Finding the best books for beginner readers was at the top of my list when I sat my first homeschooled grad on my lap at 3 years old to teach him to read. Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum for more tips.
Equally important was learning the other skills I needed as the homeschool educator to teach him to read.
Like many educators who have their first budding reader I too was overly worried about the process.
First, look at some of these tips for teaching beginning readers which have worked for me through my many years of homeschooling.
Books for Beginner Readers
- Trust that the process is natural. Unless your child has special needs or a disability to hamper learning how to read, he will learn to read. What I’m saying is that children learning to read are learning with every breath they take. Seizing their love of learning in their organic environment (your home and your lap) is where the seed is planted.
- In addition, I didn’t realize the value of my habit of reading aloud to my first reader and reading silently. The point is from the beginning I was placing not just a high value on the skill of reading, but a love for it. Although you may not think so now, teaching a child a child to read can be quite easy compared to teaching him to be a lifelong reader. Lifelong readers model what they see.
- Next, like a lot of new homeschool educators, I concentrated on intensity instead of consistency. That was a mistake and I almost gave up homeschooling. So the power of little and often cements a pattern for how your child learns to read. Short fun spurts throughout the day teaching your child to read is how to make true progress.
Timeless Tips for Beginner Readers
Second, remember that while you’re teaching your child to read, he will need direct phonics instructions.
Not only are you training his eyes to read or decipher (decoding), but you’re training his ears to hear sounds (encoding).
On top of that, remember to look at the BIGGER picture as you embark on your journey to teaching your child to read.
Direct phonics will help your child to decode words, and training his ear to distinguish between sounds and writing the correct symbol for that sound is encoding.
The Power of Little and Often
What I’m saying is that you want to pair a phonics program along with teaching your child to read.
Look at some of these helps:
- 5 Easy Steps to Putting Together Your Own Homeschool Phonics Program and
- How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon
In addition, you also want plenty of time reading aloud to your child which doesn’t include direct instruction.
You constantly want to reaffirm that reading is enjoyable, meaningful, and should be pain free. Keeping that warm and fuzzy feeling for reading is essential.
Books that Help Kids Learn to Read
So read below about books which make it easier for teaching beginner readers being homeschooled.
12 Books For Beginner Readers
The set of Bob books have been keepers for years in the homeschool world and there are several reasons.
One is because it normally takes only about 10 to 15 minutes a day.
The second reason is that the books hold your child’s attention and are
short.
You’ll get mixed feedback on the Dick and Jane series that so many parents remember from their childhood.
Although what may seem as funny repetition, the books works for budding readers.
New readers need the constant repetition found in these series of books.
Too, it’s been my experience that struggling readers do well with this series since the text is predictable.
Then, Mouse Mouse book series hails from England and your kid gets a nice influence to other cultures.
While reading about everyday things like bedtime, your beginning reader is entertained while his reading skills are sharpened. It’s just a fun and sweet series which entertains your kids.
A story of visiting the bookshop for the first time from the multi-award-winning Lucy Cousins. Maisy goes to the bookshop to buy a new book, and she also wants to get one as a present for her friend Tallulah. Titles in this Set Includes Maisy goes to Bookshop, Maisy Goes by Plane, Maisy Sports Day, Maisy Plays Football, Maisy Goes To The Cinema, Maisy Goes To Nursery, Maisy Goes To Hospital, Maisy Goes To The Library, Maisy Goes on a Sleepover, Maisy Charley and The Wobbly Tooth.
Usborne My First Phonics Reading Library Collection 12 Books Box Set (Phonics Readers) (WITH FREE AUDIO ONLINE):Titles In This Ape's Great Escape (Phonics Readers)Chimp with a Limp (Phonics Readers)Hyena Ballerina (Phonics Readers)Giraffe in the Bath (Phonics Readers)Goat in a Boat (Phonics Readers)Bug in a Rug (Phonics Readers)Kangaroo at the Zoo (Phonics Readers)Mole in a Hole (Phonics Readers)Lizard in a Blizzard (Phonics Readers)Flamingo plays Bingo (Phonics Readers)Raccoon on the Moon (Phonics Readers)Phonics Llamas in Pyjamas
Remember the power of little lessons done often creates a master reader.
