Books are the font of knowledge, no matter how complex or rudimentary that knowledge may be, and one of the most essential of those pertaining to the latter is the ABC book, a time-tested classic of the learning world.
Yet, ABC books are so much more than mere learning resources, as reading them as a family can strengthen the bonds between you and build your little one’s linguistic confidence.
And I use the term “little one” loosely, as these books are now so diverse as to be suitable for readers of all ages.
No matter what stage in life you are, there’s an ABC book to facilitate both learning and lots of fun, and today, I’m going to be breaking down the very best 13 for little and big soon-to-be alphabet aficionados.
Best ABC Books For Little Alphabet Learners
Let’s begin with all the magnificent ABC books for those in the spring of their lives, our littlest learners with sponge-like brains thirsty for knowledge.
With the following resources, you’ll set that diminutive genius of yours on the best possible foot for advancing down the path to language fluency.
While it’s largely unrelated to the greedy caterpillar’s adventure that we all know and love, the illustration style is enough to captivate young readers and inspire a sense of wonderful nostalgia in readers of a more advanced age.
In classic ABC style, each page advances a letter through the alphabet linearly, introducing you to a new animal friend drawn in Carle’s inimitable mottled style, amounting to a veritable bestiary of a book.
You’ll absolutely adore reading it with your little ones, not just because of the excitement you’ll see on their face as they master their first letters, but because you’ll relive the joy of your youth, too.
Pros
Nostalgia rush — Will bring back fond memories in adults
Familiarity aids learning — If your child is familiar with the original book, they’ll be more switched on when reading this one
Cons
No link to the original story — It’s a stylistic match, but in terms of substance, it’s a pretty simple ABC book
Samantha Berger and Ekaterina Trukhan are really onto something with their collaborative project The ABCs of Kindness.
Simple in concept, this ABC book takes away the typical objects or animals that correspond to the letters and replaces them with acts of kindness.
Why is this ingenious?
Well, not only are young children grappling with ideas of sound-letter associations at 5, their brains are also busy making new connections that enable them to feel empathy, which in turn encourages them to act kindly.
But, like all natural instincts, kindliness can be encouraged and refined, and by attaching acts of kindness to letters of the alphabet, children are engaging with concepts on an intellectual level, which reinforces a lot of the things they’ll be feeling.
In short, we all want our kids to be kind, and this book teaches them how when they’re most receptive.
There’s a heartening humanism to The ABCs of Kindness, and both you and your child will take a lot from it.
Pros
Original — A unique spin on the tried and tested ABC format
Encourages Kindness — Enhances social and intellectual intelligence
Cons
Ease of learning — Acts of kindness aren’t as easy to grasp as, say, an aardvark for A and a zebra for Z
Dr. Seuss needs no introduction, and neither does his classic ABC book in which his gaggle of zany characters is employed (among other original illustrations) to communicate the associations between letters and words.
While it’s been around for what seems like forever (I had this book as a kid), it’s still considered a highly effective educational English language resource, and kids love, love, love it, even if it’s their very first time encountering the Doctor’s eclectic creations.
The only thing that’s changed about this book since I read it as a youngster is that it’s been given the board makeover so kids can interact with the pages without breaking them, allowing them to be more involved in the reading process.
Pros
It’s a classic — This book has likely taught more English-speaking children the alphabet than any other
Teaches upper and lower case — Not only do readers learn the alphabet, they learn the basics of grammar too, such as using capital letters at the start of a sentence or giving proper nouns a capital letter.
Cons
Might overwhelm new starters — It’s perhaps not quite simple enough for a very first ABC book, but perfect as a second
Xavier Deneux engages almost all the senses in his contribution to the ABC book canon TouchThinkLearn: ABC.
Utilizing scooped-out die-cuts to form contoured and tiered elements, kids are encouraged to get hands-on with the learning process.
The interactivity of this title is sure to be a blast for both you and your kids, and as it gets multiple areas of their brains working, it can be an extremely effective educational tool.
Unlike standard ABC books, it helps children to create a myriad of connections between each letter and related entities, increasing the chances that they’ll commit the information to their long term memories.
This isn’t just an ABC book; it’s an ABC work of art, and a real favorite among youngsters, who can’t get enough of the pop-out pictures, engaging visual displays, and hyper-tactile textures.
