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The Best Learn to Read Books to Build Early Literacy Skills

My Family Life Reviews Team
Written By My Family Life Reviews Team
Last updated: Mar 17, 2025, 06:41 AM
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Learning Books

Learn-to-read books usually have large print, colorful illustrations, and simple words for beginner readers. The ones chosen in this review guide are useful for helping your little one strengthen their reading and phonics skills. The best learn-to-read book on our list,Learn to Read for Kids with Dyslexia, is specifically tailored to kids ages 7-12 who struggle with dyslexia. Through its playful activities, daily exercises, and six different learning methods, it is a great guide to help your child read with confidence.

View all Contents
  • Buying Guide: Learn To Read Books
    • What To Consider When Buying a Learn To Read Book
    • How Often Should You Read a Learn To Read Book With Your Child?
    • How Much Does a Learn To Read Book Cost?
    • How Can You Instill the Habit of Reading in Your Child?
  • People Also Asked
  • Why Trust Us?
  • Contributors
  • Related Reads

Our Top Picks

  • Kids With Dyslexia Learn To Read Book: Best Overall (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this ↓
  • Phonics Storybook Learn To Read Book: Easiest To Follow (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this ↓
  • Bob Books Learn To Read Book: Best for Beginners (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this ↓
  • Sight Words Storybook Learn To Read Book: Budget Pick (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this ↓
  • Pete the Cat Learn To Read Book: Most Engaging (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this ↓

The Best Learn To Read Books of 2025

Kids With Dyslexia Learn To Read Book

Best Overall
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The Kids With Dyslexia Learn To Read Book is loaded with more than 100 colorful games and exercises that focus on phonemic awareness, dysgraphia, and auditory processing disorder. These games, mazes, word association, matching, coloring, and listening exercises will definitely make learning to read fun. The exercises in this book are designed to be short and easy, so your child won’t get bogged down or discouraged. They’ll be challenged and reinforced without feeling exhausted. Curated with a targeted approach to skill development that will make reading fun for your child with dyslexia, this pick is our best overall choice.

Product Pros
  • Equipped with 101 interactive activities
  • Comes with research-based concepts
  • Uses a hands-on learning approach
Product Cons
  • Might have some advanced lessons

Phonics Storybook Learn To Read Book

Easiest To Follow
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The Phonics Storybook Learn To Read Book is a valuable book that will help your child learn how to read by relating specific sounds with letters. The colorful pages and confidence-building stories are perfect for helping your child gain reading skills. There are 25 stories in total, each one utilizing unique word families and sound patterns that are familiar to most kids. The stories are also progressive, meaning each story is built on the one before it.  This book comes with word families containing the same ending patterns, which is perfect for reinforcement. The stories are made up of six pictures with a simple sentence underneath. There are two pages of activities included, such as tracing activities and word search games. These activities help emphasize the word group that was the focus of the preceding story. 

Product Pros
  • Has lots of engaging phonics
  • Easy-to-read stories with simple illustrations
  • Focuses on word families
Product Cons
  • No basics of sounds or letters

Bob Books Learn To Read Book

Best for Beginners
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The Bob Books Learn To Read Book is an excellent choice for young children who are just learning to read. The illustrations are colorful and engaging and the book progresses at a good pace, gradually adding new sounds and vocabulary. This progressive approach helps build confidence and encourages repetition, which is essential for early readers. The funny pictures are a bonus that will keep kids entertained while they learn. This innovative pick uses a unique blend of visuals and audio to help your child grasp the concepts of reading. Each lesson is designed to be interactive and engaging, so your child will stay focused and motivated. With a progress tracking approach, you can be confident that your child is making progress.

Product Pros
  • Comes with colored illustrations
  • Simple sentences with three-letter words
  • Has vocabulary repetition and funny pictures
Product Cons
  • The illustrations might not be appealing

Sight Words Storybook Learn To Read Book

Budget Pick
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The Sight Words Storybook Learn To Read Book includes 50 essential sight words and is illustrated with simple yet engaging stories. After each story, there are a pair of fun activities to help your child reinforce the words learned. The stories progress in difficulty, slowly introducing new sight words in a manner that is easy for early readers to follow.  This workbook provides a solid foundation for reading, teaching sight words and basic reading skills in a visually appealing and enjoyable way. It is designed to teach young children the most common words in the English language. By memorizing these words, your child will be able to start reading on their own.