I remember using the Cat in the Hat series to teach my first reader and every kid after him.
However, I had no idea how this series of books set up all my kids for reading success lifelong. Maybe Theodor Geisel didn’t have a clue either.
Whatever the case, building stories around sight words is not easy. Building a silly story with sight words is what worked for all of my kids. Too, this series is great for many ages, not just beginning readers.
I remember reading how Dr. Seuss was trying to kill the 1950s Dick and Jane series which some viewed as boring
Beginner Books are fun, funny, and easy to read! Launched by Dr. Seuss in 1957 with the publication of The Cat in the Hat, this beloved early reader series motivates children to read on their own by using simple words with illustrations that give clues to their meaning. Featuring a combination of kid appeal, supportive vocabulary, and bright, cheerful art, Beginner Books will encourage a love of reading in children ages 3–7.
Additionally, filling my bookshelves and yes floor with books with repetitive texts like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See was something else I did right.
Little did I know then that repetitive text in fun books in how kids learn to read.
Multiple exposures to text encourages mastery..
Know that readers are nurtured by reading nursery rhymes at the newborn to preschool ages turns to repetitive text in books in the early years of reading. That equals mastery and brings meaning to reading.
Although the Elephant and Piggie series is classified closer to a first grade level, grade levels are subjective; we know that as home educators.
Besides you need a variety of levels as your child repeats and reads higher level books. Then he backs up and reviews basic concepts from lower grade levels.
Reading well is accomplished by pushing the boundaries to the next level without your child feeling any pressure.
Here are the six McGuffey Eclectic Readers free PDF downloads in one convenient location! Plus, I’ve also included the McGuffey Speller free PDF download as well.
One of the best things about the I Can Read series is the multiple levels. From prek to level 4 you have many choices of fun stories to go up and down in level to repeat texts as your budding reader needs it.
Splat can barely sit still during the bus ride. He's imagining the mountain of ice cream he thinks he'll get to eat! But when Splat gets there, that mountain becomes more of an avalanche. It's up to Splat and his classmates to save the day!
Beginning readers will practice the –eam sound in this easy-to-read addition to the Splat series.
Next, like the other readers listed with controlled vocabulary which means that a handful of words are repeated, the I Can Read It Series does the same.
What I also love about them as a parent is not just the predictable text, but in the fourth volume there is a word list which is helpful to me.
Controlled-vocabulary stories, with real plot, action, and humor, engage your childs attention and interest. Reading lessons move your child through a natural progression of phonetic and spelling patterns. Easy to use. Includes I Did Read It! diplomas. Fun!
Lastly, I used the Hello Readers from Scholastic to not only teach my new readers, but the sight word practice found in each book was needed for my kids
know some of these books will work for you because they have worked for homeschool families for years. Our needs at home vary because we want to teach phonics, love of reading, and sight words all in a natural way.
I know some of these books will work for you because they have worked for homeschool families for years.
Our needs at home vary because we want to teach phonics, love of reading, and sight words all in a natural way.
More Tips for Beginner Readers
- 12 of the Best Books For Beginner Readers Being Homeschooled
- How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations
- 6 Boy Approved Books Which Spark the Love of Reading
- How To Get Your First Homeschooled Child Reading
- 10 Best Homeschool Phonics Curriculum For Kindergarten
Other Tips or Books for Beginner Readers
Our tools and books we choose should help us to nurture lifelong readers so I know you’ll love these.
Do you have other favorite new reader series?
You’ll love these other tips which work solidly for me through the years for beginner readers.
- How To Get Your First Homeschooled Child Reading
- Awesome Reading Aloud Tracking Time Homeschool Form
- 6 Boy Approved Books Which Spark the Love of Reading
- 6 Tricks for the Kid That’s NOT in Love with Reading!
- Homeschool Colorful Reading Journal to Motivate Kids
- 25 Fun Learning Apps and YouTube Videos for Little Learners
- 5 Easy Steps to Putting Together Your Own Homeschool Phonics Program
- How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?
- How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)
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