Learning to read level 1

The Best Level 1 Reading Books For Your Budding Reader

Parenting

by Megan Hungerford

July 19, 2021

Amazon / Scary Mommy

The best level 1 reading books can help your future bookworm fall in love with reading. But before you fill that bookcase full of your childhood favorites, it’s important to know that there are levels this -ish, mama. Yes, literal levels. When shopping for books for new or learning readers, you don’t want anything too easy or too difficult. You also want to be sure that it’s something that will actually hold their attention and get your LO interested in books (hopefully enough to want to continue reading on their own). It’s a lot to take into consideration! While filling up a bookshelf with the classics may be an understandable first instinct, it’s important to get what you’re child will both enjoy and learn from.

“Let your child’s library be determined by what they want to read. Building reading fluency is all about practice. And if your child is reading what appeals to them, they will want to read more and more,” advised Rachel Matson, the associate editor at Scholastic. “Passion for the book is more important than if your child is reading above or below level.”

That’s right. It doesn’t matter if the book is about ponies, pirates, or Olaf the Snowman — as long as they want to read it!

What is a level 1 reader?

Generally, there are five different categories (I Can Read, Ready to Read, Hello Reader, Step into Reading, and Brand New Readers) and four easy reader levels (Levels 1-4), each with various subcategories for different ages. Level 1 readers are usually around five or six years old, the age most children begin kindergarten. Unfortunately, there isn’t one set of industry standards across publishers that categorizes level 1 reading books. (Which makes this hella confusing for us parents). However, all the best level 1 reading books have the same characteristics: a simple vocabulary with familiar high-frequency words, repetition, and illustrations that support the text on every page. Shira Stein, a New York-based literacy specialist and tutor, gave Scary Mommy a little insight:

“Most publishing companies issue some version of early leveled readers. And these books can be very helpful in supporting your child learning to read because they are written with this specific audience in mind,” recommends Stein.

The Five Finger Rule

But how do you know if that level 1 reading book is right for your reader? Stein recommends using the Five Finger Rule! “If your kiddo opens a book and runs into 5+ unfamiliar words, that book is too hard. But zero unknown words is too easy,” Stein explains. So, it’s best to find a sweet spot in the middle. A book that has 2-3 new words per page is perfect for your learning reader.

I know that seems like a ton of info, mama — but don’t worry. We’ve sifted through all the leveled easy reading books from different publishing houses to collect the best level 1 reading books that are actually easy to read. Check them out below!

The Best Level 1 Reading Books

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover!' by Norm Feuti

Scholastic Books’ Associate Editor Rachel Matson recommends “this cute-as-can-be sleepover story which is all about having empathy for your friends,” as one of her top level 1 books. Part of the Scholastic early reader line Acorn, Hello Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover! is the second of the five book series. The Acorn book line features easy to read text, a short story format, and captivating tales illustrated in full color. “Perfect for kids just learning to read. They have age-appropriate humor (no crude/gross humor), good grammar, and are relatable for young kids. Three to seven year-olds will enjoy them (and their parents). The hide-and-seek part is a big favorite” said one happy Amazon customer.

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

Jump into reading with this high quality, guided reading level A book by David McPhail. Part of the award winning early reading series from Holiday House, the book features acclaimed author-illustrators that create compelling narratives with simple text and gorgeous original artwork. McPhail uses cozy watercolor illustrations to depict kids and animals leaping in the air with this beginner book perfect for early kindergarten. “Awesome book,” reviews one happy customer on Amazon. “I love how even though these books are for beginning readers the illustrations and books are just as rich as higher level ones!”

$7.99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

This classic beginner’s book written by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features silly dogs zipping around town in everything from a car to rollerskates. With so many fun-loving characters, it’s no wonder why this beloved book has been a favorite for generations. One Amazon customer reviews, “from colors and numbers and locations, to the time of day, basic temperature, and size comparisons, there are lots of learning moments in this book. But I think it’s the fun illustrations and simple humor that has kept us coming back to Go, Dog, Go!” Kids of all ages (and reading abilities) will giggle when they hit the classic line “I do not like your hat” (which is so humorously met with a frosty “goodbye”). And parents will rarely tire of sharing this classic with their kiddos.