Pros
Multisensory — This is by far the most engaging and fun ABC book on the market, and by stimulating multiple senses, it enhances information recall
Simple presentation of the alphabet — This book has a lot going on, but it never complicates the core message
Cons
Quite heavy — The weight of this book limits a child’s ability to hold and carry it
I know what you’re thinking… It took three people to compose a dang ABC book?!!
And yes, there are three names on the board of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, but ultimately, this melding of minds really pays off, as evidenced by this book’s three-decade tenure as one of America’s family favorite reads.
Each letter is playfully anthropomorphized, and a whimsical rhyme establishes the story afoot — All the letters of the alphabet are racing to reach the top of a tree.
The rhyme may seem like a simple way to inject some fun into the learning experience, but it’s actually pedagogical in nature as well.
Rhyming makes sounds, words, and language formation far more accessible to young minds, and as they learn to chant along with the words in the book, they may be having a ball, but behind the scenes, they’re imprinting the alphabet firmly in their brains.
The book culminates (spoiler alert!!!) in a busy tree top teeming with letters, but is this crazy canopy capable of holding all its grapheme occupants, or is a chicka chicka boom boom tumble from the top inevitable?
Pros
Makes a rhyme of the alphabet — Rhymes enhance memory retention, expediting the learning process
Anthropomorphized letters — Bringing the letters to life is a fantastic way to make them more engaging for little ones
Cons
The art is pretty rudimentary — Simple art is great, but the block pictures in this book are perhaps a little too minimal for some children
Super simple and incredibly effective, Pandas Love Pickles by Liz Lynch puts her exquisite illustration skills on front street, making for an ABC experience that feels both intricate and digestible.
Her black and white drawings are hyper-detailed and lifelike, ensuring children understand the reality of the animal kingdom. Well… apart from the diets of animals.
Each animal is eating a food item that starts with the same first letter.
For example, Lynch kicks things off with an alligator eating an apple, which obviously isn’t quite as true to life as the illustration itself, but this does make for a hilarious and very engaging learning adventure.
Each food item is colored in, adding emphasis to the artwork that reinforces the message conveyed and enhances memory retention, but that’s not the only clever device at play here.
The combination of animals and food starting with the same letter introduces children to the concept of alliteration, and better yet, it can help ease picky eaters into a more diverse world of snacks, which makes dinner time way easier for parents and guardians — Phew!
I’m not saying that your little one will be craving pickles after a single read, but it’s a way of introducing more foods to them without the pressure of actually eating them, and over time, this can give them the confidence to branch-out come snack time.
Pros
Hyperrealistic illustrations — Slightly older young learners are often more engaged by detailed, realistic drawings
Diverse food items — Helps fussy eaters come to terms with a larger range of foods
Cons
Some disturbing food pairings — Something doesn’t sit right with me about herbivores eating meat products
My niece is bonkers about bugs, so this book quickly became one of her favorite possessions.
Not only does it align a bug with each letter of the alphabet in an easy-to-digest manner, it concludes each entry with some fascinating facts about the bug in question, as well as pictures of a few particularly intriguing specimens.
It’s a fantastic way to illustrate the importance of the smaller lifeforms we share a planet with, encouraging interest as opposed to fear, so prepare for countless bug hunts in the backyard after a few reads of this book.
It doesn’t log all the common backyard bugs, as the entries are restricted to one per letter, but lots of our favorite insect friends are there between the covers, fostering an early love of the natural world and science at large.
Pros
Real insect pictures — You can literally use this book as a reference on bug hunts
Additional bug information — The alphabet is only one element of the educational experience in this book
Cons
Not as playful as others — The lack of vibrant colors or illustrations does take some of the fun out of learning
If Louise Ehlert’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she served as the illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom discussed earlier. Eating the Alphabet is her own personal foray into the world of ABC books.
Using a similar illustration method as Eric Carle, the images in this book really pop, and much like Pandas Love Pickles, it gently introduces particular eaters to what they’re missing out on by being so conservative with their food choices.
The pictures are super large and super colorful to grab and hold your little one’s attention (and get their tummy rumbling!), and the book itself is very robust, so they can get involved with turning the pages.
My one critique of this teacher’s favorite is that the pages look a little busy, which inhibits the clarity of the educational message at times, but I haven’t found anyone who agrees with me on this front, so perhaps this issue is mine and mine alone.
