The list below contains my favorite books to teach the alphabet to preschoolers. In this post I’ll be sharing books and activities to use in introducing letters to preschoolers. In coming posts I’ll be sharing the picture books I recommend for learning each letter along with simple activities that correspond to the theme of the book!
The Alphabet Book List
*This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, check out our disclosures.*
Alphabet Books
Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’s ABC covers all the letters from A to Z and it is a great alphabet book for preschoolers. This book has a page or two devoted to each letter and lists various items that start with the letter. Written in the classic Dr. Seuss style, there’s silliness, rhyming, and fun illustrations on each page.
Albert’s Alphabet by Leslie Tryon
Albert is tasked with the job of making a huge alphabet for the school playground by the time school is over for the day. He uses various materials around his house to create the whole alphabet. Albert’s Alphabet has minimal words and it is easy to follow along with the story using the pictures alone. The minimal text helps create opportunities for you and your kids to tell the story in your own words. The illustrations are cute and the characters are all animals. I like Albert’s Alphabet because it allows many opportunities for you and your kids to simply talk about the letters and how Albert is creating them.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a simple book with colorful pictures. All the letters want to go up the tree, and one-by-one they do. However, once they all get to the top, the tree bends over and they all fall out. A good book for showing kids both uppercase and lowercase letters, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a fun read.
Alphabet Activities
Sing the Alphabet Song
Sing or listen to the alphabet song together! Music can help kids remember things better. You can even turn the alphabet song (or other letter songs) on while the kids are doing something else and let the music play in the background!
Games with Alphabet Flashcards
A simple set of alphabet flashcards can be used to play many games. Take turns picking a card and turning it over to reveal the letter, then name things that start with that letter. Or play a matching game using the uppercase and lowercase letters as a match. A fun way to add movement for kids who like more action is to hide the letter flashcards around the room and let them find them! When they bring the flashcards to you, have them identify the letter and name something that starts with that letter (with help if needed).
Shaving Cream Letters
Put shaving cream on a placemat or cookie sheet and guide your child in writing letters in shaving cream with their finger.
Letter Puzzles
Playing with an alphabet puzzle can be another fun, tactical way to discover letters! Kids can hold each letter and match it to its place. This puzzle even has pictures of objects that start with the letter inside the space for added reinforcement of the letter sound.
Let’s Get Reading!
Teaching preschoolers the alphabet can be so much fun! I encourage you to grab some of the books above and start reading. Then choose an activity and enjoy learning with your little ones. Happy Reading!