As I go through some message at other column, one of the BB ~1.5- 2 yrs can count from 1-30 and A - Z, he's a boy. That's very impressive! So may I ask how many words/ photos your BB can recognize? For my bb - Girls 20 x months I think she could recognize / understand ~130 x (either photos / action/ command). That's mean if I ask her what is umberlla, then she could point it out from the book. or If I ask her knee down, then she will knee down. But she could only name out 2-3 no. or 3-4 letters. How's other bb???
My daughter was able to read A-Z when she was 15 mth old. Now, she is 19 mth old, she can count from 1-10, identify different colours and name them. She can name most of the body parts, some animals, shapes, household products,.....As for reading words (without any hints or pictures)I didn't count but I guess she is able to read nearly 70-80 words in English, she is able to identify more words even if she can't read out it. She can even make a phrase like "red car", "green tree", "elmo book"......now. But, with regrets, since I commnunicate with her in English most of the time, she can only speak few words in Cantonese.
I think most babies can do the same but what u need is time. Surely, you may need some tools (no expensive things) but "time" and "communication" are the paramount elements.