Alphabet flashcards starring your child

One letter, one real thing, one familiar face

Toddlers learn letters best when a letter is tied to something they already know. So every page keeps it simple: a big upper and lower case letter, one everyday thing that starts with it, and a short line to read out loud. A is a red apple at snack time. B is a ball rolled to Dad. C is a cup at the kitchen table.

All 26 letters happen in one cozy home and yard, so the pictures look like your child's own day. Fun sounds like woof, quack, pop and vroom are built in, because little ones love to join in with a sound long before they can say the word.

Why a personalized ABC book beats a stack of cards

A deck of alphabet flashcards is quick to lose and easy to rush through. A book stays together, has a beginning and an end, and turns letter practice into a story you read cuddled up. And because your child is the hero of every page, it's the book they bring to you.

• Their own gold star letter: the first letter of their name gets a page of its own.
• The people they love: Mom, Dad or Grandma on the hello page.
• Their words: add a favorite food, a favorite toy, a teddy's name and the words they already say.
• A Talk Time tip on every page, so you know what to say and when to wait.

How to use ABC flashcards with a toddler

Keep it short and playful. Read a few pages, point to the letter, say its name, then point to the thing. Pause and give your child a turn to point or make the sound. If they wander off, that's fine; the book will be there tomorrow.

When a letter shows up in real life, on a cereal box or a street sign, point it out. That link between the page and the world is where the learning sticks. For older children who are ready for letter sounds, not just letter names, our phonics book, My First Phonics Book, goes from A to Z by sound.