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

Chosen as a best book of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library, the Frog and Dog series is guaranteed to elicit giggles from the whole family. The first story in the series, Frog Meets Dog, tells how the two characters first encounter grows into friendship while also highlighting the importance of showing kindness. Perfect for fans of Hop on Pop, the simple text features repetitive rhyming texts allowing early readers to quickly recognize the cadence of the book while sounding out words. “We love this book!” said one Amazon customer. “Such a fun, easy reader that also shows kids it’s important to be kind. The fun and silly illustrations are perfect for all kids learning to read!”

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

What’s more exciting than scoring a goal? Finally reading a book all on your own — obviously! That is exactly what author Terry Pierce captures in this truly beginner book for the sports-loving kid. Simple sentences chocked full of alliterations and word families makes this a book little learners will enjoy reading again and again. “This is a cute book with easy to learn words and nice illustrations. Definitely coming back for more of this brand,” raved an Amazon customer. This Step 1 book from the Step into Reading series is ideal for a 4 to 6 year old who knows their alphabet and can’t wait to start reading!

$4.99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

Create an instant Elephant & Piggie library with all 25 titles in one complete set by author- illustrator Mo Willems. Any new reader will love giggling their way through the side splitting and always heartwarming adventures of these two wonderful friends. The set includes teacher favorites like There is a Bird on Your Head! and Today I Will Fly!, and come highly recommended by New York City based reading specialist, Shira Stein. “My favorite books for the beginning reader age group include anything by Mo Willems, but especially the Elephant and Piggie books.” states Stein. But don’t forget how much parents love them too! One parent on Amazon reviews, “My daughter loves Elephant and Piggie books. The stories are hilarious, and the characters are kind and friendly. The best part is that the books use simple vocabulary and my daughter for the most part can read them on her own.”

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

“A must-have for any child with siblings,” recommends Rachel Matson, Associate Editor at Scholastic. The first book of the hit Fox Tails series features brother and sister Fritz and Franny, and their highly imaginative bedtime routine that ends up looking a lot like sibling shenanigans. Any young reader with siblings and only children who pine for a larger family will respond to the rambunctious stories with vivid illustrations. “A marvelous read,” reviews one customer on Amazon. “The story and the illustrations are both charming and imaginative. Includes a drawing tutorial and a “What’s your story” prompt to keep the story going.”

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

Part of the Penguin Books Young Readers series, this level 1 book explores what happens when an ice cream cake gets overloaded with too many ingredients. Ann Ingalls masterfully crafts a story that is not only appropriate for young readers, primarily ages 4-6, but tells it with easy-to-read text full of short and simple words. “These Penguin Young Readers are what I think of as a true Level 1, for the kid who is just putting everything together and starting to read. It’s such a great feeling for my little man to be able to read the whole book himself. This is the first book my son ever read all by himself, and it’s probably my favorite out of this series,” said a parent reviewer on Amazon.

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

Created specifically for four to five year olds who are just starting to read by recognizing sight words and sounding out CVC words (consonant vowel consonant words such as ‘cat’ and ‘fan’). These books focus on the 16 most frequent kindergarten sight words (also known as star words or high frequency words) that kids are taught to memorize in their early reading journey. One parent reviews on Amazon, “I bought Level 1, 2, and 3, and my son loves them! The biggest win is that these books, coupled with his few lessons on sight words, have enabled him to quickly be able to start recognizing these words and actually reading full sentences!”

$13.46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

Here is Big Bunny is a visual treat for young readers. Steve Henry creates a cute and captivating story while changing just one word on each page to help budding readers gain confidence and momentum. And during the entire story, there are more than 150 adorable animal characters involved in their everyday city life to enjoy, while hints of Big Bunny are seen behind trees and through windows. “Delivers more every time you look,” said one Amazon customer. “Bursting with energy, the colorful city scenes are filled with animal characters engaged in fun activities. There’s a lot for children to discover, including the mystery of the shapes seen moving between the pages. The text is short, simple, and just right for beginning readers.”

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

By now we know that representation matters. And that is why we love the Princess Truly books from Scholastic’s Acorn series. Princess Truly features a little girl who has magical curly hair. In Off I Go!, she uses her magical curls to travel the world while making arctic friends. And in I am a Super Girl, Princess Truly uses her magic locks to actually become a superhero! Talk about girl power! This easy to read, highly entertaining book series will not only inspire our young female readers, but teach boys that girls are just as strong as they are. One mom on Amazon reviews, “This is a great story book! My kiddo says ‘Mommy, she has my hair!’,” How awesome is that?

