Decodable Books: Insights from the Science of Reading

Learning to read is a complex process that requires a solid foundation in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Phonics is critical in enabling children to decode words accurately and efficiently. Decodable books, specifically designed to support phonics instruction, have emerged as an essential tool in early reading education.  

What Are Decodable Books?  

Decodable books are carefully crafted texts that align with the phonics skills children are learning. These books contain words that students can “decode” or sound out using their knowledge of letter-sound relationships. Decodable books help a reader build confidence and proficiency by focusing on phonetic patterns and gradually increasing complexity.  

The Science of Reading: Why Decodable Books Matter  

The science of reading, a body of research encompassing cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and education studies, underscores the importance of systematic phonics instruction in early literacy development.¹ Decodable books are a vital component of this instructional approach for several reasons:  

• Supports Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Skills: Decodable books reinforce the phonics skills that children are learning in a structured and sequential manner. Children develop stronger phonemic awareness and decoding abilities by practicing with texts that match their phonics instruction.²  
• Builds Reading Confidence and Fluency: When children successfully decode words in a text, they experience a sense of accomplishment, which boosts their confidence. Repeated practice with decodable books also enhances reading fluency, enabling children to read more quickly and accurately.³  
• Reduces Cognitive Load: Decodable books limit the number of irregular words readers encounter, allowing them to focus on applying their phonics knowledge without being overwhelmed. This reduction in cognitive load helps readers concentrate on the decoding process and improves their reading comprehension.⁴  
• Facilitates Early Reading Success: Early reading success is crucial for long-term academic achievement. Decodable books provide a clear pathway for readers to achieve early reading milestones, laying a solid foundation for future learning.⁵ 

Recommended Decodable Books Available Online and at the VPL Library! 

• Listing of VPL Decodable books 
• Go phonics 
• BOB Books 
• Daffodil Hill Decodables 
• Super books 
• Junior Learning 
• Simple word books 
• The Yack Pack 

Conclusion

Decodable books are a vital resource in the journey to literacy, providing structured and systematic support for early readers. By aligning with phonics instruction and leveraging insights from the science of reading, these books help children develop essential reading skills, build confidence, and achieve early reading success. Incorporating decodable books into reading instruction at home and in the classroom can significantly impact a reader’s literacy development. 

– Sofia Lopez Nakashima, Senior Manager, Assessments

LDS is a community of dedicated professionals who write collaboratively. We recognize the contribution of unnamed team members for their wisdom and input.

1. Ehri, L. C. (2020). How children learn to read words: Phonological recoding and orthographic mapping. In M. J. Snowling & C. Hulme (Eds.), The science of reading: A handbook (pp. 135-152). Wiley Blackwell. [↩]
2. Castles, A., Rastle, K., & Nation, K. (2018). Ending the reading wars: Reading acquisition from novice to expert. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 19(1), 5-51. [↩]
3. Cheatham, J. P., & Allor, J. H. (2012). The influence of decodable text on the word identification strategies of beginning readers. Reading Psychology, 33(3), 248-270. [↩]
4. Adams, M. J. (1990). Beginning to read: Thinking and learning about print. MIT Press. [↩]
5. Stahl, S. A. (2011). Instructional models in reading: An introduction. Routledge. [↩]