Editor Interview: Cheryl Eissing (Flamingo Books)

When someone takes the time to write a great social media bio, they deserve kudos, acclaim, and general admiration. Witness editor Cheryl Eissing’s bio at Twitter/​X. “When I’m not editing, I can be found reading with an English Bulldog at my feet, cooking too much pasta, or walking my dog around Brooklyn.”

Love it!

Her bio at Penguin’s website offers two bits of dynamite info as well.

Cheryl mainly edits picture books, with some middle grade and young adult, and is specifically interested in stories that cause giggles, give comfort, and expose their readers to experiences and perspectives they haven’t seen before.”

Cheryl is always looking for commercial and silly yet profound picture books and stories that entertain, educate, and inspire young readers. When she is not editing books, Cheryl can be found befriending dogs on the streets of Jersey City, watching horror movies, or searching for the perfect lychee martini.”

Awesome, right? Let’s talk to her to find out a bit more.


RVC: Let’s deal with the geographic elephant in the room. In the bio snippets above, it seems you have a multi-​state dog love going. What’s the real story there? 

CE: Ha! Unfortunately, the first bio is out of date. I lived in Brooklyn with the bulldog in question (who has sadly crossed the rainbow bridge, as the social media pet community often calls it) but he was the greatest editing and walking companion. I moved to Jersey City in 2020 and still go for dog walks (by that I mean, I walk around Jersey City and admire all the dogs). I will always have a soft spot for bulldogs.

RVC: Got it, thanks. Now, back to the regularly scheduled OPB interview…what aspect/​part of you today gives away where you’re from and how you were raised? 

CE: I grew up in the suburbs of Long Island and went to college in New Jersey, so I’m very serious about bagels and pizza. I’ve just finally grown up and realized you can get good bagels and pizza outside of New York!

RVC: Good to know! Here’s a huge question: what was your first meaningful experience with a book?

CE: Oh goodness, what a big question! Picture books that I have a vivid memory of reading as a kid are Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and Corduroy by Don Freeman. I just remember each of them speaking to something in me as a child. I always loved the adventure of Corduroy and was amazed by the idea of being alone in a department store after it closed. I loved the fantastical, dreamlike elements of Where the Wild Things Are and absolutely identified with Max’s mischievousness. And as someone who did not like being the only person with my name in my class as a little kid, Chrysanthemum really spoke to me.

RVC: Most of us in the book industry had a powerful experience with a teacher somewhere along the way. What was your MIT (Most Important Teacher) moment?

CE: Ms. Jeans, my second-​grade teacher!

RVC: Best…name…ever.…

CE: She was the absolute best and always made me feel smart and capable. I remember her showing a drawing I did to another teacher—it’s amazing how much those little encouragements are so important and really stick with you!

RVC: Totally agree! Your LinkedIn account says you did your undergraduate studies at Rutgers. What career goal did you have in mind there?

CE: I wanted to be in publishing since I was in high school. I remember looking at all of the YA books on my shelves and thinking, “Okay, I don’t really enjoy writing, but what are the names of these companies on the spines of my books?” and realized that I could work with books in another way. I went into college thinking I’d major in English and then eventually go onto publishing, and always sort of thought if it wasn’t meant to be something else would reveal itself as my calling, but it stuck!

RVC: What was the most useful thing/​skill you learned at Rutgers?

CE: Reading and analyzing literature and seeing the many ways a book can be written and written well. Not all who work in publishing are former English majors, but I felt like it certainly helped me!

RVC: You’re the post child for the power of internships. Share a bit about what you did and how that helped launch your career in the industry.

CE: Because Rutgers was just a train ride away from NYC, I was able to apply for internships and do those in Junior and Senior year. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do them in Freshman and Sophomore year while I was still getting my bearings and still having to take core requirement classes that took up a lot of my time.

I got lucky with landing my first internship at Abrams, in a department that I wasn’t ultimately interested in, but I was doing admin tasks and learning how publishing worked. That led me to more interviews and more internships. Most of what I did for internships wasn’t stuff that interested me, but it helped me learn how a publishing office worked and gave me good experience!

