Hidden Alphabet Books

As a teacher, I look for alphabet books that can hold young children's interest and attention through all 26 letters. Books that have hidden letters for children to find and pictures that are either evocative or very detailed do the trick. When children study the shape of a letter then try to find that form in a picture, they are holding it in their memories longer. This can help children who struggle associating the visual symbol with a name and sound, a critical reading skill. These books are also interesting enough for those who already know letters and their sounds, and help to model one way to organize information in a book, a writing skill.

Pigs From A to Z
by Arthur Geisert
This alphabet book looks bland initially, but the sepia colored etchings are fascinating in their intricacy. The pictures, showing pigs building a tree house, hide several examples of the featured letter. There are some that are easy to find and a few that are more difficult on each page.

Discovering Nature's Alphabet
by Krystina Castella and Brian Boyl

The photographs in this book are of letter forms discovered in the natural lines of rocks, trees, plants, etc. The photographs are well composed and lovely to look at. From a teaching perspective, I particularly like that there are several examples of each letter, so children will see the commonality of the letter shapes and get repetition of these important symbols. The letters in the pictures beg to be traced by little fingers learning to write.

Alphab'art
by Anne Guery and Olivier Dussutour

Not yet released in the U.S., this book contains 26 lovely photographs of paintings of renowned artists. Each hides a letter of the alphabet while exposing children to fine art. A nice way to reinforce letter shapes and introduce children to famous artists like Picasso, Dali and Van Gogh and lesser known masters as well.



Story Props for Hidden Alphabet Books