Twenty-six shapes, in two sizes each, in an order with no logic to it, standing for sounds that half of them do not reliably make. Put that way, the alphabet is a preposterous thing to hand a three-year-old — and it is still the most useful thing anyone will hand her all year. Which is why the ABC book has outlived every other fashion in children’s publishing: it is the one format that has to teach something specific and also survive four hundred readings. The good ones hide the lesson inside a chant, a joke, a shopping trip, or a coconut tree. The rest are a list of objects with a letter printed beside them.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of 678 alphabet books, our editors chose ten that earn the repeat readings: board books made for tracing and grabbing, the read-alouds whose rhythm sticks before the letters do, and the sly ones for children who already know their ABCs and are tired of being quizzed on them. Start with the shortlist, then use the shelves below — board books for a first pass at letter shapes, picture books for preschoolers and kindergartners working on the sounds underneath them.
Twenty-six lowercase letters race one another up a coconut palm, and the tree gives out well before the last of them arrives.
Every page is a slab of board cut into the shape of a letter, so the letter itself becomes the peephole into whatever comes next.
Each letter turns up in both cases with a tongue-twisting crowd of creatures whose names all begin the same way.
Fruits and vegetables from around the world, each printed with its letter in both capital and lowercase, from A straight through to Z.
A very large crowd of very small peas takes up an occupation for every letter, from acrobats to zoologists.
Each letter arrives with a groove to trace and a tab to pull, alongside a page of small illustrated things whose names begin with it.
No words at all — only city corners painted so exactly that the letter hiding inside each one has to be found rather than read.
The alphabet is trying to stage an orderly parade, and one very large animal keeps barging in several letters too early.
A shopping trip down a strange market street, where every shopkeeper is assembled entirely out of the goods being sold.
An alphabet book that skips the obvious word for every letter and picks the one where that letter stays completely silent.
Die-cut letters, tracing grooves, animals, trucks, and vegetables from A to Z, in covers that survive being gnawed on, for ages 0–3.
Discover the ABCs through a vibrant vegetable journey from asparagus to zucchini.
Discover vibrant fruits from A to Z in a delightful journey for little ones.
Discover the ABCs through a world of fascinating bugs.
Explore fairy tales through an enchanting alphabet journey.
Discover the alphabet through vibrant animal illustrations.
Discover 26 unique birds with surprising facts that bring nature to life.
Discover the alphabet through colorful fingerprint animals.
Animals drift to sleep from A to Z in this soothing bedtime tale.
Discover whimsical tales for each letter, sparking imagination and laughter.
Discover Easter's magic through vibrant ABCs and springtime wonders.
Discover the ABCs through playful animal sounds in this lively board book.
Letter sounds, hidden letters, alliteration, and alphabets with an actual plot, for ages 3–7.
Explore the alphabet with playful word pairings and whimsical illustrations.
Little i's dot is missing. Can he find the perfect replacement?
An alligator, bear, and dragon chase a cat, leading to unexpected friendship.
A clueless fish bites bait, leading to unexpected adventures.
Discover the alphabet with playful, interactive bugs.
Two patriots attempt to simplify English spelling, facing unexpected challenges.
Explore London's iconic sights from A to Z with hidden surprises.
Discover hidden treasures in a vibrant alphabet adventure.
Explore design's wonders through an ABC journey of museum treasures.
Five heroes transform a dull world of numbers into a vibrant realm of letters, sparking wonder and color.
Two kids and a gazelle venture underground, facing monsters and pirates for hidden treasure.
Discover soccer legends from A to Z in this vibrant ABC book.
