What age is Animalphabet best for?

Ages 2-6. Toddlers enjoy the flaps and animal pictures. Preschoolers engage with the rhyming riddles and letter recognition. Older kids may find it too simple.

Who illustrated Animalphabet?

Sharon King-Chai illustrated Animalphabet, not Axel Scheffler (who usually works with Julia Donaldson). King-Chai's bold, graphic style won the 2018 Chen Bochui Award.

Is Animalphabet a lift-the-flap book?

Yes. Each page has a flap that reveals the answer to a rhyming animal riddle. The flaps are paper rather than board, so they can tear with rough handling.

What makes Animalphabet different from other alphabet books?

It combines alphabet learning with a guessing game. Each animal is compared to the previous one ("who is BIGGER," "who is CURLY"), teaching adjectives alongside letters. The artwork is also more sophisticated than typical alphabet books.

Is there a board book version of Animalphabet?

No. Animalphabet is only available as a hardcover with paper flaps. If you need something more durable for very young toddlers, Julia Donaldson's board book editions of other titles may be better.

Can Animalphabet be used in classrooms?

Yes. Teachers use it for alphabet recognition, vocabulary building (adjectives and animal names), and prediction activities. The guessing game format works well for group read-alouds.

Blog - Page 7 of 7 - The Books Review

Book Reviews · Oct 9, 2025

Book Review: Animalphabet

Animalphabet by Julia Donaldson and Sharon King-Chai is a lift-the-flap alphabet book with stunning artwork and clever rhyming riddles. Best...

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