RVC: It seems like you might’ve had a moment where you considered being an agent. What happened there?

CE: After I graduated college and had just had one interview for a real job, I was feeling very restless and continued applying to internships, which eventually landed me as an intern at a literary agency. It was definitely interesting to learn about that part of the publishing world but I realized it wasn’t for me. I definitely prefer working on shaping a manuscript the most!

RVC: Tell me the story behind the first picture book you acquired. 

CE: The first picture book I acquired was My School Stinks by Becky Scharnhorst and Julia Patton. I met Becky at the Rutgers One-​on-​One Publishing Conference, and we really clicked. We worked on her manuscript (which was originally a camp story rather than a school story) and I loved it so much. Becky was so great at really considering my notes and was so great at writing funny and heartfelt stories. I ended up asking her to change the setting from a summer camp to a school and I remember feeling so worried that she wouldn’t want to change so much about her manuscript (but also completely understanding if she did!) and worrying that she wouldn’t want me as her editor.

In the end, she adapted the manuscript into a school setting, and I just loved it and I was so happy that my publisher agreed, too! We found Julia and adored her artwork–she is so talented at doing mixed media scenes and could really incorporate the journal entry format of the story into her hilarious illustrations. I loved working on My School Stinks!

RVC: What’s the most useful thing you got from that experience? 

CE: I think I learned a lot about the author’s experience of editing a manuscript. Because it was my first acquisition, I had to really carefully consider my words and how to get the best manuscript possible from my author, while still being encouraging and showing how much I love the book. While an editor absolutely feels ownership over each book they edit, ultimately the book is the author and illustrator’s creation! And our job is to give suggestions in how to make the best possible book that is within the author and illustrator’s creative vision! So I think that experience really taught me to really consider the author on the other end of my emails and notes.

RVC: Let’s jump ahead to your recent work. What’s the most important thing people should know or understand about Flamingo Books?

CE: We love funny picture books! We think books that are fun is the best way to make lifelong readers, so often the first thing we look for is humor. We love profound and heartfelt picture books, too, but I’d say a good majority of our books are funny!

RVC: Why is Flamingo Books a great fit for you?

CE: I love to do sweet and silly picture books that tackle big moments or emotions in a child’s life, as well as books that can teach a reader something new, but always with lots of humor and character. I love a funny book and I’m always looking for books that can be funny while still accomplishing other things. I think that humor is such an easy entry point for kids and reluctant readers. I truly believe that any kid who doesn’t like to read just hasn’t been introduced to the right books!

RVC: What does a typical workday look like for you?

CE: A lot of it is answering emails from other departments, looking at passes of books, fielding submissions, and, depending on the time of year, preparing materials for upcoming meetings.

RVC: What’s the most common misconception writers have about editors?

CE: I think some writers might feel like getting a lot of edits means their editor thinks that they’re not a good writer. Editing can take a lot of time and several rounds (some take 10 rounds or even more!). Sometimes we don’t notice something the first 5 times we read it. Or sometimes fixing one problem in the manuscript creates another. Having lots of edits is very normal and part of the process!

RVC: What’s your editing superpower? 

CE: Oh, I really don’t know! I guess I’m good at editing funny books?

RVC: Speaking of editing superpowers, you’ve had some real successes. Share what it’s like to find out a book you edited is on the New York Times bestseller list. 

CE: It is really really cool. Being on the NY Times list is not the end-​all-​be-​all of a book’s success by any means, but it’s definitely something that holds a lot of weight in the industry and it is so great to have one of your books succeed in that way. I think the coolest part is that books that land on that list are because of the work of so, so many of your colleagues who loved it. A book that you acquired and worked hard on, and launched to them, and hoped they would love as much as you do. Having a whole team to work hard with and celebrate with is really lovely!

RVC: I believe you worked on a book written by my friend, Michelle HoutsHopefully, the Scarecrow.

CE: Yes! I adore Hopefully the Scarecrow!

RVC: What grabbed you about that story? 

CE: Michelle’s voice throughout the story was what I instantly loved. It had this timelessness to it that felt like a book I could’ve read 50 years ago but also felt so current.

RVC: Your feeling on art notes?

