Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet
Margot Bain
Little Steps Publishing (2026)
ISBN: 978-1923306431
Reviewed by Courtney Lowry for Reader Views (09/2026)
Margot Bain’s Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet is acolorful and exciting picture book that takes readers on a journey from A – Z. A book dedicated to Ms. Bain’s grandchildren, as well as all children, Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet follows Grandma Gogo through each letter of the alphabet. This book teaches readers about the importance of kindness, honesty, caring for others, and living a healthy lifestyle. Each page is equipped with large watercolor letters, illustrations of Grandma Gogo and young kids, as well as other grandparents, and one sentence describing what each letter stands for. This book is timely, in that most children are glued to electronics and don’t have much of a social life these days. But in Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet, all of the kids are laughing, playing, and enjoying life.
Each page is consistent in tone of voice: upbeat, encouraging, and hopeful.
A strong aspect of Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet are the watercolor-style illustrations, created by Hiruni Kariyawasam. It is clear that a lot of time and care went into making each letter of the alphabet. A page that stuck out to me was the O page. It states, “O is Open minded listening to different music and melodies.” It’s a beautiful page with an orange trim, a girl with her dog sitting with red headphones on listening to music, and an owl in the O. Not only is this page well illustrated, cute, and inviting, it can also be a teaching moment for grownups to explain what being open-minded means. This can help young readers grasp the concept of being accepting of others and things that they have yet to be exposed to, like new music.
On the F page, Ms. Bain explains that all big feelings are valid. Not having any feelings at all is valid, too. This book also shows readers that gratitude and physical affection, like giving hugs, goes a long way. It also teaches about mindfulness, being nice, and understanding.
Another standout page is the V page, This one has a red-orange trim, similar to the color of the larger and smaller fox that are in front of a bush as Grandma Gogo and a young kid are onlooking. This page says, “V is for Valued because your friends and family need you.” In our current climate, kids are feeling like they don’t matter and have no value. Between bullying, whether online or in person, social media, and not having solid role models to look up to, kids are struggling early on with their mental health. However, this page can uplift a young reader that is having a hard time. Just one look at this page can bring a new light to a child’s life that they didn’t have before.
Grandma Gogo’s Alphabet is not just a book where readers can learn their ABCs. It’s a book that expresses the significance of rest, loving one another, and building self-esteem.
At a Glance: This children’s alphabet picture book pairs ABC learning with social-emotional lessons about compassion, self-worth, mindfulness, healthy habits, and positive relationships. Its cheerful approach encourages children to explore everyday values alongside early literacy skills.
Best for Readers Who Enjoy: alphabet picture books, social-emotional learning, books about kindness, preschool learning, positive values for kids, mindfulness for children, self-esteem books, grandparent-themed stories