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

The first little readers pack contains 25 unique eight-page stories that build early reading confidence at just the right level for your developing reader. The books feature simple text, picture clues, and decodable words that will help your child find success in reading with adorable stories about everything from dinosaurs to pizza. “My kindergartener was struggling to use the tools available to beginner readers (e.g. picture clues and sounding out words), so I bought this set for more practice at home,” reviews one parent on Amazon. “The past couple of weeks, I have seen significant improvement at home, and her teacher reported this morning that they’ve also seen improvement at school.” Is your little one totally new to reading? Or are they more advanced? The First Little Readers Parent Packs are also available in guided reading levels A through level G-H.

$13.59

Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book

Does your kiddo love cracking a joke? Or maybe they just love giggling at the punchline. Either way, if your kids like to laugh (and quite frankly what little one doesn’t), then Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book is the perfect level 1 book for your house. The 32-page colorful easy reader features the beginning of a joke on one page with the punchline on the back. One parent on Amazon reviews, “My five year old’s favorite book. If you have an early reader, this is the book you need! My daughter has read this book so much that she has memorized every single joke! It gives her big belly laughs as well as great confidence to read to others. This one is all five stars!”

$3.99

'Moo Dog' by David Milgrim

Get ready to have fun with a zany dog and bird duo who like to moo. Although the other animals are confused by these mooing animals, the book ultimately rings through with the timely theme of shamelessly being who you are (and having a blast doing it). One parent said, “This has been a great reader for my kindergartner. He was tired of repetitive books. This one is more of a short story using a variety of sight words. A lot of the pages look like a comic book style, my kid definitely thought that was fun.” Get ready to have the whole house mooing with the adorable tale of Moo Dog!

$3. 99

'Cat Days' by Alexa Andrews

“Wonderful for hesitant readers,” said one parent in Amazon reviews. “My child can read, but is hesitant to do so. This book gave her confidence to read. We checked it out at the library so many times I surprised her with her very own copy. Happy Girl!” The adorable easy reader follows the story of an orange tabby cat as she moves through her day. She learns where the best place to sit is, makes a new friend, and in the end curls up to a nice long nap. A great easy reader with sweetly simple illustrations that make this one of the best confidence building level 1 books on the list.

$3.99

Looking for more ideas to get your kids reading, learning, playing, or moving? We’ve got all the best mom-approved kids gear here!

SHOP THE STORY

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepov...

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

$7.99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

$4.99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

Create an instant Elephant & Piggie library with all 25 titles in one complete set by author- illustrator Mo Willems. Any new reader will love giggling their way through the side splitting and always heartwarming adventures of these two wonderful friends. The set includes teacher favorites like There is a Bird on Your Head! and Today I Will Fly!, and come highly recommended by New York City based reading specialist, Shira Stein. “My favorite books for the beginning reader age group include anything by Mo Willems, but especially the Elephant and Piggie books. ” states Stein. But don’t forget how much parents love them too! One parent on Amazon reviews, “My daughter loves Elephant and Piggie books. The stories are hilarious, and the characters are kind and friendly. The best part is that the books use simple vocabulary and my daughter for the most part can read them on her own.”

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

$13.46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

$13.59

All About Reading Level 1 Materials Color Edition

Level 1 starts out with a review of letter sounds from the Pre-Reading program but with a difference. From the beginning (letters m, s, p, and a) the letters become words and the student is off and reading. After all letters and short vowels have been re-introduced, lessons cover consonant teams (th, sh, ch, and then later, ck, ng, and nk), final and initial blends, double consonants, a few sight words, compound words, and plural words. The level ends with six lessons covering the additional sounds of several letters (a, i, c, o, g, e, u, y, and ch) and open/closed syllables. Activity Book is Blast Off to Reading. Readers for this level are Run, Bug, Run!, The Runt Pig, and Cobweb the Cat.

With its 2019 edition, all materials are in full color and although the stories and activity books are essentially the same, the Teachers Manuals have been expanded with additional teaching tips and hands-on learning activities. The new color materials all correlate with the most recent black and white materials (2^nd edition of Level 1; 3^rd edition of Level 2; 1^st edition of all other levels).

