Are you looking for free decodable books to use with your learners in the classroom or at home?
You’re in the right spot!
My experience with decodable books
I admit it. As a first grade teacher, I was in the anti-decodable books camp.
A big reason for that had to do with my misunderstanding of how children learn to read. I thought kids should use three-cueing as they read leveled books.
Now, however, I understand that students need to read decodable text so they get practice applying the phonics skills we’ve taught them.
Another reason I was anti-decodable was that I was less than impressed with the decodable books in the market. At the time (*ahem years ago), most decodable books were boring, stilted, and not something kids would want to read again and again.
Times have changed, and now you can choose from a huge variety of quality, decodable books.
I’m adding my free decodable books to the mix because I want everyone to have access to quality decodables, regardless of their budget.
At the end of this post, you’ll find the foldable, color version of each book for FREE when you join my free newsletter.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!
Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!
What about comprehension and decodable text?
Another reason I used to be anti-decodable was that I thought kids would read them sooo sloowwwly they wouldn’t be able to comprehend the text. (Either that, or the text was so stilted they wouldn’t be able to comprehend it no matter how fast they read it!)
It turns out that I was partly right.
When you understand the Simple View of Reading, you know that reading comprehension is the product of decoding ability AND language comprehension. Students must become proficient decoders and understand the language to become fluent. Fluency is the bridge between phonics and comprehension.
When kids are first learning to read, decoding takes a lot of mental energy. As students become more fluent, their brains are freed up for comprehension.
But that doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t make sense of the decodable text that they read!
I hired a custom illustrator for these books because I wanted the full story to be available through the pictures. (After all, an author can only include so many words when kids only know a few letter sounds.)
Don’t get me wrong – students don’t need the pictures to read these books – but the pictures themselves provide opportunities for predicting, questioning, inferring, and other higher level skills.
Each book comes with a set of low and high level comprehension questions on the final page.
What’s included in the full set?
The free books below are all you truly need to get started. But you’ll be blown away by the supplementary materials, as pictured below.
When you purchase the complete set of level 1 books with accompanying resources, you will receive:
- Each book in multiple printing formats (each includes black and white)
- A single-page lesson plan for each book with introductory activities and tips for reading the book with students
- Blending lines that give decoding practice before reading
- A cut-and-paste retelling activity so students can retell the story using the pictures
- A dictation exercise so students connect letter-sound knowledge to spelling
- Each book on a single page with just one picture; use for partner reading and assessment at the end of the week!
Set 1a: Consonants, Short Vowels & Digraphs
Click on each book to get it for free! You’ll see a pop-up to enter your name and email address so the book comes right to your inbox.
You’ll also see a special offer to get the full set with supplementary materials (as described above).
P.S. Some people would rather not enter their email address for each book. We have a solution for that!
Don’t want to enter your email address for each book? Purchase here!
Decodable Books – Set 1a: Consonants, Short Vowels, & Digraphs
Get all 16 books in multiple versions … plus lesson plans, blending lines, dictation, and more!
Set 1b: FLOSS Rule, Blends, ng/nk, and more!
Click on each book to get it for free! You’ll see a pop-up to enter your name and email address so the book comes right to your inbox.
You’ll also see a special offer to get the full set with supplementary materials (as described above).
P.S. Some people would rather not enter their email address for each book. We have a solution for that!
Don’t want to enter your email address for each book? Purchase here!
Decodable Books – Set 1b: FLOSS Rule, Blends, ng/nk,and more!
Get all 12 books in multiple versions … plus lesson plans, blending lines, dictation, and more!
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!
Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!
Set 2: Vowel Teams, R-Controlled Vowels, and more
Click on each book to get it for free! You’ll see a pop-up to enter your name and email address so the book comes right to your inbox.
You’ll also see a special offer to get the full set with supplementary materials (as described above).
P.S. Some people would rather not enter their email address for each book. We have a solution for that!
Don’t want to enter your email address for each book? Purchase here!
Decodable Books – Set 2: Vowel Teams, R-Controlled Vowels & More
Get all 18 books in multiple versions … plus lesson plans, blending lines, dictation, and more!
Set 3: Diphthongs, Consonant-le, Soft & hard c/g, & more
Click on each book to get it for free! You’ll see a pop-up to enter your name and email address so the book comes right to your inbox.
