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The
ABC’s of Children’s Alphabet Literature
By Holly E. Newton
Are you looking for a great alphabet book for
your youngster? Every year I review the best and newest “ABC”
books recently published. So here now is a list of eight outstanding
books for your young readers.
AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First, by Alethea
Kontis, and wonderfully illustrated by Bob Kolar, is hilarious,
unique and even thoughtful. Here is an alphabet book that isn’t
in order but still teaches the letters and initial sounds of these
letters. After all, letters can be taught in various ways, so why
not in a fun entertaining way that actually centers on the letters
— rather than the order. It all begins when the letter Z decides
he wants to be first because he’s always last. The reverse
order of letters begin to proclaim a word that begins with their
letter until the letter P exclaims that he’s always stuck
in the middle and he wants to be near the first.
So begins the process of the letters showing
up completely out of order, and Z is orchestrating it all —
that is until H shows up. He states that he’s actually happy
right where he is and doesn’t want to go out of order. The
interesting interaction between these letters can bring about discussions
of how children feel about fitting in. And if you’re concerned
about the lack of order in the book, alas there is an ongoing alphabet
listed on the bottom of each page showing the letters as they are
introduced. This book will be revisited many times!
Now for some real investigative work: Alphabet Explosion!
Search and Count from Alien to Zebra, written and
magnificently illustrated by John Nickle, is truly an interactive
ABC book that will enthrall every person who opens it. I like this
kind of book when desiring an ongoing discovery experience with
your child because it’s so fun and engaging that both parties
will have great interaction while turning the pages.
The bottom of each page has the number of objects
that begin with the letter and it’s up to you to locate them.
The illustrations are bright, colorful and beautifully painted.
And unlike the “I Spy” series, this book is uncluttered
and simple. But don’t let that deceive you; it will still
be challenging. Along with the fun of learning letters, your little
ones will learn syntax, comparisons and on and on. This book is
great fun for all ages!
Click to Buy
The next four books are great for toddlers through age 8. Max’s
ABC, written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, is
a great way to reinforce letters in order and with their initial
sounds. Wells has placed the alphabet into a story so that it’s
interesting and entertaining while teaching about the letters. Each
page brings out the next letter in the alphabet, but continuing
the storyline. And the author highlights the words being taught
on that page.
The story continues the author’s
popular Max and Ruby series, but this time Max is having problems
with his ants that have escaped the terrarium. On the letter “I”
page, it reads: “’But the ants found an Ice pop
in Max’s pocket. Itch! Itch! Itch!’ said Max.”
The antics that the ants create make for very fun reading while
learning the ABC’s.
And while we’re on popular children’s series, David
Kirk has a clever lift-the-flaps book just out. ABC:
Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends has the signature
bright and vivid colors of these adorable arachnids, with pictures
hiding behind each letter.
Click to Buy
 ABC
Sing-Along, by Teddy Slater, with adorable illustrations
by Liisa Chauncy Guida, has to be one of my all-time favorite ABC
books for teaching the alphabet to children. I used it with my kindergarten
class back in 2000. This newer format has all of the elements that
children love. Each page teaches a letter with a poem and a familiar
song, (such as C can be sung to “Do Your Ears Hang Low”).
In this newer format, there are pull-tabs, touch and feel and a
sing-along CD. Just be prepared for your youngsters to listen to
this often!
The Spinning Alphabet Book, by Betty Ann
Schwartz, and illustrated by Michelle Berg, has to be one of the
cleverest ABC books ever! Each letter has a spinning wheel with
the letter on the spinner and pictures of the initial sounds hiding
under the spinner. This book would be great for memory learning
as well.
On Market Street, illustrated by Anita
Lobel, with words by Arnold Lobel, won the Caldecott back in 1982.
This marvelous reissue has a full page person representing each
letter, but the clothes are made up with intricate details. For
instance, on the letter “F” page, the lady is completely
clothed with a beautiful variety of colorful flowers. All ages would
enjoy this book!
Not all ABC books are geared for younger children. Capital!
Washington D. C. from A to Z, by Laura Krauss Melmed, and
illustrated by Frane Lessac, is geared for ages 7 through 12 because
it deals with interesting facts about the White House. This is a
wonderful way to learn about American History. So when learning
about the letters of our language, you often learn much more than
just the alphabet!
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Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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