Letterland 2nd Edition
The most advanced, research-backed Letterland yet — aligned to the Science of Reading and ready for Canadian classrooms.
What Is the Letterland 2nd Edition?
The Letterland 2nd Edition is the latest version 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 3.
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
8 characters have been updated to improve phonetic purity, gender balance and positive role models, 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 follows the widely recommended ‘satpin’ order, so 2nd Edition materials work alongside many 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, scoring 97% (208 of 215 points) and meeting expectations in every gateway reviewed for Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2.
EdReports is an independent nonprofit providing free educator reviews of K–12 instructional materials. All Green means the materials meet expectations for both alignment to research-based foundational skills instruction 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 8 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.
Short Vowels
Two short vowel characters have new names and one has been replaced, so children hear a pure, consistent vowel sound in every accent.
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?
Both editions teach systematic, synthetic phonics with the Letterland characters children love. Here’s how to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap a question to see the answer.
Do I have to switch to the 2nd Edition?
No. Classic Letterland materials are still fully supported and sold alongside 2nd Edition products.
When should I start using the new characters?
We recommend using the new characters only with 2nd Edition curriculum materials. Most schools start with Kindergarten (2nd Edition) and move up grade by grade. If you’re still teaching from Classic materials, keep using the Classic characters — don’t mix the two.
Can I use 2nd Edition resources alongside other decodable readers?
Yes. The updated teaching order follows the widely recommended ‘satpin’ sequence, so 2nd Edition materials work alongside many decodable reader sets already used 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. Email letterland@live.ca 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. Schools and boards: we prepare quotes and accept purchase orders.
Questions? Email letterland@live.ca