Alphabet city

Building a book corner in any toyshop usually begins with a solid foundation in the basics: plenty of appealing, eye-catching titles that can intrigue even the youngest readers and teach them to love language. And we've come a long way since Dick and Jane's simple, sweet story lines. Kids and parents will be captivated by these new, oh-so-clever ABC picture books that—to the letter—transform early reading into a fantastical monster mash, a heroic fire rescue, a madcap stage production, a multicultural adventure, a journey into the far reaches of space and much, much more.

Dr. Seuss would be so proud. In Tony DiTerlizzi's hilariously detailed G is for One Gzonk! An Alpha-Number-Bet Book, the award-winning illustrator (along with alter-ego Tiny DiTerlooney) create a cast of imaginary creatures inspired by each letter of the alphabet, from the Angry Ack to the Zanderiffic Zibble Zook. ($16.95) Simon & Schuster, New York.

In Audrey and Bruce Wood's Alphabet Rescue, the latest in their popular alphabet series, the little lowercase letters vacation to their hometown, fix up an old fire truck and save the day by putting out a fire at the letter factory where they were born. Vibrant, 3-D digital artwork highlights each page; kids will also enjoy the spelling puzzles sprinkled throughout. ($15.99) Scholastic, New York.

Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet, by Matt Napier, the son of a former National Hockey League player, is a great bet for boys just learning letters, and for hockey fans of any age. Features fun facts about the sport plus bright paintings of professional players as well as kids. ($19.95) Sleeping Bear Press, New York.

Alpha Oops! The Day Z Went First, by Althea Kontis and illustrated by Bob Kolar, shows the importance of learning the ABCs—and their proper order—with an alphabet performance gone awry. Through stylized, whimsical digital artwork, the spirited letters act out on stage and off in ways both funny and educational, though A gets the last word. ($15.99) Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass.

Inside each of the 26 envelopes included in the kid-friendly Lots of Letters: An ABC Book, by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry, there is a different full-page letter to open up and read for a truly hands-on, interactive reading experience. Each letter contains a unique, alliterative message to kids and (for an extra treat) comes packed with clues for a hunt-and-find word adventure in the colorful illustrations. ($15.99) Innovative Kids, Norwalk, Conn.

Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book, by Jeanette Winter, new in paperback this fall, features both a tale told in English based on a family's preparations for the Mexican/Mexican-American celebration of el Dia de los Muertos, as well as a complete alphabet book of Spanish words. Each page bursts with striking illustrations done in an usual and delightful style inspired by Mexican folk art. Also includes an English-Spanish glossary and information about other Mexican festivals. ($6.00) Voyager Books (Harcourt), New York.

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet, by David McLimans, will intrigue readers of all ages with its bold, black-and-white graphic letter forms evoking a representation of each animal. Simultaneously a charming ABC primer, sophisticated design portfolio and science text rolled into one, the book includes the scientific name, class and habitat of each animal plus a supplemental index and resource list for learning more about the plight of endangered species. ($16.95) Walker & Company, New York

Amid vintage illustrations and contemporary photographs, A is for Astronaut: Exploring Space from A to Z matches each letter of the alphabet to several space themes, such as H for Hubble Space Telescope, Halley's Comet and Ham, the first chimp in space; and W for World Space Week, Weightlessness and the Wright Brothers. Fun space facts and history are also included on each page. ($14.95) Chronicle Books, New York