Earlier this week, I shared some tips on how your child can master reading—and let’s be honest, teaching your child to read can feel a little overwhelming! You want to feel confident and for your child to feel successful.
If you’ve started exploring how kids learn to read, chances are you’ve come across something called ‘decodable readers.’ Think of these as the training wheels of reading—simple, skill-building stories that grow right along with your child’s learning. They make practicing phonics fun and approachable, without throwing in tricky words too soon.
But with many options out there, how do you know which ones are the most effective? That’s why I’m sharing the best decodable readers for kids today—so you can find the perfect ones to support your little reader’s journey!
The Best Decodable Readers for Kids
Helping kids become confident, joyful readers starts with the right books. Decodable readers are designed to match a child’s developing phonics skills, offering stories they can actually read on their own. Here are some of the best decodable reader series that make learning to read both effective and fun:
Jolly Phonics is a well-known program that uses systematic synthetic phonics. Their decodable readers are a fantastic way to reinforce each set of sounds as they’re introduced. The stories are colorful, engaging, and designed to match the progression of the Jolly Phonics lessons. The Little Word Books from Jolly Phonics (featured above) provide a gradual and structured start for children who are just learning to read. 
If you want your early reader to giggle while they learn, Laugh a Lot Phonics is a must-try! These books are written with humor in mind, offering silly plots and lovable characters, all while sticking to a controlled phonics sequence. There are many different packs to choose from, so you will need to select the specific skills you are focusing on (e.g., short vowel sounds, blends and digraphs, etc.). 
Bob Books
A classic favorite, Bob Books have been helping kids learn to read for decades. The simple drawings and super-short stories build confidence fast. There are many different bundles to choose from, spanning pre-reading skills through to developing readers. Each set builds on the last, giving kids a steady path from CVC words to more complex sentences.
Last but not least, we have the decodable readers included with How Wee Read! These aren’t just stories that happen to use simple words. They’re part of a beautifully designed, full reading curriculum based on the Science of Reading—backed by research and real results.
With these decodable readers, you don’t need to piece anything together yourself. The planning has been done for you. Simply open the coursebook and go! The stories are laid out in a clear, thoughtful progression, introducing one new rule or letter combination at a time. The decodable readers also review past skills to help build confidence with your emerging reader. Each story is short, sweet, and intentionally simple.
After completing the final reader, your child will have the confidence and skills to read anything.
So, there you have it—the best decodable readers for kids!
Remember, teaching your child to read shouldn’t be stressful. Instead, slow down, enjoy the process, and have some fun. Your goal should be to raise a child who loves reading. Ultimately, starting with the best decodable readers will set them up for success from the very beginning.
Let’s do this together! With How Wee Read, we take the stress and mystery out of teaching our children to read. Let’s raise a generation of strong, confident readers. Visit my shop to view a sample and purchase your own copy today!
How Wee Read
https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/how-wee-read
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Thank you so much for being here, sweet reader!
xo Sarah
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