*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.

     Now is approximately the time of year when most schools would be releasing students for summer break, but this year, many students have been home since about March, which may make this year’s “summer slide” a bit more slippery. Not that we feel that parents can’t be good teachers, in fact the opposite is true, and that is why we want to remind you that instead of stressing, keep it simple this summer by playing with letters and reading alphabet books. With the plethora of alphabet books available, keeping literacy at the forefront is a breeze while also encouraging reading for both the youngest child as well as the middle schooler.

     The alphabet book is an excellent teaching tool starting with the youngest child on up through the middle school aged child. In an alphabet book, the 26 letters are addressed in a manner created by the author and illustrator. The simplest ones use common symbols to match each letter with an object, such as A is for Apple, B is for Ball etc. Objects are selected to match the true sound of the letter making not only a visual connection to the word but also the beginning sound that letter makes, building phonemic awareness. Other alphabet books go a step further exploring various topics and themes often with a rhyming verse, rich language, unique vocabulary and some with a humorous bent. These books are excellent for the budding reader and can reach a level of sophistication that even the middle school child will appreciate.

     As children get older, alphabet books can still be appreciated though on a different level and interest. Instead of the basic, look for those that encourage higher level thinking, challenging children to think about letters differently. Check out your local library or YouTube for a copy of Tomorrow’s Alphabet by George Shannon where “A is for seed, tomorrow’s apple and B is for eggs, tomorrow’s birds.” You might even try placing a blank sheet of paper over the right side of the book before revealing what the letter stands for, giving children an opportunity to work on making inferences, an important skill for reading comprehension. You might even work with older children to make their own similar alphabet book challenging them to put on their thinking caps and think outside the box, using imagination and creativity. 

     Another way to utilize alphabet books is through your child’s own interests, using them as a first resource for research. Many alphabet books provide a wealth of information in a focused and easily digestible way for early learners yet don’t talk down to the middle grade child, working well for multiple age children. If you are reading aloud to a child, much of it might depend on your own willingness to ask and answer questions and engage in a discussion, offering a richer learning experience. Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. That’s what Google is for! Also, encourage your child to engage in further research either through books specific to that subject or online. Excellent interest-based alphabet books to consider might include C is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z by Traci N. Todd, A is for Aviation: The ABC’s of airplanes, spaceships, rockets and more! by J. Heitsch and don’t forget to include one of the 22 titles by Jerry Pallotta and be sure to check out some of the 75 alphabet books from Sleeping Bear Press that grow with a child as each book contains illustrations, a poem to represent each letter for the young reader and an informative sidebar for the older reader. The Sleeping Bear Press website helpfully offers teacher’s guides and activities for their books. For the child that loves to do research, offer a Venn Diagram where they can compare and contrast information or ideas. This will be an invaluable future skill for school.

     Don’t forget to feed the creative genius that might lurk within and include art as a theme offering Museum ABC by The NY Metropolitan Museum of Art,ABC’s of Art by Sabrina Hahn and for fun The Steampunk Alphabet by Nathanael Iwafa.

Consult our Alphabet Books list for additional titles to explore!

     As you read alphabet books, be sure to include time to play with letters in fun and creative ways. Ideas might include:

• Use letter shaped cookie cutters with playdough or real cookie dough.
  

• Have a letter scavenger hunt. Some ideas might include:
  • Take cut-out letters or foam letters and hide them around the house or outside. Take it a step further and have them find something that starts with the letter they found or tell you something that starts with that letter.
  • Use sticky notes with letters on them and have kids place them on objects that start with each letter.  Use simple site words as well.
  • Look for letter shapes in nature as you take a walk.
  • Give your child an index card with the alphabet and then take a nature walk and see how many letters they can match up with items found on your walk.
  • Look for letters and/or words in environmental print when in the car.
  • Look for specific letters or words in the pantry or while at the grocery store.
    

• Play games that involve letters such as Bananagrams, Scrabble Junior (and traditional Scrabble), Alphabet Bingo, Alphabet Go Fish or Alphabet Match-It memory game. Also, look for different alphabet puzzles.
  