You’ll also see a special offer to get the full set with supplementary materials (as described above).
P.S. Some people would rather not enter their email address for each book. We have a solution for that!
Don’t want to enter your email address for each book? Purchase here!
Decodable Books Set 3: Diphthongs, Soft & Hard c/g & More
Get all 11 books in multiple versions … plus lesson plans, blending lines, dictation, and more!
Free Reading Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade
Join our email list and get this sample pack of time-saving resources from our membership site! You'll get phonemic awareness, phonics, and reading comprehension resources ... all free!
Louisa
Good afternoon from Sir Lowry’s Pass, Cape Town, South Africa
I’m part of a Sir Lowry’s Pass Creative Development Non Profit Company. We work a rural village in Western Cape. We started a ‘private school’ to assist learners that is struggling to keep up in normal 40-50 pupil classes in the local Primary School.
Thank you for all your learning material that I may use to assist these children to learn English (they are all Afrikaans speaking). I have from the age of 6 up to 43 years learners which is being helped.
Kind regards
Louisa
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re so glad it’s helpful, Louisa! Thank you for the work that you’re doing!
Paul
Hi Anna!
These decodable books are, quite frankly, the best I’ve ever seen. I would like to use them during private tutoring sessions. Is this permitted under the terms of use?
I’m a little confused because the terms say the resources may be used in a “personal, non-commercial” way but also in classrooms and tutoring settings, which could involve payment for instruction.
Needless to say, I don’t plan to sell the file, just use it for student reading practice during private tutoring sessions. Is this alright? I want to make sure I am respecting the thought and care that went into these brilliant books.
Thank you!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello Paul,
Thank you for being so considerate of our terms of use! You can definitely use them in your private tutoring sessions. The terms of use is worded that way to guard against someone selling the digital files or copies of the books.
Thank you for checking!
Paul
Nice! Thanks for your reply, Heather. 🙂
Fatema
Amazing resource
Ernest Hofer
Hi Anna
My name is Ernest Hofer, I am a German school teacher in a Hutterite colony.
I have used your materials, that you give out online, for my preschoolers and have found it VERY useful and helpful since it is the same font that we start our children with.
I do, however, have a question/request. Though the font in most of your materials are the plain Latin font that can be used either in English school or German, there is, however, one project that called ALPHABET FINGER TRACING CARDS that I liked very much, however, the pictures, of course, are for the ENGLISH letter of the alphabet and not GERMAN. So I’ve been wondering if, by chance, I could get an editable PDF of that same project that I could add pictures that match with the German letter.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello Ernest,
We appreciate your request, but we cannot share editable versions of our resources. If you would like to create your own for a German version, you can find that letter tracing font (or a similar one) on TpT.
Linda
Anna,
Throughout the years you have given me inspiration and support with your educational materials and knowledge of how to reach our students.
Thank you for sharing your heart and making a difference in our world.
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for this very kind comment, Linda! And thank YOU for all that you do for your students!
Nourhan Mohamed
Very good
Laura Volant
These books are AMAZING!!! I have been so frustrated that I haven’t been able to find books that truly followed a good scope and sequence without throwing in lots of words my students hadn’t learned yet. This has made my students frustrated too and has affected their reading confidence. But these books only include words that have been introduced up until that point, while also slowing introducing and reviewing new sight words students so students can learn them in context. Thank you so much for sharing these. They are helping my students make so much growth in their reading.
I saw in your emails that you have released 2 new books from set 3, but I’m not able to be a member anymore. Will you be making set 3 available as a freebie like sets 1 and 2? I really hope so!
Laura
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Thank you for taking the time to share such kind feedback, Laura! We’re thrilled to hear they’ve been so helpful for you!
We will be sharing the free versions of Set 3 once the entire set is complete. Keep an eye on your email because we’ll be sure to share when it is finished and up on the website!
Laura Volant
Ok thank you so much! I’ll keep an eye out for it!
Asha
Thank you so much Anna. Really appreciate this kind and generous gesture sharing your work. Loves and blessings to you.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re glad you can use them, Asha!
Vicktory
Thank you for free access and some free downloadable books.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
You’re welcome, Vicktory!
Juliet
Thank you for free access and some free downloadable books.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We hope that you and your students enjoy them, Juliet!