Levels 1-4 have Materials Kits which include Teacher Manuals and Student Packets for each level. These levels require either a Basic Interactive Kit (letter tiles, magnets, reading divider cards, phonogram app) or a Deluxe Interactive Kit (same as Basic Kit plus a review box and tote bag).

Homeschool reading that is actually fun!

All About Reading is an Orton-Gillingham-based phonics program incorporating five key components of reading: Phonological Awareness, Phonics and Decoding, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. Course components include a Teachers Manual, a Student Packet (which includes an activity book, review cards, and stickers), and hard-backed readers. The complete program consists of five levels: Pre-Reading (PK or K) and Levels 1 4 (grades K 3^rd/4^th). All teaching and lesson activities are multisensory with a strong emphasis on mastery learning based on reinforcement (games) and review. With its 2019 edition, all materials are in full color and although the stories and activity books are essentially the same, the Teachers Manuals have been expanded with additional teaching tips and hands-on learning activities. The new color materials all correlate with the most recent black and white materials (2^nd edition of Level 1; 3^rd edition of Level 2; 1^st edition of all other levels).

In general, the organization of this program is similar to its sister/companion program All About Spelling. The easy-to-use Teachers Manual provides the path (detailed and lightly scripted lessons) for the teacher-student interaction that is central to the program. Each lesson starts with telling you what you will do and what you will need; then follows review, new teaching, reinforcement and a read aloud time. Lessons can be done at whatever pace is comfortable for both parent and student. Reinforcement and review are provided through games (at least your child will think theyre games). A key component to all levels is the designated Read Aloud Time and suggestions for agegrade appropriate read-alouds are provided.

All About Reading is a well-constructed, thorough, and serious reading program that is devoted to the idea that learning to read can be pleasurable.

Lessons follow a typical pattern and are multi-sensory; starting with a preview of the letter sounds (for the teacher) and review (for the student). New Teaching segments are easy to follow and illustrated. The general role of the Teachers Manual is to provide the teacher with all background information, procedures (Hold up the Phonogram Card and say the sound), the plan (what to do, when), and methodologies (use of letter tiles). New Teaching also includes activity sheets, reading practice (using word cards), and fluency practice. Helpful Teacher Tips are provided at all relevant points. Each lesson ends with a designated Read-Aloud Time and a reminder to Track Your Progress (putting stickers onto the progress chart). Every other lesson (typically) is centered around the childs reading a story from one of the three readers. Since all words in the story have been previously introduced, the focus of the lesson is on fluency, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.

Activity Books are packed with reinforcement activities as well as the reading sheets. Activities include games, Word Flippers, and matching activities. Fluency Practice sheets (2 pages each) include new words, mixed review, and phrases and sentences.

Student Activity Packets for each level provide the specific items needed by the student. In Pre-Reading there is an activity book, picture cards, letter sound cards, capital alphabet chart, lowercase alphabet chart and a Certificate of Completion (cardstock). Levels 1-4 include an activity book, phonogram cards, word cards, syllable tags, stickers, and additional tiles needed at that level. Cards for each level (2. 75x 4.25) are printed on heavy cardstock, perforated for easy separation, color-coded, and clearly marked as to type of card and lesson used. Readers for each level are hardcover with poems and stories designed to capture and hold a childs interest. Divider Cards provide the divisions specific to each level and used to keep track of what to review when. There are two free apps that are used in conjunction with the program. Letter Sounds A-Z accompanies the Pre-Reading program and Phonogram Sounds is used with the other levels.

Review Boxes are specifically sized and well-constructed; designed to hold the All About Reading cards for each level (you can use an ordinary file box, if you choose). The Tote Bag is a handy place to keep everything so you can do reading on the sofa, at the kitchen table, on the deck, or wherever your day takes you.

The Pre-Reading program has a Basic Package (Teacher Manual, Student Packet, divider cards, readers, animal stickers, and Letter Sounds A-Z app) and a Deluxe Package (same as Basic Package plus activity box and tote bag). Other levels have Level Kits which include Teacher Manuals and Student Packets. These levels require either a Basic Interactive Kit (letter tiles, magnets, reading divider cards, phonogram app) or a Deluxe Interactive Kit (same as Basic Kit plus a review box and tote bag).

