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Sam's Red Top

Short O Kindergarten CVC Foundations
Sam's Red Top
Sam's Red Top, page 1
1Sam sat on a mat in the sun. He got a red top from a box.
Sam's Red Top, page 2
2"I will set it on the mat," said Sam. The top fell off the mat. It sank in the mud.
Sam's Red Top, page 3
3Sam was sad. He could not get it. His dog, Gus, ran up. Gus dug a lot in the mud.
Sam's Red Top, page 4
4Pop! The top did pop out. Sam got his top back. "You are a good dog," said Sam.
Circle or highlight all the target words in the story above.

Comprehension Questions

After reading, ask these questions to check understanding:

  1. Where did Sam get his red top from?
  2. What happened to Sam’s top after it fell?
  3. What did Sam call Gus at the end?
Keep practicing
Practice Short O with 10 more free worksheets

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

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Sam's Red Top printed mini-book cover Download Mini-Book
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Read-aloud version (one page per sheet, for projecting)
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Reader Details

Phonics Skill Short O
Grade Level Kindergarten
Phase CVC Foundations
Worksheets Short O Worksheets

Target Words

hot pot dot got lot not top hop mop pop dog log

Sight Words

the is a and to was it on his her

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Ned's New Top
Did they understand it?
One-page stories to read, then circle, color or draw

Free kindergarten reading comprehension sheets, built from the same short-vowel words as this book. Black and white, with answer keys.

See the kindergarten sheets →
← Rob's Big Box The Map in the Gap →

About This Decodable Reader

“Sam's Red Top” is a free printable decodable reader designed for kindergarten students practicing short o 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, four picture pages with one or two lines of story text each, and a back page listing the short o words, high-frequency words, and discussion questions. Print the three 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 short o patterns, try our short o phonics worksheets which include word sorts, phrasing practice cards, and rapid naming charts.