If your child is just learning to read, it is important that your early reader has accessible books. What does that mean? An accessible book is a book that your child can read mostly independently, using the phonics and decoding skills that they are learning in their kindergarten classroom.
It can be tough to find “just right” books for beginning readers, especially if reading a struggle. It’s hard work learning to read! Kids spend so much mental effort decoding words (figuring out what the letters and sounds are, then blending them together), that they forget what they are actually reading.
If your child is struggling to read, try starting with decodable readers. These texts are written at a very simple level, allowing your child to sound out each word in the text. It is great for building reading fluency, and also helps their confidence! Check out my decodable readers in my products section.
Here’s where it gets difficult. You want your child to learn to love books, so that they’ll be motivated to improve their reading. The beginner books and decodable texts are usually not very high interest. As such, you might want to consider having two reading options for your beginning reader. They should have decodable readers to practice with, and the more interesting books to either read with you, or have you read to them. Even as my own kids were improving their reading skills, I was reading them the more challenging books so that they could experience the joy of getting lost in a story.
Following are decodable book recommendations, as well as very simple books for kindergarteners, or other beginning readers. The rule of thumb is, if your child attempts to read a page from a book and they are unable to read five or more words on the page, the book is too challenging for them. If they are able to read a page without any challenging words, it is too easy.
Decodable Book Recommendations for Beginning Readers
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My First CVC Reader: A Decodable Phonics Book for Early Readers
I created this book for my intervention students. It is a great option for very early readers who are newly able to decode CVC words.
Pete the Cat 12 Book Phonics Fun
These decodable phonics readers are short and easy to read. If your child hasn’t met Pete the Cat, they’re in for a treat! And, once they master the phonics version, they can move into the regular Pete the Cat books which were a big hit with my own kids, and my students.
Learn to Read Phonics Reader: Hug a Pug
This early reader uses CVC words, which should be accessible for your beginning reader. Bonus – there are several other books in the series.
This decodable reader highlights CVC words, which are easier for beginning readers to decode.
Monster Phonics (Blaze and the Monster Machines) (Step into Reading)
My kids started out with these books. They’re easy to read independently and high interest for kids who have watched the series.
Simple Early Readers for Beginning Readers
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the Elephant & Piggie books. This set has my sons’ two favorites – “Can I Play,” and “Let’s Go for a Drive.” These books are very easy to read, and are great for practicing reading with emotion. Some words will be challenging, so you may need to offer support. I used to co-read with my own kids. One of us would be “Pig,” and the other would be “Elephant.”
This was a favorite with both of my boys. It’s fairly easy to read independently, or you can read together. Honestly, I recommend any of the Pete the Cat books. I have them in my collection for my students and they enjoy them as well.
This series is really popular with my students. My kids enjoyed it as well. I will note that they need to be a little further along in their phonemic awareness to decode words like spy, fly, etc. The “y” makes an “i” sound, not the primary “y” sound.
World of Reading Marvel: Meet the Super Heroes! Pre-Level 1 Boxed Set
Do you have a super hero fan? This would be a nice high-interest book for them to attempt to read independently (or with a little help).
Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend: An Early Reading Book About Friendship and Humor for Kids
This book hooked one of my students. She went from never reading to requesting more Amelia Bedelia books every week. The nice part about these books is that your child can grow with them. They can start with the “I Can Read” books, then move on to the chapter books.
These are just some of the books that have been popular and accessible with my own kids, and my intervention students. The “I Can Read” Level 1 books are fantastic for beginning readers with some support. I have a huge selection of those books for my students, covering everything from Minecraft to Berenstain Bears! Do your kids have any favorite beginning reader books?
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