Each clue leads to a phrase that represents a letter from a children's alphabet book. (Author's initials are given below the puzzle in alphabetical order by title.) Each book provides two letters (e.g., Sandra Boynton's A to Z gives both O and W.) Starting with the given letters and swapping them for the other letter from the same book yields SI THOUSAND PREFIX which defines the answer: KILO.
| Alphabet Books | Author | Letter | Answer | Clue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A to Z | Sandra Boynton | O | owl opening | Nocturnal avian predator's first few chess moves |
| A to Z | Sandra Boynton | W | weasel whistling | Sneaky mustelid emulating steam kettle |
| ABC What Can She Be | Sugar Snap Studio | K | keyboardist | Veronic Lodge for the Archies or Charlotte Caffey for the Go-Gos |
| ABC What Can She Be | Sugar Snap Studio | N | neurosurgeon | Dr. Amelia Shepherd is one, in Grey's Anatomy |
| Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types | Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss | B | bat | Louisville Slugger, e.g. |
| Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types | Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss | I | Ibis | Long-legged wading bird |
| Animalia | Graeme Base | P | Proud Peacocks Preening Perfect Plumage | Birds associated with vanity straightening and cleaning their ideal feathers |
| Animalia | Graeme Base | X | Rex Fox Fixing Six Saxophones | A vulpine animal with a kingly first name repairing a half-dozen musical instruments |
| Ape in a Cape | Fritz Eichenberg | E | Egret in a minuet | White heron dancing a slow, stately ballroom dance |
| Ape in a Cape | Fritz Eichenberg | Y | yak with a pack | Talk excessively toting JanSport product |
| Ashanti to Zulu | Margaret Musgrove, pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon | A | Ashanti | She sings "Foolish" and "Breakup 2 Makeup" |
| Ashanti to Zulu | Margaret Musgrove, pictures by Leo and Diane Dillon | M | Masai | Plateau in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India |
| Dr. Seuss's ABC | Dr. Seuss | C | Camel on the Ceiling | A ship of the desert is standing upside down next to the chandelier |
| Dr. Seuss's ABC | Dr. Seuss | H | Hungry horse. Hay. Hen in a hat. Hooray! Hooray! | A famished equine. What to feed the famished equine. A barnyard bird wearing a sombrero, maybe. Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo! |
| The Icky Bug Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta, Ralph Masiello | F | Firefly | Single-season TV show that launched a movie, board game, comic books, and a lot of angry, upset fans |
| The Icky Bug Alphabet Book | Jerry Pallotta, Ralph Masiello | J | Japanese Beetle | Popillia japonica |
| LMNO Peas | Keith Baker | Q | quilters, quarterbacks | Makers of blankets, makers of Hail Mary passes |
| LMNO Peas | Keith Baker | U | underwater divers | They might be looking for pearls or sunken ships |
| Oops Pounce Quick Run! | Mike Twohy | G | Grrrr | Instrumental from David Guetta's album One More Love |
| Oops Pounce Quick Run! | Mike Twohy | S | Safe | Place to store valuables |
| P is for Pterodactyl | Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter | T | Tsunami | Literally, "harbor wave" |
| P is for Pterodactyl | Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter | V | Five | Slaughterhouse |
| Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z | Richard Scarry | D | Delivery van, dump truck | Stuff might come to your house in this, stuff might leave your house in this |
| Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks from A to Z | Richard Scarry | Z | Zippermobile | A non-stationery fasterner for pants? |
| The Z was Zapped | Chris Van Allsburg | L | much too large | Of a size that I can't possibly eat? |
| The Z was Zapped | Chris Van Allsburg | R | rolled off-stage | How large prop barrels are removed during a play? |