A to Z Books for Kids: Themed Alphabet Books for Your Library List

A to Z books are a fun twist on alphabet books — instead of “A is for Apple,” each letter teaches a themed word, fact, animal, place, or vocabulary term. Over the years, my kids have enjoyed A to Z books for kids about everything from ocean animals and community helpers to history topics and geography!

Below is a growing list of themed A to Z books (alphabet books that go from A through Z). Use it when you’re planning a unit study, building vocabulary, or looking for fresh read-alouds that reinforce what you’re learning. The titles are listed in alphabetical order, so it’s easy to skim and find a topic you need.

Quick note: unlike most of my book lists, I haven’t personally read every single title here — but I have read many of them, and I’m continuing to add books as I find interesting options.

My children have always loved A to Z books – the ones that list a different word or concept for each letter of the alphabet.  So I thought it would be neat to have one resource for all of the A to Z book I could find!

Go reserve a few of these books at the library and have fun reading from A to Z!

NOTE: This post was originally published in December 2015 and has been updated several times through the years.

This post contains affiliate links.  See my disclosure policy for more information.

➡️ Find more books for you and your young learners to read! I have several collections from which to choose. Click here to find more Books Lists for Kids and add to your home library.

A to Z Books for Kids (Themed Alphabet Book List)

While I have many favorites on this list, my all-time top choice is Dr. Seuss’s ABC.  I have such fond memories of reading it over and over with my kiddos! It stayed in our diaper bag for years and is currently sitting on my 8 year-old’s shelf.

A Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, as you can plainly see!

Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book – The nonsensical rhymes are what make learning the alphabet with Dr. Seuss so easy!

 

A to Z Animal Books

If your children love critters, these A to Z books are a fun way to learn animal names and vocabulary from A through Z. You’ll find themed alphabet books featuring everything from bugs and birds to ocean life and coral reef creatures.

Animal A to Z – A different animal for each letter of the alphabet

Animals A to Z – Includes a beautiful photograph of an animal for each letter of the alphabet; minimal text; best for toddlers and early preschool

The A to Z Book of Wild Animals – An amazing alphabet of wild animals with 22 stunning illustrations

Arctic A to Z – Beautiful photography showcasing the arctic from A to Z

Birds A to Z – Beautifully illustrated dictionary of birds, A to Z

Bugs A to Z – Presents buggy facts and figures

Click, Clack, ABC – Journey through the alphabet with these hilarious barnyard animals!

Coral Reef Creatures from A to Z – a marine animal for every letter of the alphabet

Dinosaur A to Z – One dinosaur for each letter of the alphabet

Insects A to Z – Beautifully dictionary of 26 different insects

Ocean Animals A to Z – Each letter of the alphabet is matched with its own ocean animal; author provides unique ways to trace the accompanying letter

Ocean Life A to Z Book and DVD – Includes a variety of ocean life, plus a 45-minute DVD

A Paddling of Ducks: Animals in Groups from A to Z – Learn the collective names of different groups of animals (a skulk of foxes, a labor of moles, etc)

Drawing Animals from A to Z – An animal drawing lesson for each letter from A to Z

A to Z Creation and Nature Books

If your child is curious about the world God made, these A to Z books highlight nature, science, and creation-themed vocabulary in an easy A–Z format. They work well for gentle science connections, outdoor nature study, and read-aloud time.

Apples A to Z – Learn all about apples, including 26 different varieties, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth – A neat look at all of the materials that can be composted; includes composting tips

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z – Excellent variety of fruits and vegetables from A to Z!

Forestry A to Z – Examine how plywood is made, why it’s important to plant new trees, and more

God’s Creation A to Z – Set of 26 family devotion cards

A to Z Places & Geography Books

These A to Z books for kids explore places, landforms, and geography through themed alphabet entries. They’re a great fit for map work, regional studies, and read-alouds that build location-based vocabulary.

A is for Appalachia! – A look at Appalachian life, including recipes, folklore, and more

Around the World from a to z – A unique book that offers sandpaper-style finger tracing of each letter; each letter includes an activity and famous location around the world

Exploring Biltmore Estate from A to Z – Biltmore can be overwhelming (we’ve been there several times), but this looks like a perfect A to Z guide

Geography from A to Z – 63 entries from A to Z that describe the earth’s features

➡️ We have this book and turn to it time and time again!  An excellent resource.

My Favorite Places from A to Z – A variety of places that are special to children, each with a beautiful rhyme

New York, New York!: The Big Apple from A to Z – The city that never sleeps from A to Z!

The National Geographic Bee Ultimate Fact Book: Countries A to Z – Lists each country, including a detailed map and physical and political details

Vietnam A to Z – Includes bilingual text; neat way to introduce your children to Vietnam’s culture

A to Z History & Famous People Books

Looking for history titles that don’t feel dry? These themed A to Z books introduce people, time periods, and cultural topics in bite-sized A–Z entries—helpful for unit studies and casual reading before naptime!

Abe Lincoln His Wit and Wisdom from A to Z – A biographical look at Abraham Lincoln; amazing facts, quotes, and illustrations!

Ben Franklin His Wit And Wisdom from A to Z – A biographical look at Benjamin Franklin; wonderful quotes, facts, and illustrations!

Benjamin Franklin from A to Z – Explore the exciting accomplishments of Franklin, from A to Z!

