This alphabet book is bound to inspire movement. Families can make a set of alphabet cards to keep on hand for helping children recognize the letter shapes made by the bodies in the book. Adults can help keep children engaged in this book by encouraging them to find the objects (see key on last page) that begin with each letter and act out the suggested movements sprinkled between alphabet letters.

After reading the book, children will likely want to try making some of the letters with their bodies.  Some letters can be easily made, but it can be fun to try the harder ones, even if children simply end up falling over and rolling on the floor. Agile adults and older siblings might want to join in as well!

A less active follow-up game involves both alphabet recognition and remembering and can be played with any alphabet book. Close the book and take turns asking, e.g., “What object was on the letter F page?  Then turn to the page to check. 

Demonstrate with families how to discuss the pictures on each page of this alphabet book and relate them to the child’s world. The talk may include people in the child’s community who have some of the jobs shown or who drive the types of vehicles that are pictured. Perhaps the family enjoys going to car races, has seen a car towed, or watched large construction vehicles work on buildings or roads. There may be an ice cream truck that drives through the child’s neighborhood or horse and carriage rides enjoyed at a carnival in the past. As the adult shares this book with the child, he or she can point out the alphabet uppercase and lowercase letters and show the letter in the word on the page. Children will recognize that letters have sounds and make words. 

Often, when adults read to children, they are surprised by how observant children can be. This book lends itself to an observation adventure, as there is so much detail in each illustration. Adults can use this feature as an opportunity to hear what interests their child, and to build and expand their child’s vocabulary. Prior to reading, ask adults to look through the pages of the book and take in the detail of each illustration, thinking about the activity the critters are doing, the highlighted month of the year, and the letter of the alphabet being featured. Can they predict what questions their children might ask on each page and what specific things might catch their eyes? Under which month of the year do some of their children’s favorite activities fit? After reading, adults can ask their children to think about one of the activities they saw the critters doing that they might like to try. It might be fun to write some of these activities next to the appropriate month on the family calendar as a reminder.

Reading Alphabet Everywhere will help children learn letter names and increase visualization of these letters. A family might enjoy taking an indoor or outdoor ABC treasure hunt, trying to spot as many letters as they can in unusual places. Using cell phones or cameras, "letter" pictures can be taken and uploaded to family web pages or printed to create a "Family ABC" book.

Talk with families about the value of children having alphabet books. These books help children learn both letter names and letter sounds. Families can look for special letters in the book, such as the ones that spell their child’s name. Encourage families to think about other words that start with those letters. In the book, the letter Mm stands for “mix.” A fun activity for families could be mixing some bread, pretzel, or cookie dough together, and then shaping the dough into the letters of their child’s name. Bake the mix for a treat you can "Ee for eat!”

Explain to families that having a variety of alphabet books that children enjoy rereading is important for providing children opportunities to identify letters and practice letter sounds.