Eating the Alphabet does exactly what it sets out to do: teach letters through food. The illustrations are genuinely lovely—Ehlert's bold watercolors make even rutabagas look appealing—and the glossary adds educational depth.

But let's be real: this is a very young book. There's no story, no characters, no plot. You flip through, point at produce, say the names, and you're done. It's a solid tool for alphabet learning and vocabulary building, especially if you're trying to get a toddler excited about vegetables.

The 1996 design holds up reasonably well, though it doesn't have the modern polish of newer board books. It's a classic for a reason, but it's also a book with a very narrow age window. Once your kid knows their letters, this goes on the donation pile.