The invention provides an acrylic ester water-emulsion ink adhesive and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the field of water-based ink. The invention aims to solve the problems of poor anti stripping property and poor water resistance of the prior ink adhesive. The adhesive of the invention is prepared by copolymerization of a free radical seeded emulsion, and is prepared from the following compositions in proportion: 150 portions of water, 0 to 60 portions of styrene, 40 to 100 portions of (methyl) acrylic ester, 0 to 3 portions of (methyl) acrylic acid, 0 to 1.5 portions of maleic anhydride, 0.5 to 2 portions of (methyl) acrylamide, 0.1 to 1 portion of N-methylolacrylamide, 0.5 to 3 portions of acrylic acid 2-hydroxyethyl ester and 0.5 portion of NaHCO3. The adhesive has stable performance, excellent comprehensive performance, low price, and innocuity; and the preparation method is simple and convenient, easy to operate, and suitable for industrial production, and has economic and social benefits.