Luana Holzer
Dear Anna!
I am a Reading Simplified tutor and your Decodable readers and activity set 1a and 1b are the favorites. I can’t wait until level 2 is released.
Everything you do is quality; thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I love your podcasts too!
Again, thank you!
Blessings to you and your family,
Luana
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your kind word, Luana! I’m thrilled that you can use my decodable books alongside Reading simplified!
Janet Beatrice
It’s great to know that, Luana. I’m a Reading Simplified tutor as well, and it’s good to find decodables we can use with our lessons.
Jenny
Liana I agree 100%! My students love these books.
Katelyn Leach
Yes! I completely agree! When will level 2 come out? I’m looking for great decodables for the CVCe patterns. Thanks!
Anna Geiger
We are close, Katelyn! Rossy has to finish the pictures for two more books. Then Set 2 (18 books) will be ready!
Leslie
Hi! Is there a way to purchase all of your decodable books in one bundle? Thanks!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Great question! After we finish the final set we will be bundling them together. We hope to have that done in the next year!
Jessica
Is there a way to purchase the entire set, or do I need to purchase set 1a and 1b separately? I am also interested in a set for long vowels, is that the next set that will be released? Thank you!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Great questions, Jessica! Set 1a and Set 1b are sold separately. Our next set, Set 2, will include magic e words, long vowels, and r-controlled vowels. The first six books of that set are completed already, and we’ve been releasing each new book into our membership website, The Measured Mom Plus, as they are finished!
Jessica
Thank you! Will the books from Set 2 only be available to members, or will they be available on the Measured Mom website?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We will add them to the website once the whole set is complete – hopefully sometime in the fall!
Allie Rusch
Hello! I have been patiently waiting for set 2 to come out for purchase. Any update on when it will be available for non members? I am a homeschool mom and this is an invaluable resource for my learner!
Abby Wilson
Thank you so much for access to these. I love your products. I teach 4-5-6 and have a 6 year old. I’m understanding the love for phonics and use for decodable books. I’m also understanding when kids rely on memory reading as they get older (4-5-6th grades) they do not have the tools that phonics provides. Thank you again. 🙂
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Well said, Abby!
Lorelei
Well done Abby, how is your 4-5-6 composite going? I have 3-4-5 and have downloaded these to use with a year 4 child with no phonics awareness at all alongside my own children who are 6 and 7. Such great resources to have. Thankyou for providing them FREE <3
Stacy
I entered my name and email on each individual decidable book a couple of hours ago and I haven’t gotten anything in my email or my Spam folder.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hi Stacy! Our system shows that each of those books were emailed out to you, but they may have been delayed a bit. Did you receive each of those emails? If not, please email us at hello@themeasuredmom.com and we’ll continue to look into this for you!
Michima
Thanks.
BH
These decodable books are by far the best on the market! The stories are engaging, not the least bit contrived and the pictures are excellent! My struggling readers treasure these books and even my very advanced readers enjoy them! This set, along with the nonfiction set has made it affordable and easy to make my classroom library better aligned with SOR!
Thank you, Anna and Rossy! Keep them coming!!
Anna Geiger
We LOVE to hear this! Thanks so much for this feedback – I shared it with Rossy!
Tom Ashmus
I was just curious how long it took to receive our free decodable books 🙂
Not sure if I missed a step or not.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello Tom!
You should always receive the books within a few minutes after signing up for them. It looks like our system tried to send out each of the books to you, but all of those emails were bounced back to us. Sometimes this happens when an inbox is full, or if an email has strict security settings that block outside links from coming through.
If that’s not the case, you may find better success trying to sign up for the books with a different email address!
Laurie Whitener
Thank you for access to your books!
I have one copy of the reader It is a Pet, but cannot figure out where I got it. Will you please help me locate it.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hi Laurie! That’s the title of our sight word book for the word, a. You can find it (and all of our other free sight word books) at this link, https://www.themeasuredmom.com/free-sight-word-books/.
Cassandra Wadley
My kids love the decodable books. Will there be another set coming out soon?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re so glad they love them, Cassandra! Set 1b just released in November, and we hope that the completed next set will be ready in the fall of 2023. Members of The Measured Mom Plus get access to each new book as it is finished!
