CVC Decodable Books – 5-Book Leveled Reading Set

Five black-and-white A5 decodable readers for children learning to read with short vowel words. Each book has a cover with a line drawing in an oval frame, a teacher’s page, and a short story in large, clear print.

The books build on each other. The Mad Cat uses the short vowels a and o. The Dog adds i and u, and Tom and Sam bring in e. The Fox, the fifth book, is the first to use the sight word to. Sight words are introduced gradually, with is and the learnt first. The vocabulary repeats from book to book, which helps children gain fluency and confidence.

The text is word-controlled, so each page practises the sounds already taught. There is no awkward phrasing to trip up a child who is just starting, which keeps reading a success. Use the fluency lists before a story to prepare for new words, or afterwards to practise them until they are easy.

Every book has a fluency list of words to read at least three times, with a star to colour each time. This gives children a clear way to see their progress. Four of the five books also have simple drawing tasks, such as drawing the dog in the van or the fat pig in the pen.

The stories are short and light-hearted. The familiar characters, including Sam, Tom, Jiff the dog, a red hen, a big bad fox and one very bad mad cat, turn up across the series.

What is included: five books as PDFs, A5 size: The Mad Cat, The Dog, Tom, Sam and The Fox.

Who they are for: beginning readers starting phonics, older children who need extra practice, and anyone teaching them, including parents, tutors, teachers and home educators. The small-print notes at the start of each book tell the adult which sounds and sight words to teach first.

Nothing else is needed to use them.