Pros
Fantastic food illustrations — The pictures couldn’t be more eye-catching and may encourage fussy eaters to diversify their diet
Simple concept — Just letters and fruit here, folks, meaning making associations is really easy for your child
Cons
Small book, busy pages — The pages can trigger a bit of sensory overload, distracting from the educational message
Best ABC Books For Slightly Bigger Alphabet Learners
While it’s good to isolate the alphabet in order to help young children learn it quickly, it’s really just the very start of a language learning process that continues indefinitely, meaning more advanced ABC books can aid their development as they grow older.
With that said, let’s take a look at the best ABC books out there for no-so-little learners!
The ABCs of Black History is a New York Times bestseller that takes children on a journey through time, exploring all the major events in black history and introducing them to the key players that helped to drive progress through the years — “X is for Malcolm X”.
But there are also loads of simple word associations to enjoy too, such as “B is for brave, for bright, and for bold… for brotherhood, for believing in grace.”
It’s the perfect way to introduce youngsters to an often buried facet of American history and to shine a light on a culture that is, sadly, so often pushed into the shadows.
While its primary role is to empower black children and families, I feel it’s also an essential read for people of other races, as it encourages understanding and a more nuanced historical perspective.
Pros
Celebrates black history and culture — Provides a way to educate young children on a marginalized culture and omitted histories
Lots of elaboration — Each letter is applied to multiple different words in order to deepen vocabulary and understanding of letter-word associations
Cons
Advanced topics — You may not be ready to introduce your child to certain topics
Let’s face it, the modern world can be stressful, overbearing, and even hostile at times.
We all learn this at some point but are typically ill-equipped to deal with the adversities we face, but Alphabreaths aims to give our children the tools they need to stay calm and balanced when the going gets tough.
Using the letters of the alphabet as an educational foundation, it expands upon basic knowledge by introducing playful breathing exercises related to the grapheme associations given on each page.
For example, the B page focuses on “Butterfly Breath” and says to “Spread your arms like beautiful butterfly wings on the in-breath, and let them flap gently on the out-breath.”.
The lessons it imparts are truly valuable, and the actions make it a much more active educational experience as opposed to passive, which both helps to engage a child’s mind, and keeps it fun for both them and you.
Pros
Imparts valuable lessons — Breathing exercises can help boost mental health as kids grow older
Gives children more control of their emotions — Your child can implement the breathing exercise right away to process their often confusing or overwhelming emotions
Cons
It’s not a quick read — You’ll need to set aside a significant amount of time to really enjoy this book
You may think it’s too early to introduce your child to complex social ideals such as equality and justice, but trust me, social notions are being imprinted on them from the day they’re born.
Thus, it’s important to expose them to the vocabulary of social concepts and issues, so they can grow into more compassionate and understanding people.
It also helps them to understand the world more fully, how they fit into it, and how they’d like to change it, which can instill in them a life-long passion to do and be good.
Some of the word associations are quite advanced, such as “X is for Xenophobia”, but each page opens up a discourse that explains the word in terms children can grasp, with the ultimate goal being to teach our children about the wonderful diversity of the human world.
Pros
Amazing life lessons — Anything that encourages people to be more understanding and tolerant is a powerful educational tool that will guide children down a just path
Great conversation starter — There are all too many “tricky topics” to broach with our children these days, but this book gives us a gentle lead into a lot of them
Cons
Some exceedingly complex topics — While this book is for older learners, you still might not be ready to introduce them to some of the topics covered
One of the most interesting (not to mention hilariously titled) takes on the classic ABC book in this entire post, P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever is a whimsical, uproarious, and downright bizarre exploration of some of the dusty, far-flung corners of the English alphabet and dictionary.
Each page has the reader confronting an absurd word that’s either impossible to spell, pronounce, or most often… both.
It’s not just a learning book, it’s a challenge, and older kids will relish the opportunity to wrestle with some of these esoteric terms.
In fact, at the ripe old age of 31, I myself have learned a lot about spelling from this book — And the idea that my vocabulary has assuredly ameliorated exponentially is irrefutable and comprehensively salubrious!
Pros
Great vocabulary builder — Once your kids have mastered the basic stuff, they’ll love learning some of the complex words in this book, as it’ll make them feel like big smarty-pants
Fun for adults too — First and foremost, this is an educational book, but it’s also an absolute hoot, for both children and big children
Cons
Not all English language — Some complain about the inclusion of French- or German-derived words, but they seem to be a little ignorant to the fact that English is a Frankensteinian language composed of “borrowed” pieces of older languages stitched together. Still, I thought I better mention it to cover all bases
We know Neil Gaimen as one of the biggest names in the fantasy genre (among others), but as a consummate lover of language, his name adorning an ABC book is more fitting than you might at first think.
