10+ Best Phonics Books for 10-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect phonics books for 10-year-olds that will keep your young reader engaged and improving their reading skills? You've come to the right place! In this blog, we'll explore a variety of phonics books designed specifically for 10-year-olds, ensuring you find just the right fit for your child's reading journey. Keep reading to discover our top picks!

Fun Phonics Books for 10-Year-Olds

• The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley
  • Genre(s): Humor, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This hilarious book follows the adventures of a three-legged, one-eyed donkey. Each page adds a new adjective to the donkey's description, making it more and more whimsical.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhyming text helps reinforce phonics skills in a fun and engaging way. The humor keeps children entertained while reading.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love laughter and playful language.

• Dog on a Frog? by Kes and Claire Gray, illustrated by Jim Field
  • Genre(s): Humor, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book challenges the norm where animals sit on mats, and instead, the frog decides that dogs will sit on logs, cats on gnats, and so on, creating a silly and surprising rhyming story.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's great for practicing phonics through rhyming and encourages creativity in word usage. It also helps with understanding phonetic patterns.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy creative stories and playing with words.

• Oi Frog! by Kes Gray, illustrated by Jim Field
  • Genre(s): Humor, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: The book features a frog learning where different animals sit in a ridiculously rhymed setting, like lions on irons and cheetahs on fajitas.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a fun approach to phonics with engaging rhymes and a playful storyline, making reading a joyous activity.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who appreciate humor and whimsical illustrations.

• P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter, illustrated by Maria Beddia
  • Genre(s): Humor, Non-fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This alphabet book explores the quirkiest, trickiest spelling with silent letters and odd pronunciations in English, from A to Z.
  • Why we recommend this book: It tackles complex spellings in a humorous way, enhancing phonetic and linguistic understanding.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are curious about words and those who enjoy a challenge.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Humor, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently tries to convince the narrator to try green eggs and ham in various locations with a host of different animals.
  • Why we recommend this book: The repetitive and rhyming text helps in phonetic recognition and pronunciation practice, making it ideal for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Beginners in reading who need practice with basic phonics and anyone who enjoys playful repetition.

Educational Phonics Books for 10-Year-Olds

• Explode the Code by Nancy Hall
  • Genre(s): Educational, Workbook
  • Synopsis: A comprehensive workbook series that helps children understand the basics of phonics and spelling through exercises and activities.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, spelling, reading comprehension
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a structured and clear approach to phonics, making it easy for children to follow and learn at their own pace.
  • Perfect for: Students who need extra practice with phonics and prefer a systematic approach to learning.

• Flyleaf Publishing's Decodable Passages
  • Genre(s): Educational, Fiction, Non-fiction
  • Synopsis: A collection of fiction and non-fiction stories designed to be accessible for children who are learning to decode text.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Reading fluency, comprehension, phonics
  • Why we recommend this book: The passages are carefully written to reinforce phonics skills through engaging and diverse content.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who need to build confidence in their reading abilities and enjoy a mix of stories.

• Phonics Pathways: Clear Steps to Easy Reading and Perfect Spelling by Dolores G. Hiskes
  • Genre(s): Educational, Reference
  • Synopsis: This book provides clear instructions and progressive phonics lessons that guide children from simple to complex reading skills.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, reading, spelling
  • Why we recommend this book: It breaks down reading into manageable lessons that progress in difficulty, allowing children to master each level before moving on.
  • Perfect for: Children who are beginning readers or those struggling with reading and spelling.

• The Phonics Handbook by Sue Lloyd
  • Genre(s): Educational, Teacher's Resource
  • Synopsis: A resource book for teachers and parents that includes phonics exercises and activities, along with guidance on how to teach phonics effectively.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, teaching strategies, child engagement
  • Why we recommend this book: It's not only a tool for children but also a guide for adults on how to support phonics learning effectively.
  • Perfect for: Teachers and parents looking for resources to help teach phonics to children.

