If your child is learning to read, you have probably heard the term “decodable readers” from a teacher, a curriculum guide, or another parent. But what does it actually mean, and why does it matter so much for your child’s reading success? The answer comes down to one simple idea: the books a child practices with should match the phonics skills they have already been taught. That is exactly what decodable readers are designed to do.
Decodable readers are books written specifically for children who are learning to read. The text uses letter-sound relationships and phonics patterns the child has already been taught, along with a small number of high-frequency words.
This is different from a general easy reader. A short picture book may look simple, but it can include spelling patterns a beginner has not learned yet. A true decodable text is structured so children can sound out most words on the page.
Children who are just starting need books that connect letters with sounds before asking them to read full sentences independently. Little Lions Alphabet Books support this stage with 26 story books, finger tracing pages, story activities, and friendly animal characters for each letter.
Once children know basic consonant and vowel sounds, they need repeated practice with CVC words such as cat, sit, hop, and run. Little Lions First Readers include 10 decodable books with two books for each short vowel sound, red words, and story activities.
Little Lions Decodable Books Set 1 includes 16 fully decodable books covering short vowels, digraphs such as sh, ch, and th, the FLOSS rule, consonant blends, and high-frequency sight words. This is a strong fit for pre-K through first grade readers who are ready for connected text.
Little Lions Decodable Books Set 2 adds long vowel patterns, two-syllable words, glued sounds such as ang, ing, ong, ung, ank, ink, onk, and unk, plus high-frequency sight words. This stage helps children move beyond simple CVC reading without jumping too far ahead.
Little Lions Decodable Books Set 3 supports children working on long i and e patterns, vowel team syllables, r-controlled vowels, closed syllable exceptions, suffix -ed, and high-frequency sight words.
Little Lions Decodable Books Set 4 introduces more advanced phonics patterns including diphthongs, vowel teams, open syllables, silent letters, and high-frequency sight words. This set is best for children who have already built a strong foundation through earlier decodable reading.
Browse Little Lions Decodable Book Sets
Little Lions Literacy offers a 64-book decodable series built around a systematic phonics progression. The books are not chapter books. They are carefully sequenced sets that help preschool through second-grade children practice skills in order, from short vowels and digraphs to vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, diphthongs, and silent letters.
The series is designed by Karina Richland, M.A., author of the Little Lions Decodable books and the PRIDE Reading Program. Her background in Orton-Gillingham reading instruction and differentiated teaching gives the materials strong educational credibility.
For classrooms, Little Lions also offers practice books, teaching guide support, and classroom sets that make implementation easier for teachers, homeschool parents, reading specialists, and interventionists.
No. Decodable books are organized by phonics skills, while leveled readers are organized by general text difficulty. Decodable books are better for early phonics practice because children can apply the sounds and spelling patterns they have been taught.
They are most often used with preschool through second-grade children, but they can also help older struggling readers who need explicit phonics practice.
Little Lions offers a 64-book decodable series across four sets, plus Alphabet Books, First Readers, Practice Books, Teaching Guide support, and classroom options.
No. Little Lions Decodable Books are not chapter books. They are sets of decodable books that progress through a specific scope and sequence.
If you want decodable books that are systematic, engaging, and grounded in the science of reading, start with the Little Lions decodable book sets. Choose the set that matches your child’s current phonics skills, then move forward step by step as confidence grows.
