From home renovations to arts and crafts, if it's home decor she'll get her hands dirty and give it a shot!
