A Is For Annabelle

by Tasha Tudor

Annabelle, a doll, and her cloak, dresses, earrings, fan, gloves, hat, jacket, kerchief, locket, parasol, quilt, slippers, umbrella, veil, watch, and zither represent each letter of the alphabet

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Art, Poetry, Young Adult, Classics

Library Binding

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Tasha Tudor was an American illustrator and author of children's books.

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely alphabet book about an old-fashioned doll and her wardrobe. I would have adored this as a child but I grew up to love the world of Tom Tierney anyway.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rhyming alphabet book about two little girls playing with their grandmother's doll, Annabelle. The letters are for her accessories, such as cloak, dresses, earrings, fan, etc. Color spreads alternate with black-and-white ones.

I love Tasha Tudor and her old-fashioned charm. Only Tasha Tudor would write "N is for Nosegay" and "T is Tippet." And the illustrations are lovely and detailed, as usual.

The only problem is that my kids were bored with it. It was a little old for my 15-month-old baby, and my four-year-old boy wasn't really interested at all. Maybe I'll try again with my baby girl in a few years. This would be the perfect book for a little girl (or grown-up girl) interested in dolls or anything old-fashioned.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just rediscovered this book. It was one of my favorite books as a child--I loved the sweet illustrations and all Annabelle's pretty things.

[LizthePrude · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend gave this to me and I love it (and so does Rose). It's a very feminine Victorian ABC book. Annabelle is a doll and cute little girls dress her up in different attire that start with the letters of the alphabet! If your girls love to play dress up then you can bet they'd love this book. The pictures are beautiful too (Rose loves looking at all of them and so do I).

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a non-girly girl I loved perusing this one long after I outgrew ABC books. Today my 4 year old daughter is similarly enchanted. I think the detail of this Victorian doll's trousseau is echoed in the many accessories of the modern "American Girl" doll collection, but Grandmother's Annabelle is the real thing, precious and rare and loved through the generations, not pricey plastic!

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5🌟 Sweet and lovely book with wonderfully charming illustrations. Perfect for learning the alphabet for children and such a treat to admire the artwork as an adult.

[Annabelle Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents bought this book before I was born. When I saw it on the bookshelf the first time, I was surprised because my name was on it. I always thought that the Annabelle doll was scary, but in this book, Annabelle is very pretty and gentle. My dad says that when I grow up, I can have the book. This book is good for kids. It teaches you the alphabet, and it is also good for kids that love dolls. I think that everyone should read this book, A is for Annabelle.

[Jasmine Shadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how seeing the cover of this book brought back so many wonderful memories. I don't care if her books are considered children's books. I enjoy every one of them that I have read. I think she was one delightful person, and I wish that I could have met her. She wore the face of kindness and grace and it is reflected in every children's book she authored and/or illustrated. Wish that more authors had such gentleness in their illustrations and such character in her writings. Even the very youngest of children need exposure to character and beauty and grace. This is what I see reflected in these books for some of the very young.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were all delighted with this one. My son loved it as much as the girls.

[Julia Roper · Rating 4 out of 5]

every gentlewoman should have this, but preferably, a print copy

If one cannot, alas, have an Annabelle (so dainty! so dignified!) of one’s own (oh, the Earrings—so quaint and so small! oh, the Overskirt, worn with such grace!), having the two dimensional version is a delicious pleasure. Sadly, the Kindle version is in two page spreads: great for narrative flow of the quaint couplets, but very small on the iPad when one wants to appreciate every detail of ruffles and garlands. If I could figure out how to enlarge the very beautifully reproduced pages, I would give this six stars.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quaint little book that explores the alphabet as two little girls dress their old fashioned doll in all sorts of accessories, each one representing a letter of the alphabet. Only 'x' doesn't have an object - the author writes "X is the letter for which I've no rhyme". Love when authors write quirky lines here and there. Beautifully illustrated in both black & white and colour, the former appearing as if just sketched with a pencil.

[Rachel Behrends · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely alphabet book teaches children their letters using a poem with flowing rhymes. Tasha Tudor always has wonderful illustrations as well. This is a top-notch alphabet book for little girls. Each letter is the first thing to appear on the page, and then a word starting with said letter also appears. For example: "A is for Annabelle Grandmother's doll."

[Ariel Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feminine little rhyming book about a doll and her beautiful things. I loved this when I was young, especially seeing all of the tiny pieces of clothing and accessories of Annabelle. Now I’m gifting it to a friend who is having a baby girl named Annabelle.

[Books, Brews & Booze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised by this book! I’m reading or re-reading my Tasha Tudor books before my first meeting as the chapter leader of a Tasha Tudor Society chapter.

Of course the illustrations are lovely, that’s just a given. But the alphabetical rhyme was fun and the rhyme for X is my favorite! 😂

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book for doll lovers! Annabelle’s Victorian wardrobe and accessories are used to tie the alphabet to play. While I wish more of the illustrations were in color, my love for Tasha Tudor is unwavering.

[Velvet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m on a childhood book reading kick and this was another favorite. Although now it seems a little old fashioned. There are some words used that are not common in today’s world. I like the illustrations though and I always thought the doll in the story seemed so fun! I wanted one like her.

[BC Batcheshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty alphabet book. A good choice for learning readers who like dolls.

[Hannah Degn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great darling read (aka gift!) for new mothers!

[Francesca Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read “A is for Annabelle” to my daughters countless times. It is a charming little book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful old fashioned illustrations, I probably enjoyed them more than my daughter.

[Madame Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this is the Tudor that I like.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little picture book. I read it in first grade and love revisiting it. The art is an absolute charm.

[Sarah Huebner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child! It is so sweet.

[Yumi Learner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my painting hints and not to read.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book is ever borrowed from the Diviine Savior school library. Recently, I purchased a brand new hardcover version of this book, and I greatly enjoyed reading and turning every page! Tasha Tudor presents her beautiful watercolors in this book, and they are something I have always remembered since first reading this book in the 1960s. The story is fun, and the illustrations are pretty. 💥 Recommended.

📗 Media form: Read from the school library.

[Jennifer Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the loveliest of Tasha Tudor's books, in my opinion. I have bought a dozen copies of it and love giving it to friends who are having baby girls. It's such a pretty, girly way to learn the alphabet.

[Jenna's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenna really liked this book. It is about two little girls who play with Gradmother's little doll. Each letter of the alphabet tells of one of Annabelle's old-fashioned garments. The illustrations were very nice.

[Mary Sesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about two little girls who find grandmothers doll Annabelle. The book goes through the alphabet naming off different things that has to do with the doll.
This book is great for learning the alphabet but can also give the students a sense of rhyme.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a lover of dolls, if you are a mom or grandmother with a little girl to whom you love to read aloud ... this is a book for you. Charmingly illustrated and rhymed. I can remember this book from my growing-up years, and that is a long way back.

[Terri Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first and favorite alphabet book! Learn to read and learn about antique dolls at the same time. Absolutely the most gorgeous pictures ever, from one of the most prolific children's writers of all times. I love Tasha Tudor!