CE: I LOVE how that book turned out. We waited a whole extra year just to have Sara Palacios illustrate and it was so worth the wait! That book is gorgeous and I sometimes just pop it open to stare at the art. It’s one of those book where the words and art really work together perfectly.

RVC: A lot of aspiring writers read OPB. Let’s help them out—offer some examples of “commercial and silly yet profound picture books” please!

CE: The Bad Seed series by Jory John and Pete Oswald, A Hungry Lion by Lucy Ruth Cummins, We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen, Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo, Something’s Wrong by Jory John and Erin Kraan.

RVC: Since COVID, I’ve made a point out of asking everyone a health and wellness action. Here’s yours. What do you do to de-stress?

CE: I like to cook, or exercise, or read a book for pleasure.

RVC: One final question for this part of the interview, Cheryl. If you had to summarize the most important thing you’ve learned about picture books, what would it be?

CE: I guess it would be that picture books have power. They can teach kids about empathy, friendship, loss, feelings, family, differences, etc. and can shape who they are as a person.

RVC: Okay, here we go. It’s the LIGHTNING ROUND. Zippy zoomy questions followed by zapptastically fast answers. Are you ready?

CE: Yes!

RVC: What “old person” thing do you do?

CE: I really like jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku.

RVC: If someone narrated your life, who would you want to be the narrator?

CE: Kathryn Hahn or Ayo Edebiri.

RVC: If you had a giraffe you needed to hide, where would you hide it?

CE: Under a blanket.

RVC: What are five things you couldn’t do your job without?

CE: A notebook, a laptop, post-​its, Diet Dr Pepper, Rhymezone.com

RVC: Who sets the standard for picture book rhymes?

CE: Anna Dewdney and Sandra Boynton.

RVC: What’s a favorite line from a picture book you edited?

CE: “Great job, Buffalo. Help yourself to some potato salad.” (From Porcupine & Cactus by Katie Frawley & Alex Willmore)

RVC: Thanks so much, Cheryl!

Picture Book List: 20 Heartwarming Books for Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air here at OPB, and we’re sharing that love with you via a wonderful list of heartwarming picture books.

If we missed one that makes your heart melt, please drop the name of that title in the comments. We always appreciate hearing what books you love!


A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Dan Santat (December 2014)

From Goodreads: “Even the crankiest monsters have hearts in this Valentine tale from fan favorite author Samantha Berger and Caldecott medalist illustrator Dan Santat.

Cheesy cards, allergy-​inducing bouquets, and heart-​shaped everything? YECHHHH! It’s enough to turn anyone into a monster! An ordinary kid becomes Crankenstein on the most lovey-​dovey, yuckiest day of the year: Valentine’s Day.

Can Crankenstein find a way to turn his sour day sweet? Can a monster find a little love in his heart? Find out in the monstrously funny A Crankenstein Valentine.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond (December 2006)

From Goodreads: “A creative and sweet story, perfect for Valentine’s Day, that helps open the hearts of young readers. From the beloved illustrator of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

One day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. She realizes that the hearts are perfect for making valentines. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to: her animal friends.

A fun way to spark creativity and thoughtfulness! The perfect book to pair with Valentine’s Day crafts.”

Pages: 36
Reading Age: 2–5


Hedgehugs by Lucy Tapper & Steve Wilson (September 2014)

From Goodreads: “Horace and Hattie are hedgehogs, and the very best of friends. Together, they make daisy chains, splash in puddles, and have tea parties. But there is one thing they can’t do—hug! They are just too spiky. Throughout the seasons, these two hedgehogs will try many different ways of hugging. But will Horace and Hattie find a hug that feels just right?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 1–4


Henry in Love by Peter McCarty (December 2009)

From Goodreads: “Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker.Then there’s Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to turn a spectacular cartwheel.

This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference.”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 2–7


I’ll Hold Your Hand by Maggie C. Rudd, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (February 2022)

From Goodreads: “This sweet picture book celebrates the unbreakable bond of a parent’s support for a child though life’s milestones, from learning to walk to the first day of school and all the highs and lows in between.

