--- title: New Picture Book Teaches the ABCs and Virtue description: "Taryn DeLong reviews Alphabet by Heart: Kindness A to Z, by Jeanne and Mark K. Shriver." image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20240418%20TDeLong%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/new-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # New Picture Book Teaches the ABCs and Virtue Apr 18, 2024 10:00:00 AM  |  by [Taryn DeLong](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/taryn-oesch-delong) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20240418%20TDeLong%201.png) *Taryn DeLong reviews* Alphabet by Heart: Kindness A to Z *by Jeanne and Mark K. Shriver.** * --- I’ve started dipping my toe into homeschooling. My daughter is early preschool-age, so our “school” looks like 30 to 60 minutes (sometimes consecutive, often not) of themed storytime and activities. I studied education in college, though I never taught, and I’m finding myself putting my “teacher hat” back on. And I’m always on the lookout for books that teach in an engaging and beautiful way.   [*Alphabet by Heart: Kindness A to Z*](https://www.4u2bbooksandmedia.com/bookshelf/alphabet-by-heart/) is a forthcoming (June 18, 2024) book from 4U2B Books & Media, an imprint of Loyola Press. It’s written by Jeanne and Mark K. Shriver, a married couple with three children. It’s illustrated by Laura Watson, a children’s illustrator, wife, and mother. My daughter loves books and the alphabet, so I was eager to see what we both thought of this ABC book.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alphabet%20by%20Heart.jpg?width=1500&height=1500&name=Alphabet%20by%20Heart.jpg)   After reading [*Alphabet by Heart*](https://www.4u2bbooksandmedia.com/bookshelf/alphabet-by-heart/) together, I think we’d both recommend it to parents and young children. Each page is dedicated to a letter and a four-line rhyme highlighting a value, virtue, or behavior. For example, “E” is for empathy.   These concepts are not easy ones to explain, especially in rhyme for young children. I was impressed at how well the Shrivers were able to distill them in these pages. The illustrations are colorful and full of joy, representing a diverse group of people (including children with visible disabilities).   In addition to sparking valuable conversations about virtue, the book will also help with alphabet instruction. In addition to the life lesson each letter highlights, the illustrations portray other words that begin with the letter featured on the page. “B” is for “believe in yourself,” but it’s also for “basketball.”   As our children grow older, I’m excited to have this book to teach the alphabet and character in conjunction. Right now, it’s a fun way to practice rhyming and find objects that start with different letters. (In fact, the Shrivers don’t make the mistake many children’s authors make of writing awkward rhymes; they flow right off the tongue.) Later, it’ll be an (also fun) way to have conversations about the way God expects us to treat other people—and ourselves, too.   Recommended for parents of children learning about virtue, character, the alphabet, and rhyming!  Ask for *Alphabet by Heart* at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from [**Amazon.com**](https://www.amazon.com/Alphabet-Heart-Jeanne-Shriver/dp/0829454837/) or the publisher, **[4U2B Books & Media](https://www.4u2bbooksandmedia.com/bookshelf/alphabet-by-heart/).**   **![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20240418%20TDeLong%20BOOK.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20240418%20TDeLong%20BOOK.png)**   Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles. --- Copyright 2024 Taryn DeLong Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=New%20Picture%20Book%20Teaches%20the%20ABCs%20and%20Virtue) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-teaches-the-abcs-and-virtue%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Taryn DeLong](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Taryn%20DeLong%202024.jpg) ### [Taryn DeLong](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/taryn-oesch-delong) [Taryn DeLong](https://everydayroses.blog/) is co-president of [Catholic Women in Business](https://catholicwomeninbusiness.com/), a small media company that helps Catholic women integrate their faith and their vocation to business. She is also co-author of [Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home](https://catholicwomeninbusiness.com/holy-ambition) (Ave Maria Press, 2024). She lives outside Raleigh, NC with her husband and their little girls. Follow her on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarynmdelong/) or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/tarynmdelong/). [**](https://www.facebook.com/everydayroses) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-delong-72346a20/) [**](https://twitter.com/tarynmdelong/) ## Related Blog Articles [ No Imposters in the Kingdom of God Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/no-imposters-in-the-kingdom-of-god) [ You Are That Temple Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/you-are-that-temple) [ BYOB Bible Study: Bring Your Own Baby Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/byob-bible-study-bring-your-own-baby) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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