This is how the Alphabet Monsters were born

The day I was told that English was a struggle

When I was taking a bath with my second-grade son, he told me,
I don't like English class at school. It's difficult.
he said, letting it slip out.

When I asked him why, he said that,
first of all, he mostly knows theuppercase lettersbut
he isn't very familiar with lowercase letters and
doesn't really remember them properly
yet.

So, he understands the ones that look similar,
like c and C, or x and X.
But for letters like D → d or G → g,

where the shape changes significantly between uppercase and lowercasehe can't imagine what letter it is,and since he doesn't have much interest in English itself,
it's a real struggle to memorize them.

I see, I thought, it's no wonder he feels like
I can't imagine what's written at all
when he looks at English words.

Like Pokémon evolution

So, I tried telling him this story.

In Pokémon, there are some that look similar even after evolving,
like Pichu and Pikachu, but there are also some that look completely different,
like Magikarp and Gyarados, right?

Uppercase and lowercase letters are kind of like that too.

So, how about we turn all the letters of the alphabet into

Alphabet Monsterslike Pokémon?

Once I started drawing, I got more absorbed than I thought

Triggered by that conversation,
in 2025, I decided to use my spare time to
draw a total of 52 characters,both uppercase and lowercase
for the 26 letters of the alphabet.I incorporated my son's idea for W,
making it a two-headed bird.

I put the sound of that letter at the beginning of their names,
to make it easier to associate the letter with its sound.

At first, I struggled to reconcile the shape of the alphabet
with the design of the charming motifs.
But as I drew more and more,

the character design itself became
very fun,
and the children were delighted with their eyes sparkling,
so before I knew it, I was the one who was absorbed
and kept on drawing.

I started out thinking I would make them memorize it,
but before I knew it, it became a time to enjoy together

As a result, my children
learned theuppercase and lowercase letters
in no time at all.

Perhaps,
by becoming fun characters
instead of things they had to memorize,
the distance to the alphabet
shrank all at once.

The Alphabet Monsters are
characters born from
that experience and realization.

They are precious memories with my children,
and I wanted to keep them properly rather than just on social media,
so I am writing them on note.

Conclusion

I personally believe that learning through play
leaves the strongest impression on the heart.

As I drew them,
there were letters that didn't go as well as I thought,
and I worried, wondering, What should I do about this?
But the time spent laughing and talking with my children

was more joyful than anything else,
which is why I continue this activity.

From now on, I plan to write about things like
・Design notes
・Real feedback from people who enjoyed using them
and more.

I would also be happy to connect with others who
“have children who are struggling with English.”
If there are any Pokémon-loving children who are stumbling over lowercase letters or have a dislike for English,

I would love for them to try using these in a fun way, as they will definitely be helpful.

※ The Alphabet Monsters reference chart (A3 size) is available for free download for home and educational use.
I would be happy to hear feedback from your children.

▶ Alphabet Monsters Reference Chart (A3 size / Free Download)

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