20 Must-Read Children’s ABC Books List

When it comes to teaching the letters of the alphabet, ABC books for kids are a great place to start as they make the whole learning experience fun and interesting!    

Here is a list of 20 must-read ABC Books for kids that we enjoyed reading to our son when he was little.

I hope you and your little one would also find them enjoyable 🙂

1. ABCs by Charley Harper

ABCs by Charley Harper is a simple board book that makes learning the letters of the alphabet fun and interesting.

The incredible illustrations of animals will surely make this book such a delight for your little reader!  

2. A is for Salad by Mike Lester

A is for Salad is a wonderful book that is filled with humor!

Of course, A isn’t for salad but it’s for the alligator eating it! Trust me, this amusing little book will certainly get your little one’s brain thinking.

3. Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

Apple Pie ABC is a simple book for all those pie-lovers!

Along with the cute little dog who does everything he can to get a slice of pie from the table, your kid will learn some cool vocabulary for each letter of the alphabet! 

4. A to Z by Sandra Boynton

A to Z by Sandra Boynton is a charming little book that is filled with silly animals and cute illustrations that make learning the letters of the alphabet attractive and entertaining. 

5. A was Once an Apple Pie by Edward Lear

A was Once an Apple Pie is an excellent book that is best known for its rhythmic wordplay and beautiful illustrations.

The silly words used in this book make it such a delight to read.

“L was once a little lark”, 

“Larky, marky, harky, larky”,

“In the parky, little larky!”

6. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is one of the most popular ABC books that should be read to every child! 

The rhythmic text and the bold illustrations will certainly make this book irresistible for your young reader. 

Will there be enough room for all the letters of the alphabet as they race one another up the coconut tree? 

“A told B”

and B told C“, 

“I’ll meet you at the top

of the coconut tree.”

7. Dr. Seuss’ ABC by Dr. Seuss

The characters in Dr. Seuss’ ABC make the letters of the alphabet come alive on the pages!

The dreaming David Donald, Itchy Ichabod, Zizzer-zazzer-zuzz, and others will make learning the letters of the alphabet fun for your little one!

8. Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Eating the Alphabet is a delightful little book to learn the letters of the alphabet while also learning the names of fruits and vegetables from around the world. 

9. G is for Goat by Patricia Polacco

G is for Goat is a simple yet entertaining goat-themed alphabet book that will help you teach the letters of the alphabet while building your child’s vocabulary! 

10. Into the A, B, Sea by Deborah Lee Rose

Into the A, B, Sea is a wonderful book that features twenty-six amazing sea creatures for each letter of the alphabet.

I promise the lovely rhythmic text would certainly make this book a delight to read to your kid!

11. I Spy Letters by Jean Marzollo

I Spy Letters is an interactive book that uses rhyming riddles and picture clues to make learning the alphabet fun and interesting.

I’m sure your little one will be excited to look for the hidden letters! 

12. LMNO Peas by Keith Baker

The silly little peas along with the bright colors and rhyming text in LMNO Peas make learning about letters and the world’s interests, hobbies, and careers exciting and compelling!

13. On Market Street by Arnold Lobel

On Market Street is a brilliant little book that uses attractive illustrations and unusual shopkeepers on Market Street who are created from wares to make learning the alphabet attractive and unique. 

14. Q is for Duck by Mark Elting & Michael Folsom

Q is for Duck is another great book that will get your child thinking! 

“A is for Zoo because animals live in the zoo!”

“B is for Dog because dog barks!”

“C is for hen because hen clucks!”

15. Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks from A to Z by Richard Scarry

Our son enjoyed reading Richard Scarry’s books and Cars and Trucks from A to Z was his favorite.

The enjoyable characters and silly transportations such as corn car, banana mobile, and egg truck make learning the letters of the alphabet such a delightful experience for little ones! 

16. The ABC Bunny

What a fun way to learn the letters of the alphabet while following a charming little bunny as it scampers along! I bet your little bunny will thoroughly enjoy reading The ABC Bunny. 

17. The Alphabet Book by P.D Eastman

The Alphabet Book by P.D Eastman is a simple book to add to your book collection!

The wonderful illustrations and silly text make learning the letters of the alphabet a joyous experience!

18. The Turn-Around Upside-Down Alphabet Book by Lisa Campbell Ernst

The Turn-Around Upside-Down Alphabet Book is a unique book that is full of surprises for little ones! With every turn, this little book will stimulate your little one’s imagination and thinking. 

“G becomes a magic wand casting a spell, a scooter’s back wheel, a fishing hook!”

19. Work: An Occupational ABC by Kellen Hatanaka

Take your child on a tour through the coolest jobs out there! 

The sophisticated words in Work: An Occupational ABC make it a great vocabulary builder.

20. Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham

Z is for Moose is an innovative and hilarious little book about an impatient moose who can’t wait to get to his place in the alphabet show. But when he finally gets there, he learns that M is not for Moose but Mouse. Lucky for him, his friend Zebra lets him join in on the last page. 

I hope you and your kid will enjoy reading the ABC books listed in this blog post.

Don’t forget to let us know what’s your favorite ABC book in the comments below.

By the way, if you are looking for fun ways to teach the letters of the alphabet to your child then check out my blog post on 7 Playful Ways to Teach Alphabet Letters for Kids + FREE Printables.