When we are working on specific target letter sounds especially with students who need extra assistance with speech, alliteration books for kids can be quite handy.
Recognizing and generating alliteration is one of the pieces of phonological awareness that is important to have in place for pre-readers. These books will help build phonological awareness.
Books That Focus on Specific Sounds
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Books That Highlight a Particular Sound
B is for Baby by Atinuke is filled with words that start with “B” from baby to Bougainvillea. Also check Atinuke’s book, L is for Love which focuses on “L” words.
What would you put on your pizza? Perhaps all foods that begin with the letter “p?” Enjoy this fun read-aloud, Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by James Dean.
And, I’ve got activities to use with the book too.—> Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party Book Activities
Another book to use for the target /p/ is Piglette’s Perfect Surprise by Katelyn Aronson. Polish your French accent to add to this delectable tale set in Paris. Piglette is in search of the perfect birthday present and goes to great lengths to find it. But, it turns out that the perfect things are usually the most simple.
And, here’s another one for /p/. King Liam is well-known for his over the top meltdowns. After King Liam has a dream that something that begins with “P” will ruin his party, he starts banning all things beginning with the letter. But, after banishing everything including people, he realizes he’s pretty lonely. Will he be able to figure out the pesky “P” thing and save his birthday? Pucker up your /p/ sound for a comical romp in It Started with a P by Brittany Pomales.
Can you tell a whole story with words that begin with the letter s? Why yes you can in Summer Supper by Rubin Pfeffer. Head to the garden and get reading for a summer supper.
Take a letter stroll by the sea in Seaside Stroll by Charles Trevino. This book has beautiful wintry beach illustrations to match all those s words that will roll off your tongue. Perfect for talking about adjectives too.
How many animals can you name that begin with s? You’ll meet many of them in Some Smug Slug by Pamela Duncan Edwards. Lots of s words particularly many with the sl blend.
What would happen if the letters Q and U stopped working together as a pair. In Q and U Call it Quits by Stef Wade they do just that at least for a little bit. But, you know Q and U are meant to be together in the end.
Look by Fiona Woodcock focuses on words with the double o in them such as boots, bamboo, and book. Each word is cleverly illustrated.
Woodcock also has Hello which features words with a double ls.
Work on the vowel sound you hear in tune and swoon in Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune by Helen and Thomas Docherty.
The Goat and the Stoat and the Boat by Em Lynas gives a whole lot of practice with the long o sound spelled oa. Join Goat and Stoat in a boat near a moat.
Books with More Alliteration
This cumulative tale takes us to the forest and starts with a mischievous mouse and quickly snowballs into a very loud day in the forest. So many early literacy opportunities in this one! Check out The Quiet Forest by Charlotte Offsay.
And, don’t miss these activities I created to go with the book too.—> The Quiet Forest Book Activities
Graphic novel + alliteration = a whole lot of fun in Betty’s Burgled Bakery by Travis Nichols. Can the detectives find who took the pilfered pastries?
In Potluck by Anne Shelby, everyone is coming to a potluck and each guest must bring an item that begins with the first letter of their name. This is an older book that might be harder to find, but it is worth it.
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod has you blasting off into alliteration-filled text as each page focuses on a superhero of the alphabet. From A for Astro-Man to W for Water Woman.
Collect a load of alliteration trash in I Stink! by the McMullans. Travel through the alphabet and collect some puppy poop and rotten radishes. Yep, it’s a stinky load.
More Books That Focus on Letters or Spelling Patterns
A baby bird is getting ready to fly in Wings by Cheryl B. Klein and the book is cleverly told with lots of ing words. Plus, it’s illustrated by the one and only, Tomie dePaola.
Beware! by Bob Raczka uses only 5 letters. a,b,e,r and w, to create words for the entire story. So clever!
The B On Your Thumb by Colette Hiller and Tor Freeman takes a playful look at all those odd letter sounds and spellings. In fact, there are over 60 poems to illustrate things like the ough sound in the poem, “Enough of Uff” and homophones in “A Whole Donut.” And, then there is the “7 Secret Animals” highlighting the seven animal words inside bigger words like lion in million.
Printable Alliteration and Targeted Sound Book List
Grab a printable list of the books above.
More Resources You Might Like
Renee Andzrejewski says
THank you for your book list on alliteration. I am a school Librarian and I I use the allilteration books with my third and fourth grader students. THey have to guess how many words start with the featured letter (example: the letter s in some smug slug). I give them scrap paper to help them figure it out. THis is great for developing listening skills. The students with the answer or nearest to it receive a prize.
Jodie Rodriguez says
I’m so glad the list is helpful to you and your students. I love your listening activity idea.
Elizabeth S Harding says
Thank you for the List. I am a speech-Language pathologist. Lists like these are so helpful to me.
“A Hippo For Harleigh” by Karen Arnold is a super book that fits into this category. filled with /h/ sounds. love the illustrations. And, it is a story about a hippo who gets over his fear of visiting the doctor’s, a story that is helpful to have in these covid times.
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thanks so much, Elizabeth