Decodable Books for Kids to Read by Phonics Skill

It is important for children to read decodable stories - stories that contain words they are able to sound out - so they can apply and reinforce the phonics rules they have learned.

Learning to sound out words is sequential. If you are not sure where your child stands, start with the phonics assessment, then choose books that match the rules your child has learned.

The lists below are organized by phonics skill so a child can practice reading words that are mostly decodable at that point in instruction. This gives children the confidence of real reading without asking them to guess words they have not yet been taught.

Best books to practice short vowels

• Short a: Mac and Sam from Bob Books Set 1.
• Short a: Mac and Tab, a free Primary Phonics sample from EPS Learning.
• Short a: Zac the Rat on Starfall.
• Short i: The Big Hit on Starfall; Jig and Mag from Bob Books Set 1; The Tin Man from Primary Phonics Set 1.
• Short u: Gus the Duck on Starfall; Tim from Primary Phonics; Muff and Ruff from Bob Books Set 1.
• Short e: Peg the Hen on Starfall; Peg and Ted, The Vet, and The Jet.
• Short o: Mox's Shop on Starfall; Al from Primary Phonics; Dot, Mac, Dot and Mit, and Dot and the Dog from Bob Books Set 1.

Best books to review all the short vowels

• Mouse Makes Words by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook.
• Primary Phonics Set 1, especially Ben Bug, Meg, Ted, The Wig, and Ed.

Best books to practice blends

• Jack and Jill and Big Dog Bill by Martha Weston.
• The Sled from Charge Mommy Books.
• The Raft and Clem and Cram from Charge Mommy Books.

Best books to practice digraphs

• Chip Had a Hut by Mary Geiger, from The Alphabet Series Volume 1.

Best books to practice long vowels and y at the end

• The Dick and Jane series.
• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.
• The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.
• Just Me and My Puppy by Mercer Mayer.

Best books to practice vowel teams

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
• The Big Blue Book of Beginner Books.
• The Big Aqua Book of Beginner Books, skipping the hardest stories until the child is ready.
• Mercer Mayer's Little Critter series.
• The Mr. Putter & Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant.
• The Little Bear series by Else Minarik.