S24 Performance of Children's Literature

CASD 1717 – Spring 2024

Materials for Learning the ABCs

Over time, different materials have been produced to help children (and adults) learn to read. On this page you’ll explore some of the earliest materials for teaching reading.

The Hornbook

example of a hornbook - a wooden paddle with "The Lords Prayer" on it.
Hornbook containing alphabet, syllabary, and the Lord’s prayer c.1700-1750 (courtesy of Boston Public Library)

This is an example of a hornbook, an early reading primer dating back to the 1450s or even earlier. Similar kinds of items were in use through the 19th century. It consists of a sheet of paper or vellum mounted on a wood or metal frame with a handle and protected under a thin transparent layer of horn.

“Miss Campion” holding a hornbook, 1661. From Tuer’s History of the Hornbook" Ink illustration of a young girl in 17th century fashion standing at a table and holding a hornbook. A feathered hat is on the table and a dog lies at her feet.
“Miss Campion” holding a hornbook, 1661. From Tuer’s History of the Horn-Book

Early Printed Materials

As printing became more accessible and less cost-prohibitive, children were given access to cheaply bound and printed battledores and primers.

Skim through The New England Primer used in the United States from approximately 1690 through the 18th and much of the 19th century. This version is a printing from roughly 1800. Skim through this but pay attention to what kind of content is available.

Now skim through this 1840 primer.

What do you think have replaced primers like this?

Explore: Early Alphabet Books

The Ark Alphabet was published in 1868 in New York.

One of the most famous alphabet books is the one below from 1886, illustrated by Kate Greenway, an artist for whom one of the big children’s literature awards is given. The book is based on a common rhyme used to learn the alphabet.

This last one is by C.B. Falls and published in 1923.

Which would you rather learn your ABCs from?

  • A is for Apple Pie (40%, 8 Votes)
  • The Falls ABC Book (25%, 5 Votes)
  • My Little Primer With Many Pictures (15%, 3 Votes)
  • The New England Primer (10%, 2 Votes)
  • Ark Alphabet (5%, 1 Votes)
  • Anything Else Please (5%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 19

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Explore – Contemporary Alphabet Books

What do you remember about learning to read? How did you learn your alphabet? Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?

Go Back
Go on to picture books

Comments

21 responses to “Materials for Learning the ABCs”

  1. Natasha Marques Avatar
    Natasha Marques

    I remember learning my alphabet and how to read in my kindergarten class. I remember the teacher went over it every morning before playtime. I remember I wasn’t good with the letter sounds and dreaded doing it. I used to hide under the desk so she wouldn’t have to call on me.

    I don’t really remember any specific book, I do remember the book that made me love to read. I was a Helen Keller book and her story was so interesting to me.

    I think all these books are amazing and I don’t really have one that I would like to see more of. All the books show the letter and what the letter stands for. They are just so many of them.

    Reply
  2. Ekaterini Fasarakis Avatar
    Ekaterini Fasarakis

    When I first started to read I was introduced to letters either each day or per week. My teacher would present art projects about each letter and we would read stories that pertain to that letter. In kindergarten, we would also receive homework about the letter we learned that day. By the time I got to first grade, we began reading and phonics where we would start to put letters together and begin reading them slowly. One particular book I remember in kindergarten was “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.” I loved reading that book and watching the letters act silly while climbing the coconut tree. I think Sesame Street does a great job teaching young children their ABC and it is well-watched amongst the younger generations.

    Reply
  3. Badra Ahmad Avatar
    Badra Ahmad

    I learned the alphabet through a mix of songs, colorful books, and maybe a bit of help from Sesame Street. A book that stood out to me was, “Clifford”, i remember the excitement of decoding words and the feeling when everything clicked. As for which alphabet books I’d like to see more of, I’d probably go for the ones with engaging illustrations and interactive elements.

    Reply
  4. Milen Bekis Avatar
    Milen Bekis

    What do you remember about learning to read? How did you learn your alphabet? Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?

    To be honest, I do not remember much about learning how to read. I came to this country at 4 years old, I went to a Russian-speaking school where they taught me how to read English. I learned the alphabet through songs and textbooks that had the letters and how to pronounce them. The alphabet book, “The Falls ABC Book” was the most helpful and there should be books more like it. However It is lacking more child friendly pictures. It has to be more colorful.