• Offer toys such as those from Learning Resources where a child learns their letters through play.
  

• Create a letter or word wall. Magnetic letters on the fridge or white board, letters or words from food packaging, magazines, newspapers, junk mail etc. on poster board, including pictures. Play with words and letters and be creative.
  

• Make a “My Favorite Things” ABC book or use one of their interests. For older children you can even have them think of ABC careers, getting them to think of their future and what they might do.

• Create a sticker ABC book. We used large, colored index cards secured on a ring. My daughter and I sat down together one afternoon and went through her collection of stickers, searching for things that begin with each letter.
  

• For older children, offer anagrams, word searches or crossword puzzles or play hangman. Even younger children like guessing letters.
  

     Knowing the names of the letters of the alphabet, recognizing individual sounds or phonemes,
learning how books work and the relationship between text and illustrations, and understanding the stories that are read aloud are all building blocks of early literacy leading to phonemic awareness, fluency and reading comprehension. Manipulating letters through games and puzzles, hearing stories read aloud and looking at and/or reading books this summer will aid in literacy acquisition or further the development of already existing skills. Letters and words are all around us. Find unique and creative ways to use them.

Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts!

     I love reading to my daughter and my nephews, always looking for new and interesting books but still relying on some favorite classics, but it always seems that at this time of year, when school is back in session, that I tend to break out more alphabet books. I’ve noticed that as my daughter is entering preschool, she looks at these books in a different way, tracing the letters with her finger and saying the sounds of the letters, building phonemic awareness. So, I love that there are a variety of alphabet books available from those that appeal to the very young to those that appeal to the not so young and offer greater learning, sometimes in a creative way. As long as the book appeals, age truly doesn’t matter.

     Choosing a quality alphabet or number book for your youngster is not so different from picking out any other picture book. The title, cover, illustrations and language/vocabulary all make a huge impact, so make sure the book speaks to you (there is the potential that you will be reading this story many times over) and at the same time offers a wealth of learning opportunities for your child. Some additional things we at BTBL consider when perusing a new alphabet or number book are:

• Structure of the story - Is the alphabet or number book you’re looking at just a straight representation of our ABC’s and 1-2-3’s or does it present the letters and numbers through an actual story? While basic alphabet and number books are great, those that tell a story and offer unique vocabulary are far more engaging. Also, hearing and seeing the letters and numbers in action, in context will help build greater understanding for your child.
  
• Highly detailed illustrations - Take a close look at the illustrations of an alphabet or number book, not just to see that they are brightly colored and eye-catching, but also to see if there are more objects in the illustrations that represent the letter or number being shown. Scouring the pictures for additional objects, animals, and/or things beginning with the featured letter will teach your child that the illustrations are just as important as the text and give them more insight into the letters themselves, their sounds and the words that begin with them.
  

A handful of our favorite alphabet and numbers books...

Check out our Alphabet Books list and Numbers Books list to peruse more of our favorite titles!

     Since the alphabet is the building block of literacy, children must learn to recognize and name the letters, both in and out of order, and the sounds associated with each letter but this does not and should not be a chore. Read a variety of alphabet books and find other ways to introduce and reinforce the letters and their sounds to your children. Some ideas might be to:

• Buy or make letters so that your child can hold and manipulate them (magnetic, foam or felt.) Use a magnetic white board or the refrigerator for vertical letter play or even a felt board.
  
• Letter coloring books or coloring pages allow children to trace the letters and know them individually.
• Create a letter book. Be creative and allow your child to have fun with it. (Check out our Facebook post S is for Sticker)
• Offer alphabet puzzles and mats.
• Look for dry alphabet pasta and allow your child to play with the letters and help them to create their name and other words. 

     While we believe in getting back to basics, computers are a part of today’s children’s lives. Let your child use the keyboard to learn their letters such as in Microsoft Word. Change fonts, sizes and colors to make it fun. Avoid using pre-programmed alphabet games where children just respond by hitting a key. Utilizing a basic typing program such as Word allows children the freedom to explore the alphabet without the distractions of flashing lights, sounds and pictures.