• AlphaTales by Various Authors
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: A set of 26 storybooks, each focusing on a different letter of the alphabet, designed to promote phonics and letter recognition.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet knowledge, phonemic awareness, early reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: Each book focuses on a different letter, making it a fun and engaging way for children to learn about the sounds each letter makes.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are just starting to learn the alphabet and phonics.

Challenging Phonics Books for 10-Year-Olds

• The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
  • Genre(s): Family, Adventure, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: Follow the Fletcher family through a year full of laughter, love, and misadventures as they navigate the challenges and joys of life.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative includes sophisticated themes and vocabulary that challenge advanced readers to enhance their comprehension and phonics skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming story that promotes diversity and understanding, providing both entertainment and educational value.
  • Perfect for: Readers who enjoy family-centric stories and are looking to improve their reading skills.

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A bored young boy, Milo, receives a mysterious tollbooth that transports him to the Lands Beyond, where he embarks on a quest full of puns, wordplay, and wisdom.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features complex wordplay, puns, and a rich vocabulary that require strong phonics skills and cognitive flexibility.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book stretches the imagination and vocabulary, making it a perfect blend of fun and learning.
  • Perfect for: Creative thinkers and lovers of fantasy and adventure.

• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • Genre(s): Mystery, Adventure, Science Fiction
  • Synopsis: Four gifted children are recruited by the eccentric Mr. Benedict to go on a secret mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where nothing is as it seems.
  • Why this book is challenging: The sophisticated plot and vocabulary enhance critical thinking and phonics skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages problem-solving and teamwork, wrapped up in an engaging, mysterious narrative.
  • Perfect for: Young detectives and strategists who love puzzles and teamwork.

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: This tale follows Despereaux Tilling, a brave mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses rich, descriptive language and a narrative structure that involves multiple viewpoints, which can be complex for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a beautifully written saga about bravery and forgiveness that also enhances vocabulary and comprehension skills.
  • Perfect for: Readers who enjoy fairy tales and stories of unlikely heroes.

• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • Genre(s): Classic, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle's house, where she discovers a mysterious walled garden that has been locked for years.
  • Why this book is challenging: The early 20th-century English and thematic depth provide a rich ground for advanced phonics and comprehension practice.
  • Why we recommend this book: This classic novel not only improves reading skills but also teaches valuable life lessons about healing and friendship.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy classics and stories with rich descriptions and emotional depth.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 10-year-old dive deeper into the world of phonics and reading, here are some engaging exercises that can boost their skills while keeping the process fun. These activities are designed specifically to complement phonics books and enhance reading habits.

• Sound Out Stories
  • What it is: Create a story using words that focus on specific phonics rules.
  • How it helps: Reinforces phonics concepts through creative storytelling.
  • Tips: Encourage your child to illustrate the story to make the activity more engaging.

• Phonics Treasure Hunt
  • What it is: Set up a treasure hunt where clues involve solving phonics puzzles.
  • How it helps: Makes learning phonics interactive and enjoyable.
  • Tips: Use words from the phonics books they are currently reading to form the clues.

• Word Building Challenges
  • What it is: Use letter tiles or cards to build new words based on phonics rules.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of how different sounds combine to form words.
  • Tips: Time the challenges to add a fun competitive element.

• Phonics 'Bingo'
  • What it is: Play a game of bingo where the board is filled with phonics sounds instead of numbers.
  • How it helps: Helps with the recognition and recall of phonics sounds.
  • Tips: Reward wins with small prizes to keep the game exciting.

• Read and Record
  • What it is: Have your child read a page aloud from a phonics book and record it.
  • How it helps: Allows them to hear their pronunciation and fluency.
  • Tips: Play back the recordings periodically to show progress over time.

These exercises are not just about improving phonics skills, but also about making the learning process a joyful and rewarding journey. By integrating these activities into your child’s routine, you’ll help them develop a more robust foundation in reading, setting them up for success in all their literacy endeavors. Happy reading and playing!