9 Alphabet Books that Won’t Make You Zzz

A Garden of Ordinary Miracles, by Robert R. Zakanitch
You can almost smell the glorious illustrations in this book. Reading it takes you on a trip through a lush, alphabetical garden on one side of each page spread, while playful pencil sketches of flora, fauna, geometrical letter designs, and other relevant material cleverly decorate the facing pages. There’s so much to look at and enjoy, from Azalea to Zinnia.

Z Goes Home, by Jon Agee
Don’t envy Z. Sure, it’s fun and important to work at the zoo, but when your daily commute goes through quicksand, past a woodpile where vipers are known to be, and, more often than not, involves earthquakes…well, maybe it’s time to consider moving to another neighborhood (or getting a job closer to where you live). As the Z travels home, you’ll see the entirety of the rest of the alphabet along the way. And there’s an explanatory key at the end of the book for those who are not familiar with such curiosities as “jetties” and “ink.”

What Pete Ate from A to Z, by Maira Kalman
I would like to visit Maira Kalman’s planet some day. In this book, protagonist Poppy Wise patiently explains the alphabetical eating habits of her insatiable dog, Pete. This weird, wonderful world of Poppy’s is populated by her cousin Rocky (who keeps a list of all the times he was insulted), Roberta Rothschild (president of the Rubber Band Society), & the Twinkle Twins and their insane-looking dog Twinkie, among other personalities. Kalman’s imaginative illustrations inspire many questions, such as just who is that person in the green dress in cousin Benny’s room? (Seriously, who is that?)

Dr. Seuss’s ABC, by Dr. Seuss
This kooky classic alphabet book imparts such wisdom as: “X is very useful if your name is Nixie Knox. It also comes in handy spelling ax and extra fox.” Dr. Seuss’s ABC is the optimal combination of alliterative nonsense and familiar words, all without too much tongue tangling. Thirty-something years later, I still remember and enjoy every word of this book from my childhood. My husband, however, is somewhat put off by the ending’s Zizzer Zazzer-Zuzz. (You’ll see.)

LMNO Peas, by Keith Baker
Oh, those peas! Is there nothing they can’t do? LMNO Peas showcases, through amusing rhymes, illustrations created with tendril loving care, and ridiculous anthroPEAmorphizing, the tiny, green world of the working pea. If your little sprout needs help deciding what to be when she grows up, this book should certainly give her some ideas.

On Market Street, by Arnold Lobel and Anita Lobel
A short poem introduces this book before exploding into full-page illustrations of the extraordinary merchants on Market Street. Each letter is presented in a panoply of apples, kites, zippers, etc. which also make up the garments the shopkeepers are wearing. This must be seen to be fully understood. On Market Street is a collaboration between father and daughter, Arnold Lobel & Anita Lobel. Playing alphabetical I-Spy on the last page is a favorite collaborative pastime of ours when my daughter is stalling before going to sleep.

Alphabet, by Matthew Van Fleet
Van Fleet’s pop up game is on fleek. Yes, I just wanted to write that, but it’s true. This pop-up book (and all the rest of his work as well) is beyond the typical “pull-here, push-there” interactive reading activity. There’s a lot going on—every page has surprises, and different ways to interact. A lot of care was devoted to making each page unique and fun. I also appreciate how the traditional alphabet clichés are avoided—no xylophones or zebras here!

Alligators All Around, by Maurice Sendak
A slim and charming volume from Sendak’s essential Nutshell Library, Alligators All Around features a family of three alligators and their alphabetical exploits. If not for the fact that this book was originally published in 1962, I would believe it’s about my own family, as we also love bursting balloons and are usually upside-down. Sendak’s well-dressed alligators, despite pushing people and being shockingly spoiled, are not frightening reptiles in the least.

I Stink!, by Kate McMullan and Jim McMullan
Not an alphabet book from start to finish, but a noisy, dirty, fun truck book with an alphabet section, I Stink! nonetheless deserves a mention. This gleeful ride-along follows an anthropomorphized city garbage truck as it makes its rounds. Parents will enjoy learning technical truck terms sure to win admiration from vehicle-obsessed youngsters. Those hearing the book read aloud will delight to hear grownups declare, “I stink!”
What are your favorite alphabet books?