Decodable Books: The ‘Training Wheels’ Early Readers Actually Need

Let’s talk about books for Early Readers.

Not All Beginner Book Teach Reading the Same Way

At first glance, many beginner reading books can look very similar. They often include short sentences, engaging pictures, and familiar topics for young readers. However, not all early reading books are designed with the same purpose in mind.

Some books are carefully written to help children practice decoding and applying phonics skills they have already learned. Others rely more heavily on repetition, patterns, or picture clues to help children predict the text. While both types of books may appear “easy,” they encourage very different reading habits.

When children are first learning to read, we want them building the habit of looking closely at the letters and sounds in words rather than guessing based on context or memorization. Understanding the difference between these types of books can help parents make more informed choices about the reading practice their child is getting.

Inside Leveled or ‘Beginner’ Readers

Let’s be honest. Not every book labeled as “beginner” is actually supportive of beginner readers. Marketing is powerful and plenty of books promise to ‘help your child learn to read’ on the outside but the inside is filled with relying on guessing, memorizing, and some skip foundational skills entirely.

Let’s have a look at features that are commonly found in leveled or traditional ‘beginner’ readers and the strategies they often encourage children to use.

🚩No Scope & Sequence or Skill Focus
When a ‘beginner’ book doesn’t follow a scope or sequence, you can be sure to find a variety of phonics skills all mixed and matched together. This creates frustration for the reader. A book that claims it is a good fit for early readers because it has “short sentences and picture clues,” isn’t a decodable book.

🚩Repetitive or Patterned Text
When a book has a sentence frame that stays the same but only one word changes, the young reader likely isn’t reading. They are memorizing the pattern and either guessing the last word or relying heavily on the picture to finish the sentence.

🚩Encouraging Picture Reading
If a child is learning to READ, the goal is to look at the letters/words, not the picture. When we prioritize the picture, we are teaching children to guess the word which develops habits that are hard to unlearn. Pictures should support meaning, not replace reading.

Are These Books Bad?

Although I have an X by these kinds of books, it doesn’t mean they are bad books. They are just bad books for learning to read. These books are actually high-interest books that kids often love BUT getting them to read the words too early WILL cause frustration and crush their confidence. Until your child is ready, save these books to read to them and enjoy the story together.

In the meantime, let’s check out some Decodable Books.

What Is A Decodable Book?

A decodable book is a book where the majority of words match the phonics skills a child has already learned/currently being taught. Decodable books give controlled practice with exact skills they are learning.

I like to think of decodable books like training wheels. They aren’t forever but they help young learners build accurate decoding skills and build confidence.

What To Look For in A Decodable Book

Decodable books are carefully designed to give children practice with skills aligned with their learning. Here’s a quick checklist of things I like to look for in a good decodable book:

✅A Scope & Sequence
The sequence of decodable books is intentional and builds upon phonics skills moving from simple phonics skills to more complex phonics skills. Decodable books are often made in sets with a clear scope & sequence of phonics skills being worked on in current and additional sets.

✅A Clear Skill Focus & Controlled Text
A decodable book will have a clear skill focus on the book. Not only will it be obvious, it will also be mentioned on either the inside or back cover along with a word list or opportunities to practice more with this skill.

This focused practice is important because beginning readers need opportunities to apply the phonics skill they have already been taught. When the words match the skill(s) they are learning, children can successfully sound out and blend words independently rather than relying on guessing, pictures or memorization.

✅Words Are Intentional & High-Frequency Words Are Limited
Intentional word use is one of the features that make decodable books so effective for beginning readers. Some high-frequency words may not fully follow phonics patterns yet (the, said, etc..), but quality decodable books use these intentionally and sparingly to not overwhelm early readers. The thoughtful word selection allows children to focus their energy on decoding, blending, and applying phonics skills successfully.

✅Pictures Support The Story
The images in the decodable book will support the story, add context, and engage the reader. They will not replace reading by encouraging the readers to guess. In a strong decodable book, the child can read the sentence even if the pictures were covered up (try it!).

When Do We Move On?

Just like training wheels, decodable books are not forever. Their purpose is to help children build the foundational skills and confidence they need to become successful readers independently. Over time, both you and your child will begin to notice when those “training wheels” are no longer needed. Reading will become smoother, decoding will feel more automatic, and your child will be able to tackle more complex texts with greater independence.

As children grow in their reading abilities, they can gradually transition into more authentic and varied books with less controlled text and more advanced vocabulary and sentence structures. This is often when many of those high-interest books become a much better fit.

The goal of decodable books is not to limit children as readers. The goal is to give them the tools they need so they can successfully enjoy a wider world of books later on.

Want My Decodable Book Guide?

I created a decodable reader guide that includes my favourite decodable books as both a teacher and a mom. These are books and digital books that I have used both in the classroom and at home. I’ve included search terms to help make it easy for you to navigate your local library’s catalogue.