From the night you arrive to your first night away,
from learning to crawl to healing a broken heart,
and for all the highs and lows in between…
through every season, every challenge, and every joy, you are loved.

With sweet, lyrical text and stunning art, I’ll Hold Your Hand celebrates the unbreakable bond of family, and all the ways our actions can say “I love you” louder than words.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–6


The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-​Vriethoff (October 2018)

From Goodreads: “A picture book about the unbreakable connections between loved ones–updated with new illustrations and an afterword from the author.

A mother tells her two children that they’re all connected by an invisible string. “That’s impossible!” the children insist, but still they want to know more: “What kind of string?” The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away?”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 3–7


Kisses and Cuddles by Little Bee Books (December 2015)

From Goodreads: “A little penguin loves to do many things during his fun day, but nothing beats getting kisses and cuddles from his mama!

Follow a little penguin as he spends his day doing everything he loves–such as eating pancakes, playing with his toys, drinking hot chocolate, spotting rainbows, and more. But what does he love the most? Kisses and cuddles from his mama!”

Pages: 16
Reading Age: 1–4


Lilly’s Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes (December 2003)

From Goodreads: “Lilly loves her chocolate heart.
Will she save it?
Forever and ever?
What do you think?”

Pages: 24
Reading Age: 1–4


Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney (December 2014)

From Goodreads: “Beloved storyteller Anna Dewdney shows young children sweet ways to express their love on Valentine’s Day and all year round in Llama Llama I Love You!

With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-​length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.

In Llama Llama I Love You, little llama shows his friends and family how much he loves them with heart-​shaped cards and lots of hugs. What could be sweeter than Llama Llama on Valentine’s Day?”

Pages: 14
Reading Age: 1–3


Love Is My Favorite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark (August 2015)

From Goodreads: “Starring an enthusiastic pooch whose joy, optimism and love know no bounds, this lively picture book is based on Emma Chichester Clark’s own dog, and joyfully celebrates unconditional love.

Plum has lots of favorite things—catching sticks, her bear, her bed—but really, LOVE is her absolute favourite thing. She loves her family and all the things they do together. Sometimes, however, Plum’s exuberance causes trouble, and she just can’t help being naughty. But fortunately, love is such a great thing that even when she makes mistakes, Plum’s family still adores her.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6


The Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (October 2019)

From Goodreads: “Fall in love with this endearing and adorable picture book that illustrates how a little bit of heart goes a long way to making the world a better place.

Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel are best friends. One day, they each find a letter. But not just any letter…

A love letter.

My word!

My whiskers!

Aww, nuts!

Someone loves them. But who? The answer may surprise you!

Celebrated author Anika Aldamuy Denise and beloved illustrator Lucy Ruth Cummins deliver this heartwarming tale about a wonderful mix-​up that reminds us of the joys of friendship.

Makes for a perfect Valentine’s Day gift, or for any time you want to tell someone in your life how much you love them!”

Pages: 36
Reading Age: 1–5


Love Monster by Rachel Bright (December 2014)

From Goodreads: “Featuring the only Monster in Cutesville, LOVE MONSTER is a wonderfully warm and witty look at how sometimes, when you least expect it, love finds you… From a phenomenal picture book talent.

It can be tough being the only funny-​looking Monster in Cutesville, but this Monster is not one to hang around and feel sorry for himself, so he’s off – out into the big wide world to look for someone to love him.
He looks high, he looks low and he looks everywhere in-​between, but it’s only when he’s just about to give up that he finally finds what he is looking for…

Featuring an instantly charming main character who will appeal to children and adults alike, LOVE MONSTER is a warm and witty tale about the power of taking action from a terrific talent new to the HarperCollins list.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 1–4


Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Scott Magoon (August 2010)

From Goodreads: “Bernadette might seem like an ordinary monster, but sometimes she likes to do some very unmonsterlike things, like pick flowers. And pet kittens. And bake.

