David J. Dogterom launches interactive alphabet picture book for young readers

David J. Dogterom has released My Friends in the Alphabet Zoo, an interactive picture book that uses rhymes, hidden-letter games and animal characters to help preschoolers and early readers build early literacy skills. The book is now available through major booksellers and online retailers.

Why it matters: - My Friends in the Alphabet Zoo turns early reading practice into a game-like experience for preschoolers and beginning readers. - The book is designed to support letter recognition, vocabulary building, observation skills and early problem-solving. - Parents and educators get a picture book that combines literacy lessons with interactive play.

What happened: - Author David J. Dogterom released My Friends in the Alphabet Zoo in June 2026. - The book introduces alphabet learning through rhyming animal characters such as Ally the Alligator, Bradley the Buffalo and Daniel the Donkey. - The book is available for order at major booksellers and online retailers.

The details: - Each page pairs a rhyme with activities that ask children to search for hidden letters and spot hidden objects. - The book is aimed at preschoolers, early readers, parents and educators. - Dogterom said the project reflects his long-running interest in poetry and children’s stories. - Dogterom grew up on a farm east of Lethbridge, Alberta, and was encouraged by a high school English teacher to "write everything and anything." - In 1990, while living in London, Ontario, Dogterom wrote a series of Christmas stories and the original rhymes for the alphabet book. - The manuscript was lost for more than 30 years before it was rediscovered in January 2026. - Dogterom then moved forward with illustrations and publication.

Between the lines: - The book’s backstory adds a personal, long-delayed origin to a simple literacy concept. - The rediscovered manuscript gives the release a built-in narrative of persistence and revival. - Dogterom’s approach fits a broader trend in early childhood publishing that blends reading with interactive discovery.

What's next: - Dogterom said readers can expect more books ahead, including festive Christmas poems. - Future projects will likely extend the same playful style to new seasonal themes. - Dogterom currently lives in Kamloops, British Columbia, with his wife Donna and their two dogs, Milo and Zoey. - He also spends time golfing, woodworking and landscaping. - More information is available on Facebook and TikTok.