CG
Dear Anna,
Thank you as always for the fabulous and most generous resources that you share.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
You’re welcome!
Catherine
Dear Ms. Geiger,
Thank you so so much for sharing so many useful worksheets, books and other teaching materials you created. They really help a lot in teaching English and bring children so much fun learning the language. I’ve purchased all these books! Thank you again for what you’ve been doing.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
You’re so welcome, Catherine! Thank you for such a wonderful comment!
BH
This is so generous!! The stories are so rich, and the illustrations complement the words perfectly.
I can’t wait to show these to my students 🙂
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We hope they love them just as much as we do!
Lois Tschaepe
Ten years ago I taught my 4 year old (then) triplet grandsons how to read using your program. They are now 14 years old and A students. I thought I was done until my son fell in love with a women and her 4 year old daughter. Here I am again, back on your website and getting ready to download those wonderful books I used with my boys!
Jenni
Do you have more decodables? I teach first grade and many of my students need decodables with long vowels. Thank you!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello Jenni! We are currently working on the next set of these! We hope to have Set 2 completed by late fall (although as each book is finished, we are releasing them to members of The Measured Mom Plus). A set containing long vowel teams is in the plan, but won’t be completed until next year.
Kara
These are amazing! Do you have a Set 2 or will you be working on publishing more sets?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Thank you, Kara! We are currently working on Set 2!
Gail
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and the resources that you provide for educators in need of guidance and support. You have become the go to expert that I seek as I embark on this new chapter in my life. You are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comment, Gail! I love to study and share, and I’m so glad you’re along for the ride! Have a wonderful week!
Darci
I purchased the books. I didn’t get a chance to download them. How do I find them?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hi Darci! Look for an email from our support team about this!
Stephanie Brandon
I love these and can’t wait to use them with my little one, but I can’t seem to get them all to download. Books 1, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 15 don’t seem to work right.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hi Stephanie! Did you check your spam folder to see if they were redirected into there by mistake? If you can’t find them there, send us an email at hello@themeasuredmom.com and we’ll be happy to help!
Akurut Tina
Hello!!
I’m Tina!,a Ugandan(East African Kindergarten Teacher) and i just must say,Your resources are always an answered prayer!!..May God Spoil you for me!!.
Lots of Love!!.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Thank you, Tina! May God continue to bless you and your students!
Khadeeja
Hi Anna. I just wanted to thank you for this amazing free books you’ve made available for free. I am a homeschooling mum of three from South Africa. For my first kiddo I got a range of phonics and early readers from my local library. Unfortunately after Covid hit the library never reopened and I have been looking around for reasonably priced readers like these for a while. But books are very expensive. And books like these that the kids are just going to use for a short bit before moving on to more complex readers just seemed like a waste to spend so much money on. They are amazingly beautiful and soo professional! Thank you very much. my daughter is so excited she insisted I print all right now so she can get reading!
May you always be blessed by the Almighty
Thanks again
Anna Geiger
I’m so sorry to hear that your library didn’t reopen, Khadeeja! And I’m so glad that these books will work for your daughter. Hugs to you!
Melissa
Hello!
I just purchased your $9 phonics decodeable readers pack. It hasn’t come through…. Does it usually come through straight away? Or do I just need to be patient? 😆
Thanks,
Melissa
Anna Geiger
Hi Melissa! Please send an email to hello(at)themeasuredmom(dot)com and we’ll take care of you! (It should have come right away.)
Kaily
Wow! It’s as though you have read my mind! Very much appreciated! Yours is always the site I share when ever I talk with parents or colleagues about great resources. You spoil us so!! Many thanks!
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much, Kaily – your comment made my day! Have a great rest of your week!
Gaury
Hello Anna,
Thanks so much for these decodable books. My son is an emergent reader and I’m sure he will love these.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
I hope he enjoys them as much as we do, Gaury!
Sharon
I can’t seem to get the link to the free set of books. I’m on your email list but I only received the activities.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
I sent you an email about this, Sharon!
Rebekah Robinson
I love 💕 the decoderable books you all created. Sitting long hours Infront of the computer then to share it, this is truly remarkable.
When I’m using the books I’ll sure take a video and send it to you. Rebekah Robinson from Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹.😊
Heather Groth, Customer Support
That would be wonderful, Rebekah! We’re so glad that they will be useful for you!