    Reply
  5. Cheyenne La Fritz Avatar
    Cheyenne La Fritz

    I don’t remember anything. I don’t remember learning to read, learning the alphabet, or any books that helped me to do so. I do remember seeing the “There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” book at my pediatrician’s office. So seeing “There was an Old Lady who Swallowed the ABCs” was a bit reminisce and I was surprised to see it was released so recently. I have seen “P is for Pterodactlu The Worst Alphabet Book Ever”. This is for older children who have already mastered the ABCs and are onto trick words, which this book is full of. I think it is clever and could teach children the correct spelling of these words. Edward Gorey’s alphabet is gruesome and not for children. It depicts the death of children in 26 different ways. I suppose some adults may like this, but I want to know what the intention of it was. “Click, Clack, Quackity, Quack” is a book that can be used when teaching children how to write a letter. “The Handmade Alphabet” shows the alphabet in ASL, which I think we should see more of. Having this book in the classroom, especially at an early age can help children be introduced to diversity.

    Reply
  6. Renee Montperous Avatar
    Renee Montperous

    Honestly, I can’t remember how I picked up reading. All I remember is my mother reading to me and my teacher making me read and sound out letters, etcl. I suppose this counts as learning on my part, although I’m not sure how exactly I learned it. I can’t recall reading any books from when I was four years old in 1997. That’s when I think I started reading short phrases completely. the a for apple pie alphabet book was interesting and I would like to see more of that kind because it has terms I never really saw in alphabet books like ” D for dealt it or N for nodded it”

    Reply
  7. Ashley Arely Vila Avatar
    Ashley Arely Vila

    What do you remember about learning to read? How did you learn your alphabet? Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?

    I remember crying my eyes out with my parents by my side when I couldn’t read words like “which”. LOL. It was definitely a stressful time but thankfully I did learn how to say “which”. I believe I learned the alphabet once I started Pre-k with the song that everyone probably knows. A book I remember being really helpful was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Best book in my opinion, I read it at work all the time. As an assistant therapist, we try to keep kids entertained for the most part so I feel like the best one is “A is for apple pie” since it is pretty easy to make into a song.

    Reply
  8. Obeed Avatar
    Obeed

    I learned how to read because of my sister. She would tell me and encourage me to read her favorite book and i struggled reading as im dyslexic. with time though throughout the second grade i finished the book

    Reply
  9. Basamat Hamdan Avatar
    Basamat Hamdan

    I remember that my teacher would play “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” on the smartboard. I never actually read the book myself. That’s how I learned the alphabet. I took a while to recognize the letters when they weren’t in order, though. My sister taught me how to read by writing each letter in uppercase and lowercase until I was able to identify them in both forms. I struggled the most with the letters ‘i” and ‘j.”
    I’m really curious about ‘The Gashelycrumb Tinies” book. I’ve never seen a picture book that taught the alphabet in such a dark way…how did children respond to this book?

    Reply
  10. Hanan Almoflihi Avatar
    Hanan Almoflihi

    I learned how to read in prek. In pre k we would learn a new letter every day, and learn how to use that letter. I learned how to read pretty quickly compared to people my age, and I loved it. I don’t remember which books exactly i learned to read with. These books are very Christian religion integrated, I would like the skill to be separated from this religion.

    Reply
  11. Crisbely Inoa Veras Avatar
    Crisbely Inoa Veras

    My very first memory of being read to was in first grade in the library, I remember that we were all sitting on a carpet and at this time I barely understood what was being said because I had just moved to the U.S. I learned my alphabet in Pre-K when I lived in Dominican Republic, the teacher would write the words on the chalkboard and we would recite them at different times during the school and and we would do activities to reenforce the learning of the alphabet. A book I remember is, A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon, for some reason that book has stuck with me and it’s one that I could remember of the top of my head. I would like to see more of the England Primer, because it includes a lot of things I feel like I didn’t learn during my early years of school but I am learning now as I help my brother who is now in second grade with his homework.

    Reply
  12. Quesia Cruz Avatar
    Quesia Cruz

    What do you remember about learning to read? How did you learn your alphabet? Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?

    When I learned how to read I was in Mexico and I remember reading was very hard for me, I remember that the secretary of public education would distribute books to each grade and I remember reading a book that had a dog on the outside. I learned the alphabet through music first but I do not remember how I became familiar with how they look. I think I would like to read Animalia because when I come across animal books I end up learning a new animal every time.

    Reply
  13. Dionisia Payamps Avatar
    Dionisia Payamps

    I remember my father used to have a mini chalkboard in our house and every Sunday he would go over letters and penminship with my sisters and I, making us rewrite the newspaper articles. It sounds like tourture but it helped a lot with my literary developement. Additionally in my day camp, we would use index cards to learn the alphabet and how to pronounce them. Other than read alouds in school, I rarely used books to help me learn the alphabet.

