The book is designed for small hands, measuring roughly 2.75" x 2.25" (about 6.8cm x 6cm). This 32mo format was typical of the popular, collectible gift books of the era, and it is in remarkably fine condition considering its age. The volume features 26 color illustrations, each representing a letter of the alphabet paired with one of Greenaway's signature rosy-cheeked children. The letters themselves are often "inhabited" or decorated with playful, mischievous children, showcasing her ability to blend artistic, almost illuminated-manuscript style with charm. The letters in this book were not originally created for this format; they first appeared as brown line-drawings in a 19th-century spelling primer, W.F. Mavor's The English Spelling-Book. For the 1885 book, these drawings were refined and transformed into color wood engravings, likely by the renowned printer Edmund Evans. Kate Greenaway was a titan of late 19th-century illustration, and this book represents her "Golden Age" style, often associated with romanticized, nostalgic scenes of childhood. Published by George Routledge & Sons, the book is a product of the successful, influential collaboration between Greenaway and printer Edmund Evans, who revolutionized children's book publishing with high-quality colour printing.