10+ Best Phonics Books for 4-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to kickstart your little one's reading journey? Look no further! Phonics books for 4-year-olds are your best bet to gently introduce the world of letters and sounds. In this blog, we'll explore a variety of phonics books that are tailored specifically for 4-year-olds, ensuring they find learning to read exciting and engaging. Keep reading to discover our handpicked selections that will transform your child into an eager reader!

Fun Phonics Books for 4-Year-Olds

• Alphablocks: Phonics First Steps by Joe Elliot
  • Illustrator: Lizzie Barber
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book introduces phonics with the help of fun characters from the Alphablocks TV series. Each letter of the alphabet is brought to life with a story.
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses colorful and engaging characters to make learning phonics fun and interactive, which is crucial for maintaining the attention of young readers.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are just starting to learn the alphabet and sounds.

• Bob Books: Set 1- Beginning Readers by Bobby Lynn Maslen
  • Illustrator: John R. Maslen
  • Genre(s): Educational, Beginner Readers
  • Synopsis: This set of books is designed to provide a gentle introduction to reading through simple phonics patterns and minimalistic illustrations.
  • Why we recommend this book: The simple structure and repetition of sounds make these books ideal for young readers to start recognizing words and sounds confidently.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are beginning to decode words and start their reading journey.

• Phonics Power! (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) by Jennifer Liberts
  • Illustrator: Patrick Spaziante
  • Genre(s): Adventure, Educational
  • Synopsis: This phonics box set combines the excitement of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with learning to read through phonics, featuring stories that focus on short and long vowel sounds.
  • Why we recommend this book: It integrates phonics education with beloved characters and adventurous stories, making reading a dynamic and enjoyable experience.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy action-packed stories and are fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

• Peppa Pig: Phonics Box Set by Scholastic
  • Illustrator: Not specified
  • Genre(s): Educational, Fiction
  • Synopsis: This box set features Peppa Pig and her family and friends while introducing phonics through fun short stories that cover all the essential sounds.
  • Why we recommend this book: The familiar and beloved characters of Peppa Pig make learning phonics enjoyable and relatable for young children.
  • Perfect for: Fans of Peppa Pig and young readers who are starting to learn phonics.

• Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! Box Set 1 by Dr. Julie M. Wood
  • Illustrator: Sebastien Braun
  • Genre(s): Educational, Early Readers
  • Synopsis: This series, developed by reading specialist Dr. Julie M. Wood, includes eleven short books that use a proven method of teaching reading through phonics.
  • Why we recommend this book: The carefully crafted phonics approach combined with charming stories and characters supports early reading skills effectively.
  • Perfect for: Children who are beginning to read and need a structured, step-by-step approach to phonics.

Educational Phonics Books for 4-Year-Olds

• My First Phonics Book by Laura Sharp
  • Illustrator: Mark Chambers
  • Genre(s): Educational, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This engaging book introduces young readers to basic phonics concepts through interactive activities and colorful illustrations.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonemic awareness, letter-sound recognition, early reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a hands-on approach to phonics, making learning to read a fun and interactive experience for young children.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are beginning to explore letters and sounds.

• Phonics Fun with Biff, Chip & Kipper by Roderick Hunt
  • Illustrator: Alex Brychta
  • Genre(s): Educational, Fiction
  • Synopsis: The beloved characters Biff, Chip, and Kipper guide children through fun phonics activities and stories designed to develop early reading skills.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, vocabulary development, comprehension
  • Why we recommend this book: The familiar characters and engaging stories make phonics lessons enjoyable and memorable for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Young children who enjoy story-driven learning and fans of the Oxford Reading Tree characters.

• Phonics from A to Z by Wiley Blevins
  • Illustrator: Not specified
  • Genre(s): Educational, Reference
  • Synopsis: This comprehensive guide offers a step-by-step approach to phonics that includes tips, strategies, and practical activities for parents and educators.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics rules, reading fluency, teaching strategies
  • Why we recommend this book: It serves as an excellent resource for both teaching and reinforcing phonics at home or in the classroom.
  • Perfect for: Parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to support their children’s reading development with solid phonics instruction.

• Silly Sentences: Phonics Fun by DK
  • Illustrator: Not specified
  • Genre(s): Educational, Interactive
  • Synopsis: This playful book uses silly sentences and vibrant illustrations to engage children in building phonics and grammar skills.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, grammar, sentence construction
  • Why we recommend this book: Its interactive format encourages children to play with words and sounds, enhancing learning through engagement and repetition.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy interactive learning and those who benefit from a more playful approach to reading.

