What Letter Shall We Look At Today? - A Review

Open Shelf recently read What Letter Shall We Look At Today? by Carla Gunn. Here's our review.

What Letter Shall We Look At Today? is available HERE.

What Letter Shall We Look At Today? is built on a simple but clever three-part premise. Each letter of the alphabet introduces a short tale featuring an animal whose name, character, and emotion all begin with that letter - from Ava the Angry Alligator right through to Zena the Zigzag-Loving Zebra. The alliteration is playful and memorable, giving each story a lively rhythm that children instantly connect with.

But this isn’t just an A–Z of animals. Each story carries a gentle emotional message, helping children recognise feelings in a way that is accessible, reassuring, and never heavy-handed. The book goes beyond naming emotions, it encourages reflection, conversation, and emotional awareness in a way that feels natural. The questions woven into each story invite children to pause, think, and talk, turning reading time into shared discovery rather than passive listening.

The illustrations are bright, expressive, and full of personality, perfectly matching the warm, intentional tone of the writing. They add charm to every page and help younger readers engage with the emotions being explored.

Every chapter ends with simple, easy-to-understand activities or exploratory ideas. These are practical without being prescriptive, making the book a useful tool for parents, carers, teachers, and especially children who benefit from clear emotional guidance. The book gently shows how emotions affect both us and the people around us, and will no doubt be of particular benefit to anyone that finds that more challenging.

What stands out most is how wholesome and thoughtful the whole experience feels. It’s fun, it’s engaging, and it’s intentionally crafted to support emotional development while still being a joy to read. Whether used at bedtime, in the classroom, or as a quick “pick a letter” moment, What Letter Shall We Look At Today? is a delightful, meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf.

I normally try and pick out a focus point in a book but that’s quite hard when the chapters are designed in such a balanced way, with an alphabet theme. I do especially like the expression of Glen the Grumpy Goat, and love the concept of an Unimpressed Urchin!

Overall, this is a gentle and charming story book that can easily be used as just that but is also equipped to offer more. It makes great use of colour, with easy to identify animal drawings and no real clutter. The brief exercises give it an extra depth.

You can find What Letter Shall We Look At Today? HERE.

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