     Learning the letters and in turn their sounds is critical for building literacy skills and developing phonemic awareness. Once a child understands the sounds of letters and how they can be manipulated to create words, they understand how their language works and may begin to decode words on their own creating the path to independent reading.

Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

We have had a recent string of good luck when it comes to alphabet books! We've stumbled upon some very unique and captivating stories that, of course, just had to become a part of our collection. My little bookworm has been perfectly delighted with these new titles and we both discover new reasons to adore them each time we sit down for a read.

R is for Railway: An Industrial Revolution Alphabet
     One of six alphabet history primers by Greg Paprocki, this oversized board book features bold, detailed illustrations that highlight aspects of life in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. What I have loved about this book is its truly unique vocabulary. How many children's stories include words like haberdashery, jig and zither? My little bookworm, being only 12 months old, simply enjoys flipping through the book and looking at all of the artwork for now. She points to things and I name them for her and explain their function in the time period. But as she gets older this book will be a great conversation starter and jumping off point for a small history lesson. Other titles in the series:

• S is for Sabertooth: A Stone Age Alphabet
• C is for Castle: A Medieval Alphabet
• M is for Monocle: A Victorian Alphabet
• V is for Vittles: A Wild West Alphabet
• A is for Atom: A Midcentury Alphabet

Scholastic's Touch and Feel ABC
     My daughter received this book as gift for her first birthday and it has been one of her favorites ever since. This book features delightful rhymes, real-life photographs that are bright and eye-catching and different sensory elements throughout, such as things to touch and flaps to lift.  After reading it through several times, my little bookworm has figured out where all of the touch-and-feel places are and now enjoys flipping through the book on her own, exploring all of the letters, different textures and hidden surprises. She is also at the age where new faces are fascinating, so seeing images of actual children rather than illustrations is an added bonus for her. This is one of our breakfast books, a story that she flips through in her high chair while we have our morning meal.

Alphabet
     Matthew Van Fleet has created an exceptional interactive sensory experience with this ABC book. The illustrations are quite beautiful and highly detailed. There are so many surprises to be found on each page that both my little bookworm and I discover new things during every read through. For instance, on our last read I finally noticed that there is a scratch-and-sniff stinkbug as one of the things representing S. Described as an ABC safari, this book features a vast array of creatures and plants (there are actually four things representing each letter to find per page), touch-and-feel, lift-the-flap and pull tab elements, rhymes, opposites and synonyms, and an ABC poster in the back of the book! Endless fun with this book.

My Awesome Alphabet Book
     This book is, as the title states, awesome! Dawn Mitchell's illustrations are bright, whimsical and, in most cases just plain cute. The standout aspect here is the pages themselves. They are letter-shaped and feature a variety of things on the back that represent the letter.

Melissa & Doug's My ABC Book
     Not only is this an alphabet book that showcases each letter through a cute drawing and rhyme, but it is a toy as well! Each letter is represented with a removable magnetic piece. My little bookworm loves taking the magnets out, and putting them back into their places. While listening to a story, she is simultaneously learning her letters and working on her fine motor, spatial reasoning and matching skills.

We stumbled upon Alphabet and My Awesome Alphabet Book while browsing through the children's books at a T.J. Maxx department store. If you didn't know, both T.J. Maxx and Marshalls carry new children's books and the selection changes weekly. We have found a lot of amazing books at those stores. The real fun of it is the unexpected finds. You just never know what you will come across and the same is true of library used book sales! Our copy of Melissa & Doug's My ABC Book was found at a library used book sale where children's books were 3 for $0.25! You can't beat that price. R is for Railway: An Industrial Revolution Alphabet we found at a Schuler Books & Music and Scholastic's Touch and Feel ABC was snagged while shopping at Meijer.  Whenever we go out, we always end up browsing through books somewhere, which has led to some fantastic finds and remarkable reads!

Happy reading!