Product Pros
  • Equipped with 25 simple stories
  • Packed with plenty of sight words
  • Comes with lots of educational activities
Product Cons
  • Too basic for 5-year-olds

Pete the Cat Learn To Read Book

Most Engaging
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With 12 simple and fun storybooks, the Pete the Cat Learn To Read Book provides ample opportunity for your child to practice their reading skills. Each book reinforces sight words, using picture cues and short sentences. Plus, your child will learn the relationship between letters and the sounds they make. All the included books are slim and easy to grip, so your child will have no trouble holding onto them. Most importantly, they’re a great way to keep kids engaged and interested in reading.  Each book in the series features a different phonics sound, with accompanying illustrations and activities to help your child practice what they’ve learned. Your child will love following along with Pete as he adventures through each book, and you’ll love seeing their confidence grow as they develop their reading skills. With charming illustrations and a moral lesson in each book, your child will love learning to read with Pete the Cat.

Product Pros
  • Equipped with 12 simple stories
  • Emphasis on vowel sounds
  • Uses picture cues and easy sentences
Product Cons
  • Print quality is low

Buying Guide: Learn To Read Books

Now that you’re aware of our favorite learn-to-read books, let’s give you a deeper look into how to choose one for your kids with this comprehensive buyer’s guide.

What To Consider When Buying a Learn To Read Book

Your child’s interests

Think about dinosaurs, farm animals, cars, or flowers. If the book features the things your young one likes, chances are they’ll want to read it.

Illustrations

Consider learn-to-read books with bright and bold illustrations. These will be great for children who are just learning to read because the pictures will help them understand the story. The bright colors, cute faces, and creative patterns will also make them more attracted to the book.

Activities

A learn-to-read book should include activities that engage kids in the reading process. Otherwise, they’re likely to become bored and lose interest quickly. Some books also include interactive features like mazes or puzzles to help kids connect with the story on a deeper level.

Stories

A lot of times, kids will lose interest in a book if it’s nothing but dry facts with no narrative. A good story will captivate their attention and make them want to keep reading to see what happens next. It’s also been shown time and time again that stories are an effective way of teaching new concepts.

Reinforcement exercises

Reinforcement exercises provide an opportunity for kids to practice what they’ve learned. This helps them better understand and remember the material. Plus, it allows you to gauge their comprehension level so you can adjust your approach accordingly.

How Often Should You Read a Learn To Read Book With Your Child?

According to most educational experts, you should read a learn-to-read book with your child every day. This helps them become familiar with the material and allows you to reinforce the concepts they’re learning. Just make sure your child is engaged and enjoying the book. If they are not interested in the story, your kid will be less likely to retain the information. So, look for books that are age-appropriate and have colorful illustrations. You can also find books that focus on specific topics, such as numbers or colors.

How Much Does a Learn To Read Book Cost?

Prices for learn-to-read books can vary widely from $25 to $150. It’s important to know what factors will affect the cost of the book you choose. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you determine how much to spend:

The age of your child

Books for younger children will typically be less expensive than books for older children. This is because they often contain simpler content and provide more basic instruction.

The level of difficulty

If you’re looking for a book that covers more advanced concepts or is geared toward older children, you should expect to pay more. If you’re simply looking for an introductory book that will help your child get started with reading, you’ll find plenty of reasonable options.

Special features

Some learn-to-read books come with bonus features like audio CDs or online games and activities. These extra materials can add to the cost of the book, but they can also provide valuable supplemental learning opportunities for your child.

How Can You Instill the Habit of Reading in Your Child?

There are a few things you can do to encourage your child to pick up a book:

  1. Make sure you have plenty of books around the house. Having books within reach will make it more likely for your child to grab one when they’re bored or looking for something to do.
  2. Set aside some time each day for reading. Make it part of the daily routine so that it becomes second nature.
  3. Lead by example. If you’re regularly seen reading, your child will be more likely to want to read as well.

People Also Asked

What are some tips for using learn-to-read books?

You should choose a learn-to-read book that is appropriate for your child's age and skill level. Also, practice reading aloud with your child and provide them with opportunities to practice reading on their own. Both of these methods can help them learn better.

How do I know if my child is ready to start using learn-to-read books?

You'll know if your child is ready to start using learn-to-read books by observing whether they show an interest in reading and enjoy being read to. You can start teaching your kid how to read a book when they start recognizing different words and their meanings.

Can adults use learn-to-read books?

Yes, adults can use learn-to-read books as effective tools for improving literacy skills, especially if they are learning a new language, enhancing their reading abilities, or seeking to overcome literacy challenges. These books often offer structured content that caters to different proficiency levels, making them adaptable for learners of all ages.

Why Trust Us?

You can trust My Family Life to provide practical tips and product recommendations that genuinely prioritize your family's best interests. As parents ourselves, our mission is to create a supportive community where you feel empowered and informed, knowing that we genuinely care about making your parenting experience as smooth and joyful as possible.

Contributors

My Family Life Reviews Team
My Family Life Reviews Team
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