 Tried and true phonics resources that actually worked and helped my toddler build confidence and fluency. This post contains sponsored and affiliate links to resources I’ve personally used, love, and genuinely recommend to fellow parents and educators. How Far We've Come on Our Toddler Reading JourneyMy son has been reading since he was 3 years old. At that stage, he was able to decode simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like cat, hop, and sun, and he was also remembering a fair share of key sight words like the, my, and do. Now, at age 4, he’s becoming a more fluent and confident reader. He's able to sound out longer words, read full sentences, and finish entire stories on his own. Like many energetic and playful kids his age, he wants to be the fastest at everything (including reading). So naturally, he expected to jump straight from recognizing letters to reading books with ease. But reading is a journey— sometimes a long and frustrating one, but I’ve been doing my best to support him every step of the way.  We’ve explored a wide range of materials to help build his confidence and strengthen his skills. One of the most helpful resources early on was a book called Learn to Read: 101 Fun Lessons to Teach Your Child to Read by Hannah Braun, M.Ed. It includes clear teaching tips and structured lessons for introducing letter sounds, decoding, and letter blends. We didn’t start at the very beginning since my son had already mastered his letter sounds by age 2, but I still found the teaching guides inside really helpful. I often recommend it to other parents who are just beginning their child’s reading journey—it’s a great foundation for learning how to teach reading at home with confidence. We tried several of the My First I Can Read! books and other beginner readers from various publishers. While a few were helpful, many included too many sight words or complex vocabulary that made him rely more on guessing than phonics. That’s when we discovered the Bob’s Books Beginning Readers Sets from Scholastic—and that’s when everything really started to click.  Why Bob’s Books Worked So Well for UsBob’s Books stood out immediately because they are truly phonics-based. My son could actually sound out all the words on the pages, which gave him a huge boost in confidence. He no longer felt like he was being set up to guess or memorize — he could decode the words himself. I’ll never forget the first time he read one of the books all on his own. He was moving through it slowly and getting a bit frustrated — he likes to be fast, remember? But once he got to the last page and read the words “The End,” his whole face lit up. He proudly told everyone, “I read this by myself.” One of his initial favorites was "Fun in the Sun" from the Stage 1 Phonics for Early Readers set. He loved seeing kids doing things he enjoys, like going to the beach and playing with friends. I think for him it made the reading feel just a little more relatable and fun.  Another bonus? Many of these books are super thin and portable — perfect for quick practice sessions in the car or waiting rooms. I always keep a few in my bag just in case. Choosing the Right Bob’s Books for Your ChildOne thing I noticed early on is that Bob’s Books are organized by levels and skill sets, which is great, but it can be a little overwhelming if you're not sure where to start. My recommendation? Check them out from your local library first. Previewing the books with my son at the library made a big difference — I could see which sets were too easy, which were too advanced, and which were just right. It also helped me feel more confident about investing in the ones that would truly support his growth. Other Phonics Book Series We TriedBefore and after Bob’s Books, we also explored various Phonics Step Into Reading Series from Random House. These were a hit mainly because they featured characters he already loved like Thomas the Train, Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even Blaze and the Monster Machines. The character tie-in definitely helped spark his interest, but I found that many of the books relied heavily on sight words. In my opinion, that made them less effective for actual phonics practice — at least for where my son was developmentally. That said, the Phonics First Steps Set 2 from that series was much more on target. It reminded me a lot of Bob’s Books in terms of phonetic simplicity. Again, previewing at the library helped me avoid the hassle of ordering and returning books that weren’t the right fit.  Our New Favorite: Hooked on PhonicsAfter hearing about it forever, I finally subscribed to Hooked on Phonics, and I honestly wish we had started it sooner. The program includes both an app and physical books/workbooks, and the subscription model lets you customize the frequency of materials you receive. It was much more affordable than I expected, and the quality of the books and lessons is top-notch. The only hiccup we had was figuring out which level to start at. The initial assessment felt a little too basic and placed my son higher than he was ready for. Fortunately, their customer service was incredibly helpful and switched our level with no extra cost. We now use a mix of Bob’s Books, Hooked on Phonics, and some library finds for reading time. Here's how:
Sometimes we even make reading extra fun with a cute app called Novel Effect that adds music and sound effects as you read aloud. It’s been a really cool way to bond, especially during those quiet one-on-one moments.  Adding a Bit of Fun with Phonics WorksheetsTo reinforce everything he’s learning in a way that still feels fun, I also started making my own phonics coloring worksheets. They’ve been a great way for him to practice letter sounds and CVC words without feeling like he's doing a “lesson.” You can check out the phonics coloring worksheets I created right here — just click the link to download and use them for extra reading practice. A Note to Other Parents Teaching Reading at HomeEvery child’s reading journey is unique. For us, having access to phonics-first books like Bob’s Books made a huge difference. Watching my son go from sounding out individual letters to reading full sentences has been one of the most rewarding parts of our homeschool experience by far. If you’re just getting started or feeling stuck, I truly recommend giving Bob’s Books a try, checking out your library’s selection, and finding what clicks with your child. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive — just consistent, supportive, and joyful.  What phonics or early reading resources have worked best for your child so far? Have you tried Bob’s Books or other phonics-based series? How did your child respond? How do you keep reading time fun and frustration-free for your little one? What challenges have you faced while teaching your child to read at home? If you’ve taught or are currently teaching your child to read, what are some tried and true tips or resources you’d recommend to other parents on the same journey? Please leave your comments below. Your feedback is always appreciated. 
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