For Parents & Carers
Which Decodable Readers Does My Child Actually Need?
A simple guide to finding the right books for where your child is at, and understanding how to use them well at home.
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably trying to do the right thing for your child’s reading. Maybe their teacher flagged some concerns. Maybe you’ve noticed they’re struggling to keep up, or they’re just not enjoying books the way you’d hope. Either way, you’re in the right place.
It can be hard knowing which books to buy. This guide will help you figure that out.
Why Decodable Readers Are Different
Most books you find at the library or a bookshop are written for children to enjoy, but they’re not designed to teach reading. They contain all kinds of words, including ones a child might not yet have the tools to sound out.
Decodable readers are different. Every word in them is carefully chosen to match only the sounds and letters a child has already been taught. That means your child can actually read the words. They don’t guess at them from pictures or memorise them as shapes, but genuinely decode them sound by sound.
This matters more than it sounds. When a child can read a book with high accuracy, something important happens: they build confidence, they practise the right habits, and reading starts to feel like something they’re good at.
THE KEY IDEA
The goal is to find a decodable reader that’s in your child’s “sweet spot”. Not so easy it’s boring, or so hard they switch off. When the level is right, your child should be able to read most words correctly with very little help from you.
Where Is Your Child At? Two Stages to Know
Soundality’s resources are organised around two stages of reading development, drawn from the Sounds-Write phonics program. You don’t need to know all the technical details, just a rough sense of what your child can and can’t do yet.
Building the Foundation
This is where every reader starts, regardless of age. The Initial Code covers the basics: early on they learn individual letters and the sounds they represent, and later learn that sometimes two letters write down one sound (like ss, sh, th). Words in the Initial Code are short words with two to five sounds (like up, cat, frog, splat).
Your child is likely at this stage if they:
- Are in their first year or two of school
- Are just beginning to learn letter sounds
- Can read simple three-sound words (cat, man, sit) but struggle beyond that
- Are an older child or adult who missed the foundations early on
Note: age isn’t the deciding factor here. If the foundations aren’t solid, the Initial Code is always the right starting point, even for older students.
Adding Complexity
Once a child can reliably read and spell simple words, they’re ready to explore the fuller complexity of English. The Extended Code introduces sounds that can be spelled in different ways, such as the “ay” sound in play, rain, and bake. It is the same sound, but spelled in different ways.
Your child may be ready for the Extended Code if they:
- Can read most short words correctly and confidently
- Know their basic letter sounds and some two-letter combinations (like sh, ch)
- Are reading but sound slow, bumpy, or make lots of errors on longer words
- Have the basics down, but aren’t quite ready for chapter books or novels
Which Products Are Right for You?
Here’s a simple breakdown of what Soundality stocks and where each product fits. Start with books — everything else is a great complement once you have the right readers.
| Product | Stage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds-Write Readers (Initial Code) | Initial Code | Beginning readers — great for Prep to Year 2, or older students building foundations |
| Sounds-Write Readers (Extended Code) | Extended Code | Children who’ve mastered the basics and are ready for more complex words |
| SPELD-SA Readers | Initial → Extended | A great alternative or supplement to Sounds-Write readers — follows the same teaching sequence |
| Powerful Vowels Kit 1 | Initial Code | Durable magnetic letter tiles for hands-on spelling and reading practice at home |
| Powerful Vowels Kit 2 | Extended Code | Expands the tile set to cover the more complex spellings in the extended code |
| Wiz Words Game | Initial Code | A fun card game for practising reading and spelling — great for reluctant readers |
| Activity Workbooks | Initial & Extended | Photocopiable activity sheets and games to reinforce what’s being practised — available for both stages |
NOT SURE WHICH SET TO START WITH?
If you’re buying for the first time with no other guidance, start with an Initial Code reader set. It’s always better to begin slightly easier and build success than to start too hard and risk putting your child off reading. Even if your child can read the Initial Code readers with a high level of accuracy, you can use them to practise fluency and comprehension.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind at Home
Getting the right books is step one. How you use them matters just as much. You don’t need to be a trained reading teacher, but a few simple ideas will make a real difference.
- On average, it takes around three years for a child to become a fluent reader. English spelling is quite complex and learning to read and spell is one of the most challenging (and rewarding!) things our children will experience when they start school.
- Your role is to teach, not test. These books are practice time, not a performance. If your child makes an error, gently encourage them to say the sounds and listen for the word. If they are still stuck, point to the word, tell them what it is and move on.
- Accuracy matters more than speed. Slow and correct beats fast and guessing. Don’t worry if they’re reading carefully and deliberately, with lots of sounding out — that’s exactly what they should be doing in the early stages.
- Keep sessions short and positive. Five to ten minutes of focused, enjoyable reading is far more valuable than a longer session that ends in frustration.
- If every page is a struggle, the book is too hard. Step in and read the book to your child for enjoyment. Then move to an easier set where your child can experience success. With success comes confidence.
- If they’re bored and racing through (and reading every word correctly!), go a level up. Engagement matters. A child who finds the books too easy can become uninterested.
Want to Build Your Skills?
The full Sounds-Write training (4-day in person or 6 weeks online) is open to anyone looking to learn how to teach reading and spelling. There are no prerequisites and parents regularly complete the course to support their children at home.
If you aren’t looking to complete the full training, Sounds-Write has a free online parent training course that has been completed by over 50,000 parents internationally. There are 1.5 hours of on-demand videos and downloadable resources — a fantastic starting point for anyone new to teaching reading with phonics.
What you’ll learn:
- How phonics works
- How to help your child take their first steps in reading and spelling
- How to help your child build, write and read simple words
- How to respond when your child makes a mistake
Working Alongside a Tutor or Speech Pathologist?
If your child is already working with a literacy tutor or a speech-language pathologist using the Sounds-Write program, that’s great news. They’ll be able to tell you exactly where your child is at and which books to buy. Take their advice as your guide.
Soundality’s resources are designed to work alongside professional support, not replace it. Think of the books and games as extra practice time. The more your child gets to rehearse what they’re learning in sessions, the faster they’ll progress.
Ready to Choose?
Browse Soundality’s full range of decodable readers and phonics resources.
This guide was written by Alison Perry, Speech Pathologist and Sounds-Write Trainer at Soundality. Questions? Email alison.perry@soundality.com.au or call 0490 913 219.