Kim Adams
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful creations! I am excited about having them to use with future grandchildren as well as if I go back into a classroom setting. I have told many teachers that I work with in coaching about your amazing site. Thank you again!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
You’re welcome, Kim! We appreciate you recommending us to the teachers that you coach!
Martha
Hi Anna,
Wow this set is perfect it covers everything in one packet that you can use for a whole week. It is awesome, I used to hunt websites when I was working at the school as an EA, Para Pro teaching reading to kids who struggled. This is exactly the kind of materials I would look for.
I usually tried patching it together with all with bits and pieces. Then one day I found you. I no longer work at a school but I use your materials for my preschool grandkids. I am going to keep these books for the two younger princesses (1 and 3 yrs old) so it will be a little while before I need them. I just wanted to thank you. You have helped me to teach my 4 grandsons to read by sharing your materials. They all started kindergarten knowing how to read at kindergarten level. Their teachers were very grateful. I try to send people I know to your website. I don’t know if they have found their way to your blog but I do give them your website. Have a great week.
Martha
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your very kind feedback, Martha! This means so much to us! Thank you also very for sharing the site. It’s much appreciated! I look forward to hearing about your experience using these books with your granddaughters when the time is right. 🙂
Sarah
I love these, its definitely worth paying for the whole set. The additional activities makes all the difference. I plan on using these as the base for teaching alphabet and phonics by adding just a few alphabet worksheets and activities and then working with the corresponding book. I hope you plan on continuing with a more advanced level.
(As an aside a personal preference would have been to get each type in a separate file. Ex. one file of all black and white, another with color and a third with the side staple. Instructions on printing included in the download would also be helpful.)
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re thrilled they’re going to fit so well for your classroom, Sarah! Thank you for your feedback on the files, we normally try to limit the number of files when we can. Be sure to use the clickable links in the table of contents to quickly get to what you need! You can find printing instructions included on page 4 of the purchasable books and resources file and page 2 of the free book downloads. Thank you!
Jen
Thank you so much, I can’t wait to use these. Can you explain the best way to copy and assemble these decodables?
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hi Jen! You can find the printing instructions on page 2 of the free download. If you purchased the full version, the printing instructions are on page 4!
Kel
Thank you so much for these decodables! I appreciate everything you do and you are such a valuable resource on my SOR journey. I cannot wait to share these books with my students!
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re thrilled to hear this, Kel!
Tara
Yep, that worked! Thanks 🙂
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Great! I’m glad it was an easy fix!
Tara
Hi Anna,
I’ve email you but not sure if you received it. LOVE these books! However, when I printed one out, the background around the images was solid black, rather than transparent/white. How do I fix that? Hoping it’s an easy fix! Thanks so much!
Anna Geiger
It is easy, Tara! Just make sure to open and print with the free Adobe Reader. Download the program to your computer, then open it and open the file FROM that program; then print from it as well. Let us know if that doesn’t do the trick! The program you need is the free one on top of this page: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Jennifer
The first book I downloaded said the accompanying lesson plans were $9. Now it says $18. Wondered which it was.
Anna Geiger
HI Jennifer! The $9 is a limited time offer (just for 15 minutes). After that the page reverts to the regular price of $18. I hope that clears it up!
Amanda
Thank you and your team for your time, heart, and dedication to these resources! They are wonderful and greatly appreciated!
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Amanda! We really appreciate it!
Deanna
Is this set available on TPT?
Anna Geiger
I have a team member who will be uploading them later this week. 🙂
Marina
Thank you very much, Anna! I highly appreciate your work. These books are fantastic!
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much, Marina!
Cassie
These are amazing! We love your sight word books, and these look perfect for my four-year-old!
Anna Geiger
Yay – I’m so glad these came at the right time for you, Cassie!
Amnah
Thank you so much for this Anna! It’s so, so, so generous of you!
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Amnah! 🙂
Erin
Firstly, I would like to commend you on making a change to how you teach reading. As humans, we tend to be creatures of habit. It takes courage, energy and devotion to see things in a different light and to admit that things have changed with the empirical research data. Secondly, I would like to thank you for your hard work on these decodable books! So many kids will benefit!
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for your kind words, Erin! We’re so excited to share these books!