Decodable Readers for Phonics Pathways

Here are a few readers we can recommend that follow the same or similar progression of skills as those presented in Phonics Pathways. They are systematic, progressive, and have a minimum of sight words. Enjoy!

BOB BOOKS (Scholastic) - The Bob Books, available anywhere, are especially good with very young children just beginning to read. Many people have used them with great success. Small half-sized books, with very simple stylized black and white drawings on every page.

FUN PHONICS (Sizzy Books) 1-888-886-7323- These little Sizzy books are similar to the Bob Books, with line drawings on every page, but have three questions at the end of each booklet to check for comprehension. (Also on the last page is a state map with the capitol, state flower, & tree on it. There is a different state for every booklet.) Emphasis is on short-vowel words. After that it moves faster-all long-vowel sounds are grouped together.

STORIES BASED ON PHONICS (Learning Pyramid) 1-800-386-3386 - Similar to the above but emphasizing all of the phonograms equally--short-vowels, long-vowels, digraphs, etc. These booklets have separate worksheets for comprehension.

J & J LANGUAGE READERS (Sopris West) 1-800-547-6747 - These booklets are also as progressively decodable as the above, but with stories appealing more to older children (baseball, rollerskating, guys in a rock band and how they "rap" and "mix it" and "zap it" on their "hip sax," etc.). Contains more stories than the above--several short stories in each booklet. Small, with black and white drawings. Comprehension questions at the end of each reader.

THE FAMILY READER - This lively set of 72 little readers by Rachel McOmber is beautifully illustrated, extremely decodable, and has cumulative stories that impart good values, featuring the same interesting characters. These books are humorous and enjoyable, and have comprehension questions at the end of each booklet. There are full-color covers and two-color pages, which have very large print for easy reading.

POWER READERS - Twenty-eight interrelated decodable books designed for beginning readers. These charming little books each contain a short cleverly-illustrated story, comprehension questions, and a section on phonetic concepts including word lists and a sound chart. Except for the introduction of beginning blends, Power Readers follow exactly the same sequence as that in Phonics Pathways, ending just before the long vowels section.

PYRAMID (Dorbooks) 1-800-852-4890 - Last but not least is our own book, Pyramid. Not truly a reader, these reading exercises develop reading skills and fluency by controlled and progressive practice, presented in the same order as Phonics Pathways. Strengthens eye tracking and increases eye span. Bridges the gap between reading phonograms and "real readers."

Other readers I've looked at are beautiful with colored illustrations, but move ahead faster and have many more sight words. These are only the readers I am familiar with that are systematic, progressive, and have a minimum of sight words. There no doubt are more, and I will list them after having a chance to review them.

© 2002-2005 Dolores G. Hiskes