• Charlie & Mouse Phonics Fun by Laurel Snyder
  • Illustrator: Emily Hughes
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: Follow the adventures of two brothers, Charlie and Mouse, as they explore their world and encounter fun phonics challenges along the way.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Phonics, early reading skills, sibling relationships
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines heartwarming stories with educational content, making phonics learning seamless and enjoyable.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about family and friendship while learning to read.

Challenging Phonics Books for 4-Year-Olds

• Jolly Phonics Activity Book 1 by Sara Wernham
  • Illustrator: Lib Stephen
  • Genre(s): Educational, Activity Book
  • Synopsis: This activity book introduces the first group of letter sounds. It includes coloring, handwriting practice, and sticker activities designed to make learning phonics fun.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces multiple phonics concepts and requires the child to engage with the material through writing and other activities, which are advanced for the age group.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's interactive and provides hands-on learning, which helps reinforce the phonics skills being taught.
  • Perfect for: Young learners who are ready to take on more challenging phonics tasks.

• Usborne Phonics Readers: Ted in a Red Bed by Phil Roxbee Cox
  • Illustrator: Stephen Cartwright
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This story uses simple rhyming text and humorous illustrations to engage young readers as Ted tries to find the perfect place to sleep.
  • Why this book is challenging: The rhyming and repetitive text help with sound recognition, but the vocabulary is intentionally varied to challenge the reader’s decoding skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines fun stories with educational content, making phonics practice enjoyable and effective.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy fun, rhythmic stories that help develop reading skills.

• AlphaTales Box Set: A Set of 26 Irresistible Animal Storybooks by Scholastic
  • Illustrator: Various
  • Genre(s): Educational, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Each book in this set focuses on a different letter of the alphabet and comes with a story featuring an animal character, making learning phonics an engaging narrative experience.
  • Why this book is challenging: The set covers all alphabet sounds and includes a wide range of vocabulary, which is more comprehensive than typical for this age.
  • Why we recommend this book: The narrative approach to teaching each letter sound helps in memory retention and makes learning to read a delightful experience.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love animals and stories, and are ready to explore all the sounds in the alphabet.

• Rocket Phonics by Isabel Thomas
  • Illustrator: Alex Paterson
  • Genre(s): Educational, Science Fiction
  • Synopsis: Follow the adventures of a group of friends as they explore space and learn phonics along the way. Each book focuses on different phonetic patterns.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces complex phonetic patterns and blends within an engaging thematic context, which requires higher cognitive engagement from the reader.
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses an exciting space adventure narrative to make learning phonics captivating and memorable.
  • Perfect for: Young space enthusiasts who are eager to develop their reading skills in a fun and adventurous way.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're exploring phonics books with your 4-year-old, you're on a fantastic path to helping them develop their reading skills. To make the most out of your phonics journey, here are some engaging exercises that can complement the reading sessions. These activities are designed to be fun and educational, enhancing the learning experience for your little one.

• Phonics Fishing
  • What it is: A game where kids "fish" for letters or words written on paper fish.
  • How it helps: Reinforces letter recognition and sound association in a playful way.
  • Tips: Use a small fishing rod with a magnet attached, and put paper clips on the paper fish for an easy catch!

• Alphabet Treasure Hunt
  • What it is: A scavenger hunt for objects around the house that start with different phonics sounds.
  • How it helps: Encourages kids to connect phonics sounds with actual objects, enhancing memory.
  • Tips: Keep a phonics sound chart handy as a reference during the hunt.

• Sound Matching Game
  • What it is: A card game where children match cards based on the first letter or sound.
  • How it helps: Helps with sound recognition and memory.
  • Tips: Start with a small number of cards and increase as your child's confidence grows.

• Phonics Hopscotch
  • What it is: A variation of hopscotch using phonics sounds or words instead of numbers.
  • How it helps: Integrates physical activity with learning, which can improve focus and retention.
  • Tips: Use sidewalk chalk to draw the hopscotch grid and write the target phonics sounds or words in each square.

• Interactive Story Time
  • What it is: Reading a story and having the child point out words that begin with a specific letter or sound.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of phonics in the context of a narrative.
  • Tips: Choose books with repetitive patterns or rhymes to make finding phonics sounds easier.

• Letter Craft
  • What it is: Creating letters using playdough, sticks, or other craft materials.
  • How it helps: Helps children visualize and remember letters through tactile learning.
  • Tips: Guide your child's hands the first few times to help them shape the letters correctly.

These exercises are not only educational but also a lot of fun! They provide a hands-on experience that can help deepen your child's understanding of phonics. Remember, the key is to keep the activities light and enjoyable, so your child looks forward to learning. Happy reading and playing!