Colonial Times from A to Z – Highlights colonial life from the 18th century

D Is for Dahl: A gloriumptious A-Z guide to the world of Roald Dahl – A to Z facts about this interesting author

Prairie Primer A to Z – A fun look at what life was like on the prairie, all from A to Z

The American Revolution from A to Z – Learn about battles, heroes, and details of the American Revolution

The Declaration of Independence from A to Z – Tells the story of how our nation’s founding document came to be

The Alamo from A to Z – Includes details about the 13-day siege, including heroes and facts

The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving From A to Z – Learn about the Pilgrims, including a variety of vocabulary – all from A to Z

A to Z Community & Character Books

A to Z: Do You Ever Feel Like Me? – A neat riddle for each letter of the alphabet; reader fills in the blank

Community Helpers from A to Z – A community helper for each letter of the alphabet

What is a Community? From A to Z – Introduces children to the basic concepts of a community, from A to Z

Who Visits Me from A to Z: An Alphabetical Adventure to the Dentist – Each letter of the alphabet corresponds to an animal trying to go to the dentist!receives excellent reviews!

Feelings to Share from A to Z – Help build your child’s vocabulary of emotions and feelings

Firefighters A to Z – Introduces fireman-themed vocabulary; receives excellent reviews!

Monkey World: An A to Z of Occupations – A plethora of occupations from A to Z for this little monkey; the rhymes are super cute!

You’ve Got Manners! Table Tips from A to Z – An introduction to etiquette for kids; offers three tips for each letter of the alphabet

Z is for Zookeeper – An A to Z look at a zookeeper’s daily list of jobs and responsibilities

A to Z Sports Books

These A to Z books for kids are a fun way to introduce sports vocabulary from A through Z. They’re great for young sports fans who want a kid-friendly overview of different games, equipment, and athletic terms.

Baseball from A to Z – Lively illustrations to accompany each baseball term starting with a different letter of the alphabet

Sports from A to Z – Exposes kids to a variety of sports from archery to zamboni

A to Z Books for Kids: Favorites & Fun Themes

These A to Z books for kids don’t fit neatly into one category — and that’s part of what makes them so fun. This section includes beloved storybook-style alphabet adventures, silly and imaginative reads, vocabulary-rich favorites (hello, Fancy Nancy!), plus unique themed titles like transportation, cooking, mythology, and even Christmas A–Z books.

A to Z – Neat twist on learning the alphabet; includes tons of alliteration!

A Merry Little Christmas from A to Z – The Mouse House in their miniature Christmas world from A to Z!

A to Z Cookbook for Kids – After School Apple Dip to Zebra Cupcakes!

A to Z Picture Book – Beautifully illustrated alphabet book by the infamous Gyo Fujikawa!

Alphabet Art – Animal art and fingerplays with every letter of the alphabet

Cars and Trucks from A to Z – Transportation alphabet, Richard Scarry style!

🎉 An absolute favorite!!

Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words – Discover Fancy Nancy’s favorite words from ‘accessories’ to ‘zany’

Girls A to Z – Encouraging girls to dream big from A to Z!

Hieroglyphics from A to Z – A rhyming book that explains the hieroglyphic code; includes stencils for kids

I Spy A to Z – Easy-to-read riddles with 46 A to Z photographs

➡️ We have this book also – a perfect before-bed activity!

Junkyard Dig!: Building from A to Z – Finding building materials at the junkyard from A to Z

Kipper’s A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure – Kipper and Arnold find something for every letter!

Lights on Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z – Broadway and theater vocabulary from A to Z

Mary Poppins from A to Z – 26 vignettes, each with a neat look at the characters from Mary Poppins

✅ This is a great vocabulary building book!

Race from A to Z – For the kiddos who love All Things Transportation!  Axle, Bumper, Construction…all the way to Z!

So Many Bunnies – Mama Bunny puts each one of her 26 babies to bed, from A to Z

🥰 Another Hill Family Favorite!

Swedish Christmas A-Z: An Activity and Coloring Book – Explore all 29 Swedish alphabet words and learn about Swedish Christmas traditions

 

The Alphabet from Z to A (with much confusion on the way) – A unique look at the alphabet – backwards!

Anything Judith Viorst (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) writes is just gold!

What Pete Ate from A to Z – There’s nothing Pete won’t eat! From glue sticks to underpants and every letter in between!

Z is for Zeus – An A to Z look at Greek Mythology

How We Use A to Z Books for Read-Alouds and Unit Studies

There are a multitude of ways to use A to Z Books – from more “serious” study to more casual ways. Here are some ideas of how we use A to Z Books in our own homeschool to get you started.

• Use a book as a unit study starter.
  Read the book first, then choose 3–5 letters to “rabbit trail” with library books, videos, or simple crafts. Let your child choose the rabbit trails, if possible!
• Use as a supplement for copywork or handwriting.
  Copy the best or a favorite sentence from one page, or copy 3 themed words or phrases neatly. Adjust the writing assignment according to you child’s age and stage.
• Writing and brainstorming.
  Choose one letter from the book and write a short paragraph explaining it. Alternately, you can suggest your child add one new A–Z entry of their own and then “write the page for the book.”
• Sort and categorize.
  After reading the book with your child, ask: “Which words are animals? places? jobs? tools?”. You be the scribe and show your child how to make columns to sort on your white board or a big piece of paper.