Decodable Books and Why They’re So Important

Decodable books contain text specifically designed for early readers, following a structured phonological scope and sequence. Unlike "leveled" readers, which can sometimes be misleading when advertised as "Beginning Reader" books, decodable books are developmentally appropriate tools that support young readers in building foundational reading skills.

Each decodable book introduces new letter-sounds and sight words systematically. They start with simple words and gradually increase in complexity, aligning with the developmental progress of beginning readers. This structured approach helps children practice sounding out words and applying the reading strategies they learn in school.

Traditional leveled readers, such as those with an "I Can Read" badge, rarely match a young reader’s abilities. As a result, children often rely on guessing words from pictures or context, a habit that has been proven to impede reading development.

In contrast, decodable books encourage readers to use the phonics skills they're learning in the classroom. This practice leads to young children reading with greater accuracy, confidence, and independence.

How Now’s Cat and Tad is decodable. We want children’s first reading experiences to be efficient, effective, and, most of all, joyful.