Bob Books - Set 1: Beginning Readers Box Set | Phonics, Ages 4 and up, Kindergarten (Stage 1: Starting to Read)

This book is EVERYTHING AND ALL YOU NEED for beginner readers. It also gives you instructions on how to help them navigate reading. Also, at the back of the book it gives them a revision of sight words. It’s easy to read and it’s fun for them with simple pictures on each page to help them figure out what they’re reading about. I LOVE THIS BOOK SET!

These books are an incredible tool for teaching kids to read. I LOVE how they just introduce a few new letter sounds in each book, so kids don't have to master every letter sound in order to read the first book. Pure genius. It truly makes the whole process less overwhelming, and I'll always teach early reading this way in the future. I wish I had had them when teaching my first child to read. I am currently teaching my niece to read. Since this is my second time around, and since I've discovered these books, I feel like I have a pretty great system down. I am using this first set of Bob Books, a pack of index cards, a magnetic dry-erase board, and a set of magnetic letters. Because children can very easily memorize these books, without fully understanding how to sound out the words, I don't feel like using the books alone, with no other exercises, is sufficient to truly teach them to read (for example, my 3-year-old likes to memorize the books and pretend he is "reading"). So for my niece (age 6), we are moving through the books systematically, learning the letter sounds and words in each book. For each book, I make a set of customized flashcards, using words found in that book, plus other 3-letter, consonant-vowel-consonant words that are not found in the book, but use letter sounds found in the books that she has read already. We practice the books and flashcards separately, to make sure she is truly learning to sound out those words (and she is!). We also use a magnetic dry-erase board and a magnetic letter set to do different exercises. In one exercise we make a word with the magnetic letters, using letter sounds she has already mastered. She reads it, and then she can switch out various letters to make new words to read. Sometimes it's a real word, and sometimes a "nonsense word", which makes it fun for her. She also enjoys moving the magnetic letters around, so this makes reading more fun for her. This is a great way to reinforce, for example, that not every word that starts with "ca" is "cat". Switch out the "t" for an "n", and you have "can". It really helps her focus on how the individual letter sounds come together to make a whole word. I guess my point to all this is; these are great, wonderful books, and are perfect for what they are. But I don't consider them a complete system for teaching a child to read (and I don't think they claim to be that either). But they can form a huge part of a complete system, at least at the early stages. I don't have the other sets (set 2 and beyond), so I can't say yet if these would be sufficient for teaching more complex words, but I am, of course, prepared to supplement and adjust when we get to that point. I can say that, for these earliest stages, they were worth every penny I paid for them, and more.

These tiny books for tiny ppl are the ABSOLUTE BEST to encourage young readers! With simple line illustrations & single words, they grab the attention of curious toddlers in a way that is playful, engaging and rewarding. The child I babysit learned to read at AGE 3 1/2 by using these books and had mastered them by 4 yrs old!! He adored the silly content and bright colours splashed into the black & white drawings and we’d practice spelling the colours as we went along in the story as well (even though it wasn’t part of a given book). I’m amazed at his progress! Now he’s 6 yrs old and LOVES to read— he’ll even read books w/o pictures! Although he still prefers books that have some sort of pictorial storytelling, I’m so impressed that he CAN & WILL read non-graphic books & I credit Bob’s work Books with giving him the head start he required to become a (hopefully) lifelong lover of reading! You will not be disappointed should you choose to share these books with a child in your life. I now buy them for EVERY TODDLER I come in contact with through my friends & family, and they each report back happily. 🩷🌈☀️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4.9 out of 5 stars The Phonics Phenomenon That Started It All! "Bob Books Boxed Set 1: Beginning Readers" is the timeless classic that has launched millions of young readers on their journey to literacy. This iconic phonics-based set is a true gem, designed with simplicity and effectiveness in mind, ensuring that even the littlest bookworms can proudly declare, “I read the whole book!”® One of the standout features of this set is its incredible ability to cater to the needs of brand-new readers. Many early reader books throw in words that can stump a child who's just grasping the sounds of the alphabet. Not these books! With the first story containing just four letter sounds (M, A, T, and S), children can dive right in and finish a whole book, giving their confidence a major boost. The joy on a child’s face when they read their first book all by themselves is absolutely priceless. Inside the box, you’ll find 12 easy-to-read, hilariously entertaining small books, each with 12 pages and 7-20 unique words per book. The stories use two- and three-letter words with short vowels that can be easily decoded or "sounded out." Think simple sentences like "Sam sat."—short, sweet, and manageable for young readers. The progression is gentle, with new letter sounds added gradually, so kids never feel overwhelmed. By the end, they've encountered almost all the letters of the alphabet (except for the elusive Q). The friendly, two-color illustrations are a perfect match for the text—fun without being distracting. They add just the right amount of humor and charm to keep kids engaged. Plus, the parent card with tips for helping your child learn to read is a thoughtful addition, making it easier for caregivers to support their little learners. Guided Reading Levels A, B, C and Lexile® Measure BR – 290L place this set right where it needs to be for ages 4-6 and PreK to Kindergarten grade levels. Created by a teacher and grounded in the Science of Reading, Bob Books has been a reliable tool for building young readers' confidence, success, and love of reading for more than forty years. Why the 4.9 and not a perfect 5 stars? Well, in the spirit of honesty, I think the simplicity might leave parents wishing for just a touch more story variety. But that's a small nitpick for an otherwise stellar set. In conclusion, "Bob Books Boxed Set 1: Beginning Readers" is an absolute must-have for any parent or teacher looking to give their child a head start in reading. It’s a tried-and-true series that will have your little one beaming with pride as they read their first books. So, get ready to join the millions of happy kids who joyfully proclaim, "I read the whole book!"

These books helped my 6 year old, who was behind, to read. She is very excited to read the books!

The Bob Books - Set 1 is an amazing resource for beginner readers! The simple, phonics-based stories are just the right length for young children, helping them build confidence and develop essential reading skills. My child loves the fun illustrations and feels so proud when they can read a book on their own!

These are great for my 5 year old! She wanted to start reading them the second we received them and was able to read the first 5 books without any problems which really built her confidence. I sent the set to my 6 year old nephew who is also in Kindergarten and learning to read. They are small and easy to travel with as well. I will definitely be ordering more!

I am a high school teacher. When my first was little, I tried some other phonics books. They didn't work until my kid was already reading pretty proficiently. With my next child I tried Bob Books because they were recommended by my peers. These are so much better. They are layed out in a very methodical, step by step way. My child reads them with help at first, but is able to sound out every word. (with only one or two sight words in this set like "the") It makes so much more sense. You must reread each of these books at 3 or more times before moving on. You can then go back and periodically reread them. They are very short, so it does not take up much time. It will also give your child confidence and develop reading fluency. Reading should't always feel difficult. We have enjoyed some of the stories which have humor perfect for the age group. The drawings of people do look a bit silly, but they are working in shapes and numbers into the books. We are almost finished with this set, so I bought the rhyming set as well. There is a workbook that goes along with this. I don't think you will need to buy all of the sets, but I think following what is in the workbook is probably best. My child is focusing on begining word sounds, and sometimes tries to guess at the ending unless slowed down. The rhyming words should help focus on the ending sounds as well. We are excited to try the next set! I wish there was more of a focus on decoding at a young age. In order to be proficient readers, kids need to be very good at decoding. These books will help build that foundation. Where I live they stop all phonics instruction at 3rd grade. It is so important for parents to work with their children at home one on one. Nothing can replace that one on one time learning to read no matter what your child's school says.