Alphabet

Hello. You might not know my name, but you see me everywhere. I am in the books you read at bedtime, on the signs on your street, and even in your own name. I am a team of special shapes, like A, B, and C. On our own, we are just letters, but when you put us together, we can say anything. We can spell out 'dog,' 'sun,' or even 'super-duper-dinosaur.' We are the secret code that lets you read and write. Do you know who I am? I am the Alphabet.

My journey to you was a very, very long one. A long time ago, before I existed, people didn't have letters. If they wanted to write 'bird,' they had to draw a picture of a bird. Imagine trying to draw a picture for a word like 'happy' or 'love.' It took a long time, and it was very tricky. Then, some clever people had a big idea. These people were called the Phoenicians, and they were amazing sailors who traveled all over the sea in big boats. Around 3,000 years ago, they decided that instead of pictures for words, they would use a simple symbol for each sound. It was a game-changer. Suddenly, writing was much faster and easier for everyone. They were so excited that they shared their idea with everyone they met on their travels. A little later, people in a place called Ancient Greece thought this was a brilliant idea. They borrowed the symbols but added a few of their own for the sounds that open your mouth, like 'ah,' 'eh,' and 'oh.' They loved their new letters so much that they gave me my name, 'alphabet,' from their first two letters: Alpha and Beta. From there, I traveled and changed a little more until I became the 26 letters you know and love today.

Today, I am your superpower. With my letters, you can write a birthday card to your best friend, send a message to your grandma who lives far away, or get lost in a magical storybook. I help you share your biggest ideas, your silliest jokes, and your kindest thoughts. Every time you write your name or read a word, you are using the magic we create together. I am the building blocks for all the stories in the world, and all the stories still inside you. So, pick up a pencil and let's go on an adventure. What wonderful words will we build today?