Besides, the truth of the matter is that this is a fantasy book.
Following two children and their pet gazelle, they must embark on a daunting quest complete with monsters, marvel, and mayhem, sucking readers into a high-stakes story full of intrigue and danger.
With nothing but a dusty old treasure map to guide them on the treacherous subterranean path that sprawls sinuously before and beneath them, this adventure could well be our protagonists’ last!
Pros
Makes learning exciting — This is the most intriguing ABC book on the market, sure to get even hesitant learners in the spirit to acquire some language skills
The language evolves in complexity — For example, “E is for Evil that lures and entices”, creating further semantic links that your child will pick up on over time
Cons
Muted colors — It’s not the most eye-catching book in the world, so it can be hard to get a toddler surrounded by an army of vividly colored toys to pay attention
An ABC Book Buyer’s Guide
For what is in essence a very simple format, there sure are a lot of different ABC books to choose from, most of which have a slightly different angle on graphemic education.
A wicked case of option paralysis is inevitable, but with my help, you’ll find the perfect alphabet book for you and your children posthaste!
Age Range
The easiest way to find a suitable ABC book is to search for those designed for a certain age range, for example, 2–4 or 3–6.
This ensures the content and the pedagogical approach will be well suited to specific points in your child’s development.
Having said that, the age ranges on books aren’t a golden rule, but rather, a handy guideline to steer you in the right direction.
If your child is particularly advanced where language acquisition is concerned, feel free to pick up a trickier read to nurture their intelligence and speed up the learning process.
Likewise, if your child is in no rush and would rather take things at their own pace, no worries!
There’s absolutely no shame in picking up something more accessible and guiding them through the alphabet in very simple terms.
Choose Something Engaging
For early learners, it’s essential to find an ABC book that grips them, and there are a number of devices authors use to facilitate this.
Vivid colors are a good option, as are exciting illustrations or additional interactive elements such as pop-up pictures.
When it comes to older learners, it’s a good idea to lean into their tastes.
For example, if – like my niece – the learner in your life is bananas about bugs, The ABC Bug Book for Kids should be a top contender, or if your child is a The Very Hungry Caterpillar super fan, then the ABC follow-up by Eric Carle is a no-brainer.
But that’s not to say that you can’t introduce them to something new. As long as it piques their interest, the theme and aesthetic are largely unimportant.
Interactivity
I know I mentioned interactivity a moment ago, but it warrants its own section.
When children are encouraged to get more involved with the reading process, it wakes up their brains and allows them to use their mental faculties to the fullest.
That’s not to say that your kid’s ABC book needs to be an all-singing-all-dancing tome of nuanced pulleys and gears, as even very subtle ways to interact, such as tactile touchy-feely sections, will be super enticing to your child.
Interactivity isn’t an absolute must, but it can be the difference between an “okay” ABC book, and an absolutely brilliant one.
Style Of Educational Content
There are a million and one subtleties to consider in the ABC book format. Some will focus on lowercase alone, while others may focus on uppercase exclusively.
Some will elaborate with chains of letter-word associations, while others keep it simple with a single association.
Some will relay concepts as well as words, while others stick to the sound and spelling words.
With this in mind, it’s important that you think about what you’re trying to teach your child specifically, and then find a book that caters to your needs.
Final Thoughts
Having gone from the Alpha, all the way through to the Zenith of my post, did any of my top-notch ABC books catch your eye?
I’ve worked hard to include a little something for everyone, regardless of age or interests, so I’m sure at least one of my picks will put a smile on your child’s face.
But don’t fret if nothing stood out to you, as what we’ve discussed here today is really just the tip of the alphabet iceberg.
There are innumerable other options out there, so use my buyer’s guide to continue your search, and you’ll find the perfect ABC book in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are ABC Books?
ABC books are typically very simple publications that teach young readers the alphabet via word and object associations, i.e., A is for Apple.
They run linearly through all 26 letters of the alphabet, with the intention of solidifying the grapheme sequence in the minds of young learners.
Do I Need More Than One ABC Book?
It’s best to buy new ABC books as your child grows in order to further their education while reinforcing what they’ve already learned, but I chose to buy multiple ABC books for each stage of development, as you can repeat similar lessons without boring your child.
Purchasing at least two very different ABC books for each stage in your child’s development is a good way to expedite their progress, all while keeping the learning experience fresh and exciting.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