    Reply
  14. Revette Hinkson Avatar
    Revette Hinkson

    My pre-school, elementary and high school education was completed in Trinidad where they used the British form of teaching. They used an Alphabet book and readers from the Nelson Thornes Press which was a part of Oxford University Press in England. We learnt to recite the alphabet mostly by rhyming. Phonetics was also a big part of the composition of the book.

    I would have liked to see more of the Ark Alphabet as it includes aspects of religion. I also liked that the sentences that were used with each letter was like a two-sentence story.

    Reply
  15. Martina Arriola Avatar
    Martina Arriola

    What do you remember about learning to read?
    What I remember about learning to read involves deciphering phonics, recognizing rhyming words, and the thrill of unlocking new stories. These experiences cultivate a deep appreciation for language and literature, shaping a lifelong passion for exploring the written word.

    How did you learn your alphabet?
    Singing the alphabet and reading together basically enhanced my ABC learning, making it enjoyable and rhythmic. Therefore, it was the combination of auditory and visual prompts that aided my memory, reinforced letter recognition, and established a solid foundation for language skills in a fun, interactive way.

    Was there a particular book you remember?
    The Little Golden Book ABC was the ABC book that brought back enchanting memories and practices. 

    What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?
    “An Excessive Alphabet” helps children develop strong language skills, expand their vocabulary, and improve their understanding of the alphabet in an enjoyable way. The book fosters creativity and imagination through its engaging stories and illustrations, instilling a love for reading and learning at an early age.

    Reply
  16. Aya Ibrahim Avatar
    Aya Ibrahim

    I remember really enjoying learning how to read. When I was younger I was always surrounded by books and I had a lot of bookshelves in my house so I grew up with a desire to read, and when it was time to learn the alphabet I remember learning from my parents, school, and even children shows on television. I remember a lot of particular books, many of which we discussed in class but a standout was definitely “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” or “Rainbow Fish”. I always looked forward to reading and hearing them even if I knew the ending by heart. I would love to see more cultural alphabet books, or versions that are bilingual.

    Reply
  17. Jennifer F. Angel Avatar
    Jennifer F. Angel

    What do you remember about learning to read? How did you learn your alphabet? Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?

    When I learned how to read I remember I learned through phonics. Learning that sounds and letters have a relationship and when in doubt sound it out 🙂 I think I learned the alphabet through song in the tune of twinkle twinkle little star. A book that I remember reading was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss. I would like to see more alphabet books in sign language, I think kids would love to learn sign and they actually learn a little bit like “W” for water or “R” for restroom. Also themed alphabet books, like a Coraline alphabet book or Stranger Things alphabet book. It would be entertaining for the parent or caregiver and the child. There is a Star Wars alphabet book so I know it can be done!

    Reply
  18. Hasiena Madramootoo Avatar
    Hasiena Madramootoo

    I remember going over the alphabets, and sounds of words was how I learn to read. I learn the alphabet trough the songs that would sound the letters out and I do not remember any particular books. All of the alphabet books above were interest so I don’t have one that I would like to see more of.

    Reply
  19. hannah xhani Avatar
    hannah xhani

    What do you remember about learning to read?
    I don’t really remember well when I began to read but I do remember working through sounds of the letters and really targeting sight words.

    How did you learn your alphabet?
    I began learning the alphabet at age two by singing these songs and then I also when I turned three, I also started learning these sounds.

    Was there a particular book you remember? What alphabet books above might you want to see more of? Why?
    I really remember reading the magic tree house book alone when I finally began reading. I really enjoyed the The Ark Alphabet because of the sentences and illustrations.

    Reply
  20. vanessa alamo Avatar
    vanessa alamo

    I learned the alphabet by songs and saying A is for apple B is for ball, in class we had a banner that almost went around the whole room showing the alphabet upper case and lower case and next to it was a picture that started with that letter. I remember the very hungry caterpillar ABC book I loved that book and read it to my kids. I dont remember too much about learning how to read, I do remember having phonics books to help with words and having to read short stories.

    Reply
  21. Katherine Abalonski Avatar
    Katherine Abalonski

    I remember I learned connecting it to pictures of things, foods, or animals that start with the letters. So A for apple, B for banana, C for cat, so on and so on. I do not have a particular book I remember using any specific book but mainly cards in school along with those cards being laminated and posted around the classroom in bright pretty colors. I think I would want to see more of “A is for Apple Pie” because it relates the alphabet to words and things all around and keeps kids more entertained.

    Reply

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