When the time comes for Bernadette to go to Monster Academy, she’s just a teensy bit nervous. Her classmates just don’t understand her. They’d rather uproot trees than sing friendship songs. And they prefer fried snail goo to Bernadette’s homemade cupcakes with sprinkles. Can Bernadette find a way to make friends at school and still be herself?”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 4–8


Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (December 2015)

From Goodreads: “Little Miss planted a kiss …

One small act of love blooms into something bigger and more dazzling than Little Miss could have ever imagined in this epic journey about life, kindness, and giving.

New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and award-​winning illustrator Peter H. Reynolds have teamed together for the first time, creating what may soon prove to be a perennial favorite.”

Pages: 36
Reading Age: 1–5


Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane deGroat (December 2022)

From Goodreads: “This Valentine’s Day favorite read-​aloud will prompt lots of giggles, as well as discussions on kindness and forgiveness.

Gilbert is all set to write fifteen friendly valentine cards to his classmates. But how can he write a nice poem for the boy who tweaked his nose, or the girl who made fun of his glasses? Instead, Gilbert writes two not-​so-​nice valentines…and signs the wrong name on both!

When his classmates read his poems, their feelings are hurt, and Gilbert’s prank quickly turns into pandemonium. But with the help of a friend and an honest apology, there’s always time for a change of heart on Valentine’s Day.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–7


The Runaway Valentine by Tina Casey, illustrated by Theresa Smythe (January 2001)

From Goodreads: “Victor has the glitziest glitter, the shiniest sparkles, and a special button that can play twenty different love songs! He’s the fanciest valentine in the card shop. That is, until he falls off the rack and gets swept into a dusty corner. And when he marches out of the shop and sets out on his own, he tatters his corners, frazzles his edges, and loses all his lace!But no matter what happens to him, one person after another finds that Victor is just what they were looking for. And through a wild Valentine’s Day journey he brings them all together — which, after all, is what valentines do best.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–6


Slugs in Love by Susan Pearson, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley (November 2012)

From Goodreads: “Marylou loves everything about Herbie—how his slime trail glistens in the dark, how he can stretch himself thin to squeeze inside the cellar window, and how he always finds the juiciest tomatoes. But Marylou is a shy slug. How can she get Herbie to notice her? Find out how Marylou woos her beloved in this must-​have love story that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day.”

Pages: 34
Reading Age: 4–7


This Is Not a Valentine by Carter Higgins, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (December 2017)

From Goodreads: “This book is not a valentine. It doesn’t have lacey edges or sugary hearts. But it is full of lucky rocks, secret hiding spots, and gumball machine treasures. This is a book about waiting in line and wishing for cinnamon buns. About recognizing that if you care so much about someone not thinking you care, maybe you really do. But wait—isn’t that exactly what love is about? Maybe this book is sort of a valentine after all. A testament to handmade, wacky, bashful, honest love—sure to win over the hearts of all readers—this offering from debut picture book author Carter Higgins and children’s book veteran Lucy Ruth Cummins is the perfect gift to celebrate every relationship, from parent to child, sibling to sibling, partner to partner, crush to crush.”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 5–8


Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck (March 2019)

From Goodreads: “Meet Tiny, a diminutive but determined T‑Rex in a big world, as he embraces all obstacles against him in his quest to learn how to hug.”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 2–5


Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato (January 2016)

From Goodreads: “Perfect for fans of And Tango Makes Three and The Sissy Duckling, this irresistible picture book is a celebration of love in all its splendid forms from debut author J. J. Austrian and the acclaimed author-​illustrator of Little Elliot, Big City, Mike Curato.

You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of a worm … and a worm.

When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next: They get married! But their friends want to know—who will wear the dress? And who will wear the tux?

The answer is: It doesn’t matter. Because Worm loves Worm.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7

 

Picture Book List: 13 Delightful A to Z Books

I’ve been hired to write an alphabet picture book for a community organization (Thanks, Realize Bradenton!), and as part of my research and prewriting process, I’ve inundated myself with dozens of A to Z books. To clear, I have A to Z, ABC, and abecedarian books coming out of my ears. Almost literally!

After reading them for three weeks straight, here’s what I’ve come to believe. The pedestrian ones teach you the ABCs, sure. But the best of them do so much more.

