How can we teach our children to read?

There are different schools of thought for how we should teach our children to productively, and confidently, learn to read. I recommend teaching a rigorous phonics program to children. That is, children learn the sound that each letter, or phoneme makes.

For example, the word: mat has three phonemes : m, a, t

Another example, the word: chat has three phonemes : ch, a, t

The child is taught to decode the words through sounding them out.  It is important to begin slow when teaching young children, and Bob Books aid in this early reading time. First, make sure your child is ready. Don’t push this beginning stage, wait for them to be excited, and to begin, we can teach our children 3 or 4 very different letters and their sounds. This will help prevent mix ups (i.e. don’t teach m and n at the same time or b and d!)

For example : m, s, a, t

This is what Bob Books does. We start at the very beginning. We work on confidence and mastery.

The book set comes in a sturdy box, so all of the brightly colored and simply illustrated books can stay in one place.   The simple drawings do not distract the reader from the letters that are creating words and a sentence.

{This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.} 

Once your child has mastered the first book of Set 1, they can move on. There are 12 books in each Set. Each one building on the last book. We like to create the words with our little foam letters.

Bob Books are a wonderful essential for any beginning reader. And at $10 or less per set, they are also very economical. The phonics books start slow and build confidence for the reader by not starting on too difficult wording.

Phonics work is different from immersion, or “memorized” reading. As adults, we don’t sound out our words, we read from practice and memorization. But our word memory did not come without practice and diligence and time as a learner. I believe there is a place for guided reading, or sight reading, this is when children are introduced to various sight words (think: and, the, look, see) with pictures and beginning word sounds as clues to other, more difficult words.

However, sight reading is also a part of every day life!  My son can read STOP from a stop sign or TARGET on a store, and this is valid reading and part of the process.  Bob Books does have a set that includes this type of sight word reading: Bob Books Sight Words.

Find the right Bob Books Set!!

You can find out here which Bob Book would best suit your child at his/her level!

My First Bob Books: Alphabet

My First Bob Books: Pre-Reading Skills

Bob Books Set 1: Beginning Readers

Bob Books Set 2: Advancing Beginners

Bob Books Set 3: Word Families

Bob Books Set 4: Complex Words

Bob Books Set 5: Long Vowels

Bob Books Set: Rhyming Words

Bob Books Sight Words: Kindergarten

Bob Books Sight Words: First Grade

Free Bob Books Printables!!

These little phonics books were enhanced by a group of six wonderful homeschool bloggers!  They have created free printables which pair perfectly with the Bob Books.  This enhances the work with the books!!  So many activities are included in the various free printable packs.  From incorporating handwriting into the work, tactilely touching various cut printables, or playing spelling or rhyming games.

You can find all the links to the Free Hands-On Activities and Printable for Bob Books at This Reading Mama.

Or you can find more Free Printables and Resources for the Bob Books at 3 Dinosaurs!

Giveaway!!

Bob Books is giving away the set of your choice to one lucky reader! You can find out here what book set would best suit your child.

Enter at the Rafflecopter below.  This giveaway opens Sunday, November 2nd at 6am EST and closes Saturday, November 15th at 11:59pm EST.  Please see terms and conditions.

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I was provided a set of Bob Books in exchange for an honest review, opinions are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.