Gigglet and Wigglet’s Alphabet Hop! transforms learning the alphabet into a colorful, movement-filled adventure that invites young readers to say, dance, laugh, and hop their way from A to Z. What inspired you to turn the alphabet into such an active, movement-based experience?

As we all know, children don’t just learn with their eyes, they learn with their entire bodies. Traditional alphabet books are wonderful, but I wanted to tap into the natural energy of young kids and bridge the gap between reading and physical play. Growing up, I never sat still long enough to read a single sentence, let alone an entire book! I was intensely energetic and active, and I would much rather have been playing outside than sitting still in a classroom.

By turning letters into active movements, we use gross motor skills to help anchor cognitive learning. When kids are hopping, giggling, wiggling, and dancing their way from A to Z, learning the alphabet stops feeling like a lesson and becomes pure fun. That joyful association is the best way to spark a lifelong love of reading.

How did you choose the words, settings, and activities that represent each letter of the alphabet?

Honestly, I just tapped into my inner big kid! When I was brainstorming, I asked myself: If I were diving into an alphabet adventure right now, what would I want to see, where would I go and where would my imagination take me? When I have readings at schools and events, I always ask the kids what they want to see as well. They have great imaginations and sometimes it’s up to us as adults to help them unlock and explore their creative mindset.

My extremely talented Illustrator and I wanted the settings and activities to jump off the page and to feel alive and playful. But beyond that, we paid a lot of attention to the pure joy of language, specifically, which words are just plain fun to say out loud, especially when you repeat them three times. For example, saying ‘yo-yo’ three times fast is so fun; we dare anyone to try it without giggling! That kind of playful rhythm is what makes the alphabet stick in a child’s mind well after they have closed the physical book.

What led you to include the “Alphabet Hop” dance and QR code as part of the reading experience?

Books don’t have to stay flat on the page anymore. I wanted to build a bridge between traditional reading and the digital world that kids love today, while keeping them physically active.

The QR code brings the ‘Alphabet Hop’ dance to life right on screen, giving little ones a guide to match the physical actions in the book. It transforms storytime into an interactive, whole-body experience where parents, guardians, teachers and kids can dance and laugh together. When reading feels like an event, it creates memories that make kids want to pick up a book again and again.

I didn’t have anything like this growing up, and I think I would have loved to learn the alphabet in such a fun, interactive way. I want kids to feel empowered and excited about coming up with their own dance moves to the bouncy rhythm. Ultimately, I hope it encourages children to collaborate, spark new friendships, and have fun creating something together.

Why was it important to include an English-Spanish vocabulary chart at the end of the book?

Language learning was a huge part of my upbringing, my parents and teachers always encouraged us to explore other languages. Plus, during my background as an opera singer, I had the incredible joy of learning and performing in multiple languages, and Spanish has always been an absolute favorite of mine.

There is such a profound sense of joy, pride, and connection when you can interact with others in their native tongue. Because I do a lot of readings in predominantly Spanish-speaking areas, I wanted to ensure those communities felt included and celebrated right on the page. Ultimately, providing this resource is about giving kids an approachable way to discover another language and supporting childhood literacy for families who might not otherwise have access to beginner bilingual tools.

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