What Is the Letterland 2nd Edition?
The Letterland 2nd Edition is the latest iteration of the beloved Letterland phonics program, grounded in the latest Science of Reading research. It builds on Letterland’s multisensory, character-based approach with updated characters, a fully integrated phonological awareness strand, clearer lesson structures, and stronger cumulative design.
Whether your school is transitioning from Classic Letterland or starting fresh, the 2nd Edition gives Canadian educators a powerful, child-friendly framework for building confident readers and spellers from Pre-K through Grade 2.
What’s New in the 2nd Edition?
Science of Reading Aligned
Structured, cumulative lessons build phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension — fully aligned with the latest literacy research.
‘Ears Ready’ Phonological Awareness
Every lesson includes a dedicated phonological awareness strand with daily instruction — giving students the sound foundation they need before encountering print.
New & Updated Characters
7 characters have been updated to improve phonetic purity and gender balance, making Letterland stories even more effective for diverse classrooms.
Clearer Lesson Design
Teacher’s Guides now include recommended timings, explicit teacher language, and gradual release of responsibility — easy to implement from day one.
Updated Teaching Order
The revised phonics sequence aligns with the widely recommended ‘satpin’ order, so 2nd Edition materials work alongside most decodable reader sets already in schools.
All Green on EdReports
Letterland’s K–2 Foundational Skills Curriculum earned All Green — Meets Expectations (97%) on EdReports, one of the most trusted curriculum review platforms.
All Green on EdReports
Letterland’s K–2 Foundational Skills Curriculum received All Green — Meets Expectations on EdReports, achieving a score of 97%. This makes Letterland one of a select group of phonics programs to earn the highest possible rating across all review criteria.
EdReports is an independent nonprofit providing free educator reviews of K–12 instructional materials. All Green means the curriculum fully meets expectations for rigor, coherence, and usability.
"Children who received the explicit instruction with Letterland learned almost twice as many letter sounds."
— Roberts, 2021
Meet the Updated Characters
The 2nd Edition introduces 7 updated Letterland characters — 3 with a new name, 4 that have changed completely, and 1 with an updated story. All changes improve phonetic purity or better reflect a modern, diverse world.
Annie Apple → Abbie Apple
Name Change. Annie Apple noticed that in some accents, the ‘a’ in her name didn’t sound the same as ‘Apple’. Her new name, Abbie, gives the Sound Trick a pure, clean short ‘a’ everywhere she goes.
Why: To improve purity of the short ‘a’ sound — nasals can influence the vowel sound in some accents.
Impy Ink → Izzy Ink
Name Change. Impy Ink has been in Letterland a very long time — but eventually ink pens run out! His friend Izzy Ink knows all the same tricks and is happy to carry on the job as an incredible little ink pot.
Why: To improve purity of the short ‘i’ sound — the nasal ‘m’ in ‘Impy’ can affect the vowel sound in some accents.
Oscar Orange → Oscar Octopus
Character Change. One hot day at the docks, Oscar Orange rolled out of his letter shape. A clever octopus spotted an opportunity to pop up and make the ‘o’ sound. Oscar Orange was so impressed he offered the octopus his job — and the octopus was also called Oscar!
Why: In some accents ‘orange’ sounds more like an r-controlled vowel. Oscar Octopus gives a pure, consistent short ‘o’.
Long Vowels: The Vowel Friends
The five most important Letterlanders are now called the Vowel Friends. Mr. A, Mr. E, and Mr. I remain — joined now by two new female characters. The Vowel Friends are the only Letterlanders who say their own names in words: A! E! I! O! U!
Mr. O → Ms. O, the Ocean Expert
Character Change. Mr. O, the Old Man has retired. He remembered his good friend Ms. O, the Ocean Expert — who knows all about the ocean, the coastline, and the wildlife including the otters and octopuses of Letterland. Mr. O is overjoyed she will take over.
Why: Improving gender balance in key Letterland roles.
Mr. U → Ms. U, the University Student
Character Change. Mr. U handed over his umbrella duties to his daughter Ms. U. She’s a student of music who plays the flute, tuba, and ukulele — and happily keeps the umbrellas dry for all her instruments!
Why: Improving gender balance in key Letterland roles.
Consonants
Three consonant characters have been updated to improve gender balance and give students more positive, contemporary role models.
Jumping Jim → Juggling Jen
Character Change. Jim got so good at jumping and juggling that he decided to jump off on a journey around the world. He invited his good friend Juggling Jen to take his place — she’s a jet pilot, journalist, jockey, and so much more!
Why: Improving gender balance in key Letterland roles.
Talking Tess → Head of Technology
Story Change. Tess no longer just fixes telephones and TVs — she’s been promoted to Head of Technology! She travels with her touchscreen tablet, takes terrific photos, and keeps everyone connected.
Why: Positive role model for a modern era.
Quarrelsome Queen → Quizzing Queen
Name Change. Over the years the Queen has become much less quarrelsome. Her love of quiz questions and quest for knowledge have made her a more positive, constructive role model. She quizzes everyone she meets — but don’t disturb her too much, she can still quarrel when she wants to!
Why: More positive role model for students.
Classic vs. 2nd Edition — Which Is Right for Your School?
Classic Letterland is the original, time-tested program many Canadian teachers already know. If your school has existing Classic materials, you do not need to switch right away — Classic products remain available and fully supported.
2nd Edition features updated characters, a Science of Reading aligned curriculum, and an integrated phonological awareness strand. Recommended for schools starting fresh or actively transitioning their literacy program.
Look for "2nd Edition" in the product title or the Features New Characters icon on the cover to identify updated products. Products labelled "Classic" use the original characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to switch to 2nd Edition?
No. Classic Letterland materials are still fully supported and sold alongside 2nd Edition products.
When should I start using the new characters?
Begin with 2nd Edition curriculum materials — starting with Kindergarten — before introducing the new characters. Do not mix new characters with Classic curriculum materials.
Can I use 2nd Edition resources alongside other decodable readers?
Yes. The updated teaching order aligns with the widely recommended ‘satpin’ sequence, making 2nd Edition materials compatible with most decodable reader sets in Canadian schools.
How do I identify products with the new characters?
Look for "2nd Edition" in the product title, or the Features New Characters icon on the cover. Products labelled "Classic" use the original characters.
Is training available for the 2nd Edition?
Yes. We offer in-person and virtual training sessions for Canadian schools. Contact us to learn more.
Ready to Bring the 2nd Edition to Your School?
Browse our full range of 2nd Edition products, or get in touch to learn how Letterland fits within your school’s literacy program. We’re here to support Canadian educators every step of the way.