Learn to read books is the topic of our post today!
As an educator and a former teacher, I have always held the belief that learning to read is a fundamental milestone in every child’s life. Not only does reading open up an infinite world of knowledge, imagination, and discovery, but it also provides a foundation for almost every other skill and area of education. This is a truth I have come to realize over many rewarding years of teaching and research.
However, in my journey as an educator, I’ve come to understand that not all books are created equal, especially when it comes to learning how to read. The process requires patience, a careful blend of fun, and meticulous educational strategies. This is where my role as a guide and mentor comes into play.
I have dedicated countless hours, poured over volumes of pedagogical research, and applied my rich teaching experience to carefully curate a list of the best learn-to-read books available. This selection isn’t just any off-the-shelf compilation. Instead, it’s a thoughtful assembly of resources that have garnered high ratings and outstanding reviews.
Each book on this list has been vetted for its unique approach, engaging content, and efficient educational methods—all necessary ingredients to make the learning process enjoyable and rewarding.
I invite you to explore this comprehensive list of learn to read books, where you’ll find each book is a stepping stone towards creating confident readers and lifelong learners. Whether your child is just beginning their reading journey or looking to enhance their literacy skills, there’s a book here to meet their needs.
Related: Best 20 Beginning Reader Books
Learn to read books
Here are our top picks for best learn to read books:
1. The Reading Lesson
This book is an exceptional guide for parents who want to teach their children to read. It incorporates a step-by-step methodology that unfolds over 20 lessons, gradually introducing new letters, words, and concepts. It is designed to stimulate the child’s intellect and interest, making reading a fun and accessible skill. This approach aids in the development of a strong foundation for the child’s future reading abilities.
2. Bob Books – Set 1, by Bobby Lynn Maslen
Bob Books – Set 1 is an innovative, phonics-based series that gently introduces children to the world of reading. The set includes 12 small, easy-to-read books, each containing a manageable number of unique words.
As children progress through the set, they will gradually learn the sounds of all the letters of the alphabet, helping them to build confidence in their reading abilities.
The illustrations are fun, non-distracting, and support comprehension. With a scientific foundation in phonics and reading, Bob Books have been successful in igniting a love for reading in millions of children around the world.
3. My First 1000 Words, by Wonder House Books
This book is a comprehensive visual dictionary for young learners. Filled with 1000 well-researched and attractively displayed photos, it introduces children to a wide array of topics and everyday objects, encouraging them to develop observational skills and build a robust vocabulary.
The content ranges from alphabets, numbers, shapes, colors, and opposites to various categories such as modes of transport, animals, professions, and body parts. This is an excellent resource to foster curiosity and word association in young minds.
4. LeapFrog LeapReader System
The LeapFrog LeapReader System is an interactive learning tool that uses a pen to help children sound out letters and words in interactive stories and activities. Each page of the included 10 books offers three modes that promote independent reading.
The LeapReader pen is compatible with all LeapReader books, offering a wide range of additional resources that can be accessed through the LeapFrog app. This system combines auditory and tactile learning, providing a comprehensive and engaging platform for children to enhance their reading skills.
5. Learn to Read Activity Book, by Hannah Braun
The Learn to Read Activity Book offers a complete plan to get children excited about reading. It incorporates 101 vibrant and engaging phonics exercises, such as coloring, mazes, and word searches.
As children progress through the activities, they gradually learn to recognize letters, sound out words, and eventually form sentences.
The book is a perfect blend of educational strategies and play-based learning, making it a fun and effective resource for parents and teachers. It also provides helpful guidance on how to support children through their learning journey, creating a beneficial and rewarding experience for all involved.
6. 200 Must Know Sight Words Activity Workbook, by Smart Kids Notebooks
This activity workbook is an engaging tool designed to boost your child’s reading and writing skills. It focuses on the top 200 most common sight words that are essential for kids to learn.
The book follows a progressive learning model, gradually increasing in difficulty to promote rapid learning. The engaging activities make the learning process enjoyable and effective.
With its convenient size and layout, you can easily select and teach words in any order you choose, offering a flexible and personalized learning experience.
7. Learn to Read for Kids with Dyslexia, by Hannah Braun M.Ed.
This book is a vital resource for helping children with dyslexia conquer the challenge of reading. Featuring over 100 colorful games and activities, it aims to strengthen auditory processing skills, improve letter formation in writing, and above all, make reading a joyful experience.
The workbook provides daily practice exercises focused on phonemic awareness, dysgraphia, and auditory processing disorder. With six different research-based learning methods, it offers a diverse range of strategies, allowing children to discover which approach works best for them. The games and exercises are not just educational, but also fun, fostering a love of reading and building children’s confidence in their abilities.
8. Learn to Read, by Modern Kid Press
A delightful journey into the world of words awaits children in this magical sight words and phonics activity book. The book employs an innovative method where children learn words through images, rather than phonetically sounding out letters. These sight words constitute a large proportion of most children’s books, making the learning of other words much more straightforward.
Additionally, it incorporates word recognition drills, puzzles, and games involving whimsical creatures like unicorns, mermaids, and dinosaurs, to ensure the learning process is engaging and fun. Its high-quality interior stock and premium matte cover design make it a durable and appealing educational resource.
9. Dr. Seuss Workbook, by Dr. Seuss
The Dr. Seuss Workbook is an all-encompassing 1st-grade workbook featuring over 300 curriculum-based activities. This educationally holistic approach covers English, Math, Social Emotional Learning, and Science.
Each exercise in the workbook incorporates familiar Dr. Seuss characters, making learning more fun and relatable for children. The lessons in this workbook are intended to fortify school teachings, ensure success in and out of the classroom, and cultivate essential life skills. Each completed activity is marked with reward stickers, and certificates are provided for each subject, fostering a sense of achievement and confidence in children.
10. School Zone – Beginning Reading Workbook, by School Zone, Joan Hoffman
This is an exceptional beginner reading comprehension workbook designed to support 1st and 2nd graders in developing fundamental reading skills such as word and sentence comprehension, vowel recognition, and vocabulary building. Through enjoyable reinforcement learning, it assists children in understanding reading and in developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Recognized for its educational excellence, School Zone’s content uses hand-writing to stimulate specific areas of a child’s brain, improving their memory and ability to innovate. The workbook’s layout and perforated pages make it easy to create individual worksheets, providing an excellent resource for school or home learning.
11. Learn to Read: Sight Words Storybook, by Kimberly Ann Kiedrowski
This book aims to help kids aged 3 to 5 start reading using simple stories and sight words. The storybook introduces 50 essential sight words in a progressive manner, gradually increasing in difficulty to enhance the learning process.
At the end of each story, there are a couple of fun activities to further reinforce the newly learned words. The book aims to give children a solid foundation for reading with common sight words and provides an enjoyable and interactive way for young children to learn to read.
12. 100 Words Kids Need to Read, by 1st Grade, by Scholastic
This workbook emphasizes the 100 words children should know by the time they reach the first grade. It helps them master comprehension, spelling, writing, and usage of each word through fill-in-the-blank stories and sentences, word riddles, games, and puzzles.
Stories present words in context, and “Guess the Word” activities challenge children’s comprehension. Children can also practice classifying and sorting words, using irregular verb forms, and proofreading. This comprehensive approach ensures children master essential words and develop crucial literacy skills.