That’s what this bonus picture book list is–13 of the most interesting A to Zs that I found. (Why not 26? you ask, since there are 26 letters in an A to Z. after all. Good question. The answer is this: I’m doing 13. Maybe we’ll do another 13 in a future installment of “Delightful A to Z books.” Who knows?)

Without further ado …


The ABCs of D&D
by Ivan Van Norman and Caleb Cleveland

Talk about indoctrinating your kids while teaching the ABCS! At least D&D is now recognized as being good for you in a lot of ways beyond just plain being fun. (Here’s journalist Ethan Gildsdorf’s Tedx talk on the topic!)

 

AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis (Illustrated by Bob Kolar)

Kolar’s bright, lively letters pop off the page and make a great match with Kontis’ clever wordplay. And I must confess–with a last name that starts with V, I’m pleased that we end-​of-​alphabeters might get a chance to go near the front for once!

 

America: A Patriotic Primer
by Lynne Cheney (Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser)

In a time where the word “America” might not have the patriotic oomph it once did, this book does a splendid job of presenting historical facts, the Constitution, freedom, what it means to be an American, and far more. It’s a winner for teachers/​parents who want a picture book to help them take on topics like diversity and tenacity.

 

Animalicious: A Quirky ABC Book
by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan (Illustrated by Claudia Boldt)

The animals in this book are indeed quirky (and imaginary). For example, it’s not a “python” but a “piethon.” Lots of fun to be had here!

 

The Dangerous Alphabet
by Neil Gaiman (Illustrated by Gris Grimly)

I’m happy to include Neil Gaiman on pretty much any book list I make. Thankfully, he DOES have an ABC book and–to no one’s surprise–it’s strange, fun, and (kid-​appropriately) dark in equal measure. Gaiman warns that even the alphabet is not to be relied upon, which is part of the fun here. Check out a read-​aloud video of the whole book here.

 

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet
by Leslie McGuirk

So cool, so clever. The rocks don’t just look like letters–they also look like the things themselves. (N is for nose, and indeed, she’s got a terrific nose-​shaped stone to complement the word!)

 

M Is for Melody: A Music Alphabet
by Kathy-​jo Wargin (Illustrated by Katherine Larson)

This book is a lesson in both the ABCs and music, using instruments, composers, musical terminology, and even musical styles in read-​aloud rhymes. The informative sidebars are a plus!

 

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters
by Oliver Jeffers

While you probably know him as the illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit, he’s also authored this fine book which has each letter in the alphabet associated with a word or phrase. Then Jeffers offers a humorous story to pair with it. (Here’s an example: E is for enigma, so … “How many elephants can you fit inside an envelope?”)

 

P Is for Pterodactyl: “The Worst Alphabet Book Ever”
by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter (Illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia)

While this might not help young readers with their spelling, this clever book is a lot of fun for adult and kid readers. Not every word has that silent first letter, but it’s an amusing list of tricky words, regardless. I find the cartoony illustrations to add to–as The New York Times says–“a raucous trip through the odd corners of our alphabet.”

 

Q Is for Duck: An Alphabet Guessing Game
by Mary Elting and Michael Folsom (Illustrated by Jack Kent)

This book has a mix of very easy (A is for Zoo–why?) to not-​so-​easy riddles (S is for camel–why? They spit!) for kids to solve using the letters of the alphabet as a jumping off point. Many of my K and 1st grade teacher friends use this one in class.

 

Superhero ABC
by Bob McLeod

This book really leans into the letter aspect, with entries such as “Laughing Lass, who laughs loudly at lawbreakers!” The comic-​book style art is a nice touch, too.

 

What Pete Ate from A — Z
by Maira Kalman

The alliteration is over the top, but deliciously so as Pete the dog gobbles up anything he can, from an accordion to when he “ripped the head off my dear doll Dinky.” It’s told from a child’s point of view, which adds another level to the fine book.

  Z Is for Moose
by Kelly Bingham (Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky)

I love this book. Poor, serious Zebra wants a simple ABC here, but Moose has other ideas. When M goes to a mouse, however, Moose throws a tantrum and rampages through the rest of the book. Don’t worry–it all comes together in the end. Z Is for Moose is silly, irreverent, and very memorable, too.