What are decodable books? New readers who are learning to sound out words need books that teach or reinforce the letter-to-sound correspondences they are learning. This enables them to build those connections in their brains, without relying on repetition or cues to guess what words might be. Decodable books are best used with readers who already have some foundation with the basic sounds of letters, particularly the short vowel sounds and consonant sounds, and are working on putting those sounds together to make words. (Updated 2025)
What Are Decodable Books and Why Are They Important?
A resource for parents and educators from Reading Rockets.
View What Are Decodable Books and Why Are They Important?Choosing and Using Decodable Texts
This book for families and educators provides strategies for helping readers learn decoding skills, and also what to do if you are having difficulty finding the right decodable book for your reader. There are reproducible decodable books at the back.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Choosing and Using Decodable TextsBob Books
Bob Books feature sets of books that cumulatively build on decoding skills from previous books. Books are available either individually, or as bound sets. In addition, there are books of stories that are designed to practice the skills learned in the sets. https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=Bob%20Books&searchType=series
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View Bob BooksHot Chips, Mad Fish & Other Tales
The Pat and Pals graphic novel series includes funny stories in each book, building from consonant-short vowel-consonant words to blends and digraphs. https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=Marasciulo%2C%20Sue&searchType=author
Format: Graphic Novel
Availability: Available
View Hot Chips, Mad Fish & Other TalesPat & Pals Graphic Novels
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View Pat & Pals Graphic NovelsNo Naps for Pals
The My Decodable Readers series features short and funny stories, each of which focuses on a specific short or long vowel sound. Readers will benefit from reviewing the high frequency words at the beginning with an experienced reader first. https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=My%20Decodable%20Readers&searchType=series
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View No Naps for PalsMy Decodable Readers Series
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View My Decodable Readers SeriesIn the Mud
Stairway Decodeable books feature short stories that build through six levels of skills, starting with short vowel sounds and progress from there. Each book features an "Ideas for Using this Book" at the beginning that young readers can go through with an experienced reader. https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?custom_edit=false&query=series%3A(stairway%20decodable)&searchType=bl&suppress=true&page=4
Format: Book
Availability: Available
View In the MudStairway Decodeables Series
Check out the other titles in the Stairway Decodeables series!
View Stairway Decodeables Series