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Level 1

Just Starting Readers

Kindergarten · brand-new readers

Short-vowel words your child can sound out letter by letter — cat, hat, sit, dog. The very first step in learning to read. Start here.

20 free printable decodable readers at this level
Jump to a sound
Short A Short I Short O Word Families Mixed CVC Short E Short U Word Families I Word Families O Word Families U Word Families E CVC Review

Short A

Kindergarten · 3 readers
Pam's Red Hat decodable reader illustration
Pam's Red Hat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Kim's Jam decodable reader illustration
Kim's Jam
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Max's Hiding Cat decodable reader illustration
Max's Hiding Cat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap

Short I

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pip's Big Fig decodable reader illustration
Pip's Big Fig
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Pip's Big Wish decodable reader illustration
Pip's Big Wish
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig

Short O

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Val's Hot Pot decodable reader illustration
Val's Hot Pot
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Dot in the Fog decodable reader illustration
Dot in the Fog
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not

Word Families

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pat the Cat decodable reader illustration
Pat the Cat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Pat's Stolen Mat decodable reader illustration
Pat's Stolen Mat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat

Mixed CVC

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pip in the Mud decodable reader illustration
Pip in the Mud
cat, bed, sit, hot, bug, pen
 Pip and the Web decodable reader illustration
Pip and the Web
cat, bed, sit, hot, bug, pen

Short E

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Red the Hen decodable reader illustration
Red the Hen
bed, red, fed, led, wed, hen
 Pip's Ten Hens decodable reader illustration
Pip's Ten Hens
bed, red, fed, led, wed, hen

Short U

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Gus the Pup decodable reader illustration
Gus the Pup
bug, hug, mug, rug, tug, bus
 Gus Tugs the Rug decodable reader illustration
Gus Tugs the Rug
bug, hug, mug, rug, tug, bus

Word Families I

Kindergarten · 1 reader
Pip's Red Ball decodable reader illustration
Pip's Red Ball
big, dig, fig, jig, pig, wig

Word Families O

Kindergarten · 1 reader
Kim's Garden Pot decodable reader illustration
Kim's Garden Pot
dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot

Word Families U

Kindergarten · 1 reader
The Nut in the Rug decodable reader illustration
The Nut in the Rug
bug, dug, hug, jug, mug, pug

Word Families E

Kindergarten · 1 reader
Pip Helps Dad Ben decodable reader illustration
Pip Helps Dad Ben
bet, get, jet, let, met, net

CVC Review

Kindergarten · 1 reader
Pip's Lost Bat decodable reader illustration
Pip's Lost Bat
cat, bed, pig, hot, bug, ham

Ready for the next step?

Level 2: Building Words →

Level 1 Decodable Readers — Just Starting

These 20 free printable decodable readers cover the foundations stage of phonics — designed for Kindergarten · brand-new readers. Short-vowel words your child can sound out letter by letter — cat, hat, sit, dog. The very first step in learning to read. Start here. Every reader uses only words that follow the phonics patterns at this level, plus a small set of taught sight words, so your child can sound out nearly every word and build real reading confidence.

Each reader downloads as a 2-page PDF: a phonics-controlled story plus a coloring-page illustration of the scene. Print, staple, and you have an instant mini-book. Not sure this is the right level? Use the level picker above to move up or down, or start from the decodable readers home page. For matching skill practice, see our phonics worksheets.