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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.

64 free printable decodable readers at this level
One free printable book • story + coloring page for every reader • no signup
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 · 16 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
 Tom's Lost Cap decodable reader illustration
Tom's Lost Cap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Dan Plays Tag decodable reader illustration
Dan Plays Tag
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Ned's Lost Cap decodable reader illustration
Ned's Lost Cap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Sal's Big Bag decodable reader illustration
Sal's Big Bag
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Hal's Big Fan decodable reader illustration
Hal's Big Fan
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Jon's Bag decodable reader illustration
Jon's Bag
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Ben's Red Cap decodable reader illustration
Ben's Red Cap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 The Lost Map decodable reader illustration
The Lost Map
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Dad's Lost Map decodable reader illustration
Dad's Lost Map
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Hal's Lost Bat decodable reader illustration
Hal's Lost Bat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Ted's Red Hat decodable reader illustration
Ted's Red Hat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Sal and Pat decodable reader illustration
Sal and Pat
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap
 Pat in the Van decodable reader illustration
Pat in the Van
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, tap

Short I

Kindergarten · 9 readers
Pip's Big Fig decodable reader illustration
Pip's Big Fig
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Pip Gets a Fig decodable reader illustration
Pip Gets a Fig
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Jim's Big Rip decodable reader illustration
Jim's Big Rip
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Val's Big Dip decodable reader illustration
Val's Big Dip
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Peg's Big Bin decodable reader illustration
Peg's Big Bin
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Ken's Camp Kit decodable reader illustration
Ken's Camp Kit
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Jen's Big Bag decodable reader illustration
Jen's Big Bag
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Pat and the Bin decodable reader illustration
Pat and the Bin
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig
 Don and the Tin decodable reader illustration
Don and the Tin
sit, hit, bit, fit, kit, pig

Short O

Kindergarten · 9 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
 Ron and the Fox in a Box decodable reader illustration
Ron and the Fox in a Box
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Tom's Big Mop decodable reader illustration
Tom's Big Mop
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Rob's Big Box decodable reader illustration
Rob's Big Box
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Sam's Red Top decodable reader illustration
Sam's Red Top
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Don and the Hog decodable reader illustration
Don and the Hog
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Pat and the Hot Log decodable reader illustration
Pat and the Hot Log
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not
 Ned's New Top decodable reader illustration
Ned's New Top
hot, pot, dot, got, lot, not

Word Families

Kindergarten · 9 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
 A Man in a Van decodable reader illustration
A Man in a Van
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Dan's Good Nap decodable reader illustration
Dan's Good Nap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 The Map in the Gap decodable reader illustration
The Map in the Gap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Ben's Red Cap decodable reader illustration
Ben's Red Cap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Peg's Hot Pan decodable reader illustration
Peg's Hot Pan
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Sam's Lost Map decodable reader illustration
Sam's Lost Map
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat
 Sal's Red Cap decodable reader illustration
Sal's Red Cap
cat, bat, hat, mat, sat, rat

Mixed CVC

Kindergarten · 3 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
 Tim and the Bug decodable reader illustration
Tim and the Bug
cat, bed, sit, hot, bug, pen

Short E

Kindergarten · 4 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
 Ned's Wet Pet decodable reader illustration
Ned's Wet Pet
bed, red, fed, led, wed, hen
 Ben's Red Jet decodable reader illustration
Ben's Red Jet
bed, red, fed, led, wed, hen

Short U

Kindergarten · 4 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
 A Pup in a Hut decodable reader illustration
A Pup in a Hut
bug, hug, mug, rug, tug, bus
 Jim and the Pup decodable reader illustration
Jim and the Pup
bug, hug, mug, rug, tug, bus

Word Families I

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pip's Red Ball decodable reader illustration
Pip's Red Ball
big, dig, fig, jig, pig, wig
 Kim's Camp Kit decodable reader illustration
Kim's Camp Kit
big, dig, fig, jig, pig, wig

Word Families O

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Kim's Garden Pot decodable reader illustration
Kim's Garden Pot
dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot
 Jon and Dot Jog decodable reader illustration
Jon and Dot Jog
dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot

Word Families U

Kindergarten · 2 readers
The Nut in the Rug decodable reader illustration
The Nut in the Rug
bug, dug, hug, jug, mug, pug
 Jen and the Pug decodable reader illustration
Jen and the Pug
bug, dug, hug, jug, mug, pug

Word Families E

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pip Helps Dad Ben decodable reader illustration
Pip Helps Dad Ben
bet, get, jet, let, met, net
 Ken and the Red Net decodable reader illustration
Ken and the Red Net
bet, get, jet, let, met, net

CVC Review

Kindergarten · 2 readers
Pip's Lost Bat decodable reader illustration
Pip's Lost Bat
cat, bed, pig, hot, bug, ham
 Dan and His Cat decodable reader illustration
Dan and His Cat
cat, bed, pig, hot, bug, ham

Ready for the next step?

Level 2: Building Words →

Level 1 Decodable Readers — Just Starting

These 64 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.

Ready for real books?

Popular decodable sets parents graduate to next

Once your child is confident with these free readers, a printed boxed set is the natural next step for daily practice away from the screen.

BOB Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers 12-book boxed set — the classic first phonics readers Check price on Amazon → BOB Books, Set 2: Advancing Beginners The next step after Set 1 — longer words & sentences Check price on Amazon → First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level A) 25 story books — Scholastic guided reading Check price on Amazon → Active Minds Sight Word Magnets Hands-on word building on the fridge Check price on Amazon →

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