At the start of each level its assumed that the student has either completed the previous level of All About Reading or has mastered comparable skills. If you start at Level 2 or higher, you will also need either a Basic or Deluxe Interactive Kit in addition to the Materials Kit for the level. Additional items needed include common craft materials (scissors, glue, etc.), a 2 x 3 magnetic white board (optional but highly recommended), and a few optional items sticky notes, globe or world map, candies/raisins, etc.

All About Reading Pre-reading Program (PK-K)

Pre-Reading (PK-K) program covers letter recognition (capitals first, then lowercase) and letter sounds (capitals and short vowels). Lessons feature Ziggy, a fun-loving young zebra with a tendency to say the wrong word and drop sounds from words. In addition to Ziggys games and antics, lessons include an introduction to the letter or sounds, poem-reading, craft/activity sheets, games, and read-aloud time. Alphabet Charts (21.5x 33) are heavy, glossy paper and obviously designed for hanging on the wall. The activity book for this level is My Book of Letters. Readers are Zigzag Zebra and Lizard Lou. Activities include coloring, dot-to-dots, mini craft projects, games, sound match-ups, and hidden pictures. Common craft materials that are needed include crayons, markers, scissors, glue, tape, and a miscellaneous assortment of optional craft materials.

All About Reading Level 1 (K-1)

All About Reading Level 2 (3rd Ed.) (1-2)

Level 2 continues the pattern set in the first two levels. Previous material is reviewed; new phonograms including ee, er, ar, or, oy, aw, ow, silent e, and three-letter blends are introduced. Methods for decoding multi-syllabic words are taught. The methodology is essentially the same, user-friendly, multi-sensory approach emphasizing mastery that is found in the other levels. Activity book is Leap Into Reading. Readers for this level are What Am I? and Queen Bee.

All About Reading Level 3 (2-3)

The 54 lessons of Level 3 alternate between phonics teaching and story reading. Phonics lessons include a review of Level 2 concepts and coverage of ai, ay, oa, ow, fourth sound of y, consonant suffixes, vowel suffixes, drop the e rule, change y to i rule, ir, ur, or, oo, ea, igh, tch, dge, prefixes, ew, ea, wr, kn, o, eigh, oe, ea, and ti. Every second or third lesson is centered on reading a new story from the reader. These lessons include review, a warm-up sheet for the story (words and phrases from the story), vocabulary, an introductory literary analysis section (i.e. compare and contrast characters), and suggestions for a read-aloud time. The activity book is Swing Into Reading. Readers are Chasing Henry and Shipwreck! Chasing Henrys stories range from 8-17 half-pages of text. Shipwrecks stories are each about fifteen pages but there is slightly more text (2/3 page) on each page.

All About Reading Level 4 (3-4)

Level 4 provides 63 lessons that alternate between phonics lessons and reading lessons. Phonics instruction includes a review of previous levels, multi-syllable words, double suffixes, additional phonograms (ear, ey, ui, ie, ph, gu, gn, augh, ough, si, mb, our, ci, rh), and suffixes (able, ible, ance, ence, sion, ice, ile, ine, ite, ive, ace, ate, age, ic, al, ous, ist, ism, ity, ize, ary, ery, ain, ture, and sure). Reading instruction includes summarizing, homonyms, poetry (limericks, rhyme scheme, hyperbole, rhythm), making predictions, common idioms, collective nouns, meaningful expression, literary devices (alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, character transformation, and point of view), identifying the narrator, antonyms, compare and contrast, inferences, difference between fiction and nonfiction, and conflict). Theres some additional instruction on using references, word origins, dialects, and other miscellaneous information. The activity book is Soar With Reading. Readers are Heirloom Antics and The Voyage. The 15 short stories in Heirloom Antics range from 12-20 partial pages of text. The Voyages 14 short stories average 16-18 pages.

It might seem a little presumptuous to label your products All About . . . but when you can deliver a comprehensive, thorough learning program like this author/company does, youve earned the right. ~ Janice

Note: if you prefer the letter app to the letter tiles, that is a separate purchase from All About Learning Press and not included in these materials.

Programs in this section focus primarily on teaching children to read, and may not provide comprehensive instruction in reading comprehension, spelling, writing, or other language skills. Arranged roughly by grade.

English from scratch. Learning to read

What is the first thing a child is taught when he comes to school? Of course, the alphabet, and then reading and writing. Any teaching of a foreign language begins with the same. Is it possible to speak English without mastering the literacy? Yes, if you completely immerse yourself in the language environment. But even under such ideal conditions as living in an English-speaking country, you will still feel like a child in the company of adults. Without a decent knowledge of English, it is not easy not only to live in an English-speaking country, but also to travel the world. Even the airport is much easier to navigate for those who know how to read English.

So, it is clear that in order to master the language, you will definitely need to learn how to read. Any foreign course is built in such a way that in the first lessons you learn the alphabet and pronunciation. At the initial stages, of course, you will need to make an effort to remember how certain letters and letter combinations are read. But having mastered English literacy in the first lessons, you can easily voice any text, even filled with unfamiliar words.

How to learn to read English correctly. Some Tips

There are many ways to learn to read English. Someone resorts to the help of transcription. Others write down the pronunciation of English words using Russian letters. There are people who like to read aloud a lot. And someone focuses on audio files. In fact, all methods are good in their own way. When learning to read, it is not enough to learn letters, diphthongs and remember all the rules. In this matter, constant practice is important. Here are some tips to help you develop your English reading skills:

Learn to listen to English. Oddly enough, but the ability to hear what the British and Americans say directly affects our ability to read. At the initial stage, adapted books are very useful, provided with discs with audio recordings of the texts themselves. Having before your eyes the text that the announcer reads, you learn to read correctly on a subconscious level.
Try to read every day. Make it a rule to read English books for at least 20-30 minutes every day. Choose books according to your level of language proficiency. At the initial stage, you can read fairy tales and short stories. And in order to develop spoken language skills, it is also useful to occasionally look at English-language periodicals and blogs.
Get used to writing in English. As you know, reading and writing are directly related. One follows from the other. If a person reads English at a decent level, then he will most likely state his thoughts on paper very competently. Getting to know native speakers is one of the most affordable and effective ways to improve your reading and writing skills. Communication in modern society is often based on correspondence in chats and social networks. Therefore, having met a native speaker, you yourself will not notice how correspondence in English will become part of everyday life. Introverts can be advised to keep a diary, which will be filled with entries in English.
Learn English tongue twisters and poems. For example: Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not. Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot. We'll weather the weather whether we like it or not Tongue twisters help to work out the pronunciation of complex sounds. Poems enrich vocabulary.
Practice pronunciation. Spend time practicing those sounds that are unusual for Russian speakers. For example, the combination th is not given to every student the first time. And, of course, the easiest way to learn the correct pronunciation is to listen to the dialogues and monologues of native speakers. Modern TV series with English subtitles help to deliver the correct speech.

Reading in English . Alphabet

Suppose you want to learn to read English from scratch. In this case, you will have to start from the very beginning, that is, from the alphabet, consisting of 26 letters.

English alphabet (alphabet)

English has 20 consonants and 6 vowels. Vowels include letters: A, E, I, O, U, Y.

In order to learn the alphabet faster, you can turn to children's songs. Bright cards with letters also help a lot.

There are a few letters in the English language that "behave" differently from the rest. So, almost all consonants in English make one sound. But X is an exception. This letter conveys two sounds at once [ks]. It is also worth paying attention to the last character in the English alphabet. The pronunciation of Z depends on whether we are dealing with the British or American version of the language. In the first case, the letter is read as [zed], in the second - as [zi:].

The pronunciation of the letter R is also very different between the Americans and the British. In the UK, this is a long sound a [a:]. In the American alphabet - ar [a: r].

Transcription

Reading English will be much easier if you learn the transcription, which is a system of signs used to record sounds. Since this or that letter may sound differently depending on what signs surround it, it can be difficult for a foreigner to read some words correctly without transcription. However, recently many students refuse to memorize the symbols of English phonetics. Indeed, thanks to the Internet, today you can easily listen to how the right word is read.

How to read consonants

It's easy enough to remember how to read consonants in English. The fact is that you can easily find analogues in Russian for many consonant sounds. For example, the English Mm is, in fact, the familiar M [um]. And in the word lemon, the pronunciation of the consonant L is similar to the Russian L. Also, analogues in our language can be found with the consonants N, B, F, Z.

The pronunciation of the letter C depends on which characters it is adjacent to. If C is followed by the vowels I, E, Y, then it will be read as [s]. For example, in the word cinema (cinema). Before other vowels, C reads like [k]: come (come), camel (camel), cake (cake).

The consonants T and D in English are very similar to Russian T and D, only they are most often pronounced with a breath. But the letter Q will always be accompanied by a vowel U. The letter combination Qu is pronounced as [kw]. For example, in the word queen (queen). The consonant G before the vowels I, E, Y will be read as [j] - [dʒ]. For example, orange (orange), badge (icon). Before all other letters, G is pronounced like [g]: game (game), gale (storm).

Another unusual letter for the Russian language is Jj, which is always pronounced as [dʒ]. This consonant is very common in the names of representatives of English-speaking countries: Jack (Jack), James (James), Jane (Jane).

Below we provide a list of all English consonants with transcription:

Bb - [b]

Cc - [s] or [k]

Dd - [d]

Ff - [f]

Gg - [dʒ] or [g]

Hh - [h]

Jj-[dʒ]

Kk - [k]

Ll - [l]

mm - [m]

Nn-[n]

Pp - [p]

Qq - [kw]

Rr - [r]

Ss - [s] or [z]

Tt - [t]

Vv - [v]

Ww - [w]

Xx - [ks] or [gz]

Zz - [z]

Vowels

Reading in English for beginners is usually complicated not by consonants, which are often read the same way as they sound in the alphabet, but by vowels. There are only 6 vowels in English, but the problem is that each of them, depending on the position in the word, can have several reading options. Much is determined by whether the letter is in stressed or unstressed position. For stressed vowels, there are 4 types of syllable in English:

An open syllable is a syllable ending in a vowel or a consonant (except R) followed by a silent E. A stressed vowel in an open syllable is pronounced as it is pronounced in the alphabet. For example, plane (plane), placement (room), he (he).
A closed syllable is a syllable that ends in one consonant (excluding r) or several consonants. The stressed vowel in such a syllable is transmitted in a short and clear sound. The vowel A is pronounced as the middle between e and a [æ]. For example, cat (cat). The letter O in stressed position in a closed syllable sounds like [ɒ] in the word dog (dog), E - like [e] (for example, ten - ten). Vowels Y and I in a closed syllable are pronounced as [i] (little - small, myth - myth). Finally, the stressed letter U will resemble a somewhat slurred short sound and [ʌ] (cut - cut).
If a stressed vowel is followed by the consonant R alone or in combination with other consonants, then the vowels will be read as follows:

a [ɑː] - long Russian sound a - park (park)
o [ɔː] - lingering long Russian sound o - sport (sport)
e [ɜː] - resembles the Russian sound ё in the word "honey" - fern (fern)
y [ɜː] - byrd (bird)
i [ɜː] - first (first)
u [ɜː] - burn (burn)

If a stressed vowel is followed by a consonant R in combination with any vowel, then the syllables are divided into diphthongs or triphthongs (complex sounds consisting of two or three letters pronounced as one). In this combination, the vowel A sounds like [ɛə]. For example, in the word fare (fare, fare). The vowel O in the fourth type of syllable will be pronounced as a long Russian sound O [ɔː]. An example here is the word more (more). The vowel E under stress is pronounced as something of a fusion between Russian I and A [ɪə], for example mere (only). Y and I with the fourth type of syllable are read as [aɪə]. For example, in the words fire (fire) and tire (tire). The letter U turns into the sound [jʊə] (during - during).

Learning to read consonant diphthongs

At the initial stages of learning a foreign language, students will also need to find the answer to the question of how to read diphthongs in English. This term refers to combinations of two letters that give one sound.

Table of English diphthongs. Consonants

How to read different combinations of vowels?

If you are seriously wondering how to learn to read in English, you will also have to learn diphthongs with vowels. Here is some of them:

ai, ay, ei, ey - [ei] - aim (goal, task)
ai - [eə] - air (air). Before consonant R
ae - [ɪ:] - aegis (protection, aegis)
au - [o] - autumn (autumn)
ea, ee - [ɪ:] - meal (food). Only if the vowel is not followed by the letter R
ea, ee - [ɪə] - dear (dear). In position before R
ie - [ɪ:] - field (field).
oa - [ou] