Adventurous ABCs for Wiggly Little Worms

The ABC Animal Orchestra, by Donald Saaf
The Animal Orchestra is in town, and they’re playing instruments from all over the world! Aardvark’s on the accordion, and Goat’s on his gong. Hedgehog is holding her ears amid all the commotion, and I brings us Intermission and Ice Cream! Your preschooler will find something new to love about this picture book with every reading—it’s a joyfully chaotic introduction to our 26 favorite letters!

Playful Pigs from A to Z, by Anita Lobel
If you live with a toddler, you might feel as though you reside in a pig pen some days. Or maybe all days. But it could be worse—you could be cohabiting with 26 piglets in a single pen in a warm, breezeless countryside! These pigs awaken every morning with a boundless curiosity about the world around them, and each day they set out for a new adventure. Their journeys aren’t for the faint of heart, however; after a day of memorizing, questioning, rescuing, serenading, and vacuuming, these 26 pigs are tired, and ready for rest before a new day—and all its new discoveries—dawns.

Once Upon an Alphabet, by Oliver Jeffers
What if each letter had its own story to tell? This is Jeffers’ angle, with his wild and wonderful new ABC picture book. Right away, you’ll empathize with Edmund the Astronaut’s disastrous fear of heights, and shake your head at Bernard’s and Bob’s battle over a bridge. Later, you’ll meet “an owl who rides on the back of an octopus.” They search for problems, find solutions, and then move onward. If you have a particularly wiggly reader, this lengthy volume will take more than one storytime, but you will be handsomely rewarded for your stamina—a splendid narrative, quirky, memorable characters, and captivating illustrations make this an unforgettable ABC tour de force.

ABC School’s for Me!, by Susan Katz, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
A crew of cheerful cubs are headed off to preschool, and their days are filled with activities, adventure, and discovery—from A to Z. Playful rhymes and gentle illustrations make this ABC book an essential part of every busy little reader’s library

R is for Rocket, by Tad Hills
If your young reader hasn’t been introduced to Rocket yet, it’s high-time the two of you take a moment to experience the world from his 4-legged perspective. Rocket is the lovable mutt who, along with a colorful cast of animal characters, brings the alphabet to life in an unforgettable way in this charming tale. It will surely be love at first bite, and you likely won’t stop biting until you’ve devoured all of Rocket’s adventures, like How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story.
What are your favorite alphabet books for wiggly little readers?