Hello everyone,

I recently discovered Donna Botteen, a children’s author whose debut picture book Caring Critters and the Alphabet They Share pairs each letter A–Z with a charming animal and a meaningful value, from Ava Antelope’s Apology to Zelda Zebra’s Zest. Designed for ages 3–8, the book beautifully blends learning the alphabet with early emotional intelligence lessons like kindness and empathy. It even includes a fun “Tell Your Story” section to spark family conversations.

Have any of you read this book or shared it with young readers? I’d love to hear:

Which animal-value pair resonated most with your kids or students?
Ideas for ways to expand on the themes while reading together (like crafts or discussion prompts).
Other children’s books that creatively teach values and emotional awareness.
If you're curious to learn more about Donna Botteen’s inspiration or her mission in writing, you can visit her site