10+ Best Phonics Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect phonics books for 5-year-olds to kickstart your child’s reading journey? You're in the right place! Phonics is a crucial step in learning to read, blending sounds together to form words. In this blog, we’ll explore a variety of phonics books designed specifically for 5-year-olds, each crafted to make learning fun and engaging. Keep reading to discover our top picks that will help your little one become a confident reader!

Fun Phonics Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers by Bobby Lynn Maslen, illustrated by John R. Maslen
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Literature
  • Synopsis: This set introduces children to the basics of phonics with short, simple stories that help build reading skills gradually.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed specifically for early readers, using repetition and simple words to reinforce learning in a fun way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers just starting their reading journey and needing a confidence boost.

• Phonics Power! (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) by Jennifer Liberts, illustrated by Patrick Spaziante
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Fiction, Media Tie-In
  • Synopsis: This phonics box set combines the excitement of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with learning. It includes 12 books covering different phonics lessons.
  • Why we recommend this book: It leverages familiar characters to engage young readers and make learning phonics an adventurous and enjoyable experience.
  • Perfect for: Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and young learners who enjoy action-packed stories.

• Learn to Read: A Magical Sight Words and Phonics Activity Workbook by Modern Kid Press
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This workbook combines sight words with phonics activities, offering a comprehensive approach to reading that includes writing practice and matching exercises.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and includes various activities that keep learning engaging and effective, promoting a deeper understanding of words and reading.
  • Perfect for: Children who thrive with hands-on learning and parents looking for an all-in-one educational tool.

• Pete the Cat Phonics Box by James Dean
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This set of 12 easy-to-read books follows Pete the Cat on fun adventures, each book focusing on a specific phonics concept.
  • Why we recommend this book: Pete the Cat is a beloved character, and his stories are both entertaining and educational, making phonics lessons enjoyable.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love engaging stories and parents seeking fun reading material that educates.

• My First BOB Books: Alphabet by Lynn Maslen Kertell, illustrated by Sue Hendra
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Literature
  • Synopsis: Focused on the alphabet, this set helps kids master the building blocks of phonics and reading through engaging stories and fun characters.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's specifically crafted for early readers to develop letter recognition and sounds, providing a solid foundation for phonics skills.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and kindergarteners who are just beginning to learn about letters and sounds.

Educational Phonics Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Alphatales Box Set: A Set of 26 Irresistible Animal Storybooks by Scholastic
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Literature
  • Synopsis: Each book in this set focuses on one letter of the alphabet, using a charming animal story to bring the letter and its sound to life.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, phonemic awareness, vocabulary development
  • Why we recommend this book: The stories are engaging and creatively connect letter sounds with enjoyable narratives, making learning memorable.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animal stories and need to grasp the basics of the alphabet and phonics.

• The Phonics Handbook by Sue Lloyd, illustrated by Lib Stephen
  • Genre(s): Educational, Teaching Guide
  • Synopsis: A comprehensive resource for teaching phonics, this handbook includes instructions, lessons, and activities designed to help children learn to read.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics skills, reading fluency, handwriting
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a structured approach to phonics, using multisensory methods that are proven to support reading development.
  • Perfect for: Teachers and parents who are looking for a detailed, step-by-step guide to teaching phonics effectively.

• Usborne My First Reading Library by Usborne
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: A collection of 50 books that gradually increase in difficulty, designed to guide children through the first stages of reading.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Reading confidence, comprehension, vocabulary expansion
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a comprehensive set that progresses with the reader's ability, providing a sense of achievement as they advance.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are ready to embark on a structured reading journey and build a strong reading foundation.

• Phonics from A to Z by Wiley Blevins
  • Genre(s): Educational, Reference
  • Synopsis: This book offers a practical guide to phonics instruction, explaining key phonics concepts and providing techniques for teaching them effectively.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of phonics rules, teaching strategies, reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It demystifies phonics instruction with clear explanations and actionable strategies, making it easier for adults to teach reading.
  • Perfect for: Educators and parents seeking to deepen their understanding of phonics to better support their children's or students' reading development.

• Charlie & Mouse Outdoors by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Early Reader
  • Synopsis: Follow the adventures of two brothers, Charlie and Mouse, as they explore the great outdoors, with stories that subtly incorporate phonics learning.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Early reading skills, sibling relationships, outdoor exploration
  • Why we recommend this book: The stories are not only fun and relatable but also integrate phonics in a natural, engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about family and adventures, and who are learning to read independently.

Challenging Phonics Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: This book features a tricky fox in socks and Knox in a box, engaging in tongue-twisting games with increasingly complex rhymes and scenarios.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of tongue twisters and complex rhyming patterns requires advanced phonetic skills and enhances linguistic dexterity.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and playful way to challenge young readers, improving their pronunciation and reading fluency.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy a challenge and love playing with words.

• Jamberry by Bruce Degen
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This whimsical story follows a boy and a bear as they wander through a fantastical landscape filled with berries of all kinds.
  • Why this book is challenging: The imaginative vocabulary and rhythmic, poetic text make it a delightful challenge for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines phonics with creativity, encouraging a love of reading through its engaging, rhythmic narrative and vibrant illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Children who are imaginative and enjoy stories that play with sound and rhythm.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Alphabet
  • Synopsis: This classic book features a lively alphabet rhyme where the letters of the alphabet race up the coconut tree and tumble down.
  • Why this book is challenging: The rapid pace and playful use of the alphabet as characters provide a unique approach to learning about letters and sounds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's energetic and colorful, making learning the alphabet fun and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and kindergarteners who are mastering the alphabet in a lively, engaging way.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Beginner Books
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows a character throughout the book trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses simple vocabulary but introduces concepts of persistence and persuasion, combined with rhyme and repetition.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches phonics through repetition and rhyme, making it easier for children to grasp and remember phonetic sounds.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy catchy rhymes and are learning to recognize words and sounds.

• Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Animal Stories
  • Synopsis: Lloyd the llama is curious about his friends' mamas, leading to a guessing game about the characteristics of different animal mothers.
  • Why this book is challenging: The story introduces various animal names and characteristics, enhancing vocabulary and phonetic skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's engaging with its rhyming riddles and charming illustrations, promoting phonetic awareness through a playful narrative.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love animals and enjoy solving puzzles while reading.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're diving into the world of phonics books with your 5-year-old, you're on a fantastic journey to boost their reading skills. To make the most out of these phonics books, here are some engaging exercises that can help develop good reading habits in your little one:

• Picture Word Match-Up
  • What it is: A game where your child matches words to corresponding pictures.
  • How it helps: Enhances word recognition and vocabulary building.
  • Tips: Use pictures from the phonics book or draw your own to keep it fun and personalized.

• Sound Out Letters
  • What it is: Practicing the sounds of each letter with your child.
  • How it helps: Reinforces the basic phonetic sounds that form the foundation of reading.
  • Tips: Start with letters that are most familiar to your child, then gradually introduce new ones.

• Rhyme Time
  • What it is: Identifying and creating rhymes based on words from the phonics book.
  • How it helps: Improves auditory discrimination and phonemic awareness.
  • Tips: Make a game out of it by seeing how many rhymes you can come up with together in a minute.

• Flashcard Fun
  • What it is: Using flashcards to practice words found in the phonics books.
  • How it helps: Boosts memory and word recognition skills.
  • Tips: Let your child help make the flashcards and decorate them, which adds an element of play.

• Read and Repeat
  • What it is: Reading a page aloud and then having the child repeat it.
  • How it helps: Enhances fluency and comprehension.
  • Tips: Encourage expression and emotion while reading to make it more engaging.

• Story Scramble
  • What it is: Scrambling up sentences or parts of the story for your child to put in order.
  • How it helps: Develops sequencing skills and understanding of story structure.
  • Tips: Start with simple sentences or sequences before moving to more complex ones.

Using these exercises will not only complement the learning from phonics books but also make reading a fun and interactive experience for your 5-year-old. Keep it light, keep it fun, and watch as your child's reading abilities blossom!