Simple short vowels provide the perfect starting point for your young reader. This set begins with "Matt is a cat" and ends with "Mom will fix it".

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1. Cat, Bat, and Hat
2. Dad and the Lads
3. Bub and Tub
4. Rus and Gus
5. Six Kits Hid
6. The Big Swim
7. Tom Can Hop
8. Oz the Odd Dog
9. Big Red and Ted
10. Go to Bed!

Long vowels expand your child's reading skills by building on sounds they already know. This set begins with "Jake is a snake" and ends with "I am glad Baby Sue came to my home last June".

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1. Jake and the Snake
2. Ike, Pike, and the Bees
3. Oz and the Bone
4. Duke Duck
5. I Can Not Eat Peas
6. The Tale of the Big Snake
7. Tom Likes Pizza Pie
8. Mole, Toad, and Goat
9. Three for Tea
10. Baby Sue

New consonant blends combine with familiar vowels to unlock new words and more challenging stories. This set begins with "Bea sits in a seat up in a big pine tree" and ends with "What to trick Bo with next time".

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1. Sh, Do Not Make a Peep
2. Buster Bob Dreams Big
3. I Hear Snore, Snore
4. Mother's Day
5. The Smart Dragon
6. A Train Ride
7. Bub and Tub in the Tree Fort
8. In the Deep, Deep Sea
9. The Pet Store
10. Oz Tries to Trick

Ten complex stories that give your child the chance to show off their reading skills. After completing this series, your child will be a new-fledged reader! This set begins with "The band will lead the march up the street" and ends with "Good night, sleep tight".

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1. Pet Parade
2. The Hummingbird
3. The Perfect Trip
4. Ten Little Wood Ducklings
5. In A Big Red Barn
6. Willy the Wonder Dog
7. Frogs in the Bathtub
8. Six Kits Go to School
9. The Porcupine and the Skunk
10. Chickadee at the Window

Teaching Approach

What teaching philosophy does Chickadee use?
We assume your kids know their letter sounds and continue building strong reading foundations through phonics-based stories, starting with letter recognition and sounds, not guessing. There are a handful of sight-words to practice with review questions in the back, but we build on what children already know⁠⁠.

How does Chickadee make learning fun?
No joy in the teacher, no joy in the student. Our books are fun. We tried to make the stories that would entertain a kindergartener. And we know what entertains kindergarteners because we taught them a lot and we know they like stories about naughty little kids, which is usually where they are themselves.

Getting Started

When should my child start using Chickadee Readers?
Many start around age 5/kindergarten after they learned their letters and their sounds, like short vowels and consonants. Don't wait for children to express interest—sometimes there's no sign they're ready, it's simply time to learn⁠

How should parents help with reading?
Stay present and attentive throughout. Don't read for them—let them sound out words while you listen. Have them read each book 5 times to someone⁠⁠. Then celebrate by placing a new sticker on the Map to Reading!

What are common mistakes to avoid?
Don't rush or stress the process—this creates mental blocks. If it's not fun and children don't feel successful, they'll remember the negative experience rather than the learning⁠⁠. Avoid teaching when children are tired or hungry, and ensure they have your undivided attention⁠⁠.

Best Practices

How long should reading sessions last?
Keep sessions to 15-20 minutes while your child is still enjoying it. Take breaks when needed⁠⁠.

What's the most important advice for parents?
Relax and celebrate progress. If you're stressed or bored, your child will be too. Make it an enjoyable experience⁠⁠. Sometimes all it takes is to change the setting—try reading outside⁠⁠.⁠

How do I know my child is ready to move forward?
Try the next book - if they can sound out the words and understand the story, they're ready. Each child progresses at their own pace⁠⁠.

What comes after basic reading?
Move on to books like Frog and Toad, Dr. Seuss—they'll be set up to mostly read solo. But continue to encourage your children by maintaining family reading time⁠⁠.

Print Details

• Reading font: Sassoon Infant Standard of the D'Nealian Family, designed for children's reading and to ease handwriting from print to cursive
• Reading difficulty (Lexiles/AR): 80-560L, designed to prepare your early reader go solo farther than the most popular brand
• Word count: 5796 words
• Binding: saddle-stitched
• Slip case: solid, 6.5" x 5.25" x 6.5"
• Map to Reading poster: 16"x20"