Printable Scholar
Home/Reading/Decodable Readers/Level 4/Len Reads to Gus

Len Reads to Gus

Vowel Team — EA 1st-2nd Phase 4
Len Reads to Gus
Len Reads to Gus, page 1
1Len had a new book about a ship far out at sea. He wanted to read it on the bench at the top of the hill, with his dog Gus by his side.
Len Reads to Gus, page 2
2Len and Gus reached the bench, and they both sat on the seat.
Len Reads to Gus, page 3
3Len opened the book. Then a big gust sent a red leaf past the bench. Gus jumped off the seat and ran after it!
Len Reads to Gus, page 4
4"Sit, Gus!" Len yelled. Gus came back, but soon a yellow leaf came by. Off he went again. Then Len held on to Gus, but Gus slipped out and dashed off.
Len Reads to Gus, page 5
5Each time Len tried to read, Gus was off on a chase. Len sat and thought. Then he had a plan.
Len Reads to Gus, page 6
6"I can read to Gus," he said. "Gus, come and hear this tale about a ship at sea," Len said. Gus stopped. He came back and hopped up on the bench.
Len Reads to Gus, page 7
7He put his chin on Len's lap. Len read about big waves, a huge fish, and a beach of white sand. Gus did not chase a leaf.
Len Reads to Gus, page 8
8Soon he went to sleep and had a nice dream. Len grinned and kept on reading. The gusts sent leaf after leaf past the bench, but Gus slept on, dreaming of the sea.
Circle or highlight all the EA vowel team words in the story above. How many did you find?

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. What was Len’s new book about?
  2. What did Gus keep chasing?
  3. What did Gus do at the end?
Keep practicing
Practice Vowel Team — EA with 10 more free worksheets

Picture worksheets to read, match and spell these words, plus this story's word sort, phrasing cards and word search.

Get the Vowel Team — EA worksheets →
Len Reads to Gus printed mini-book cover Download Mini-Book
Full-color picture book • Print, cut & staple • No signup required
Read-aloud version (one page per sheet, for projecting)
Want the whole level?
Level 4 pack · $14Every illustrated mini-book in the level, print-ready Or all 6 levels for $34 (best value)
Every book stays free to print one at a time.

Reader Details

Phonics Skill Vowel Team — EA
Grade Level 1st-2nd
Phase Phase 4
Worksheets Vowel Team — EA Worksheets

Target Words

sea tea pea beach reach teach leaf heat meat neat read bead

Sight Words

the is a and to was it she he they said have with you are be

More Vowel Team — EA Readers

Pam's Beach Dream illustration
Pam's Beach Dream
← Deb's Flower Crown Shelly Rows to Ben →

About This Decodable Reader

“Len Reads to Gus” is a free printable decodable reader designed for 1st-2nd students practicing vowel team — ea phonics patterns. This mini-book uses phonetically controlled vocabulary so beginning readers can successfully sound out nearly every word in the story, building confidence and reinforcing the specific phonics skills they're learning.

The free PDF is a full-color illustrated mini-book: a cover, eight picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the vowel team — ea words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the five sheets, cut each one in half along the dashed line, and staple — your child has a real little book to hold. A read-aloud version with one large page per sheet is also included for projecting to the whole class.

This reader is part of our collection of free decodable readers organized by phonics skill and aligned with the Science of Reading. For additional practice with vowel team — ea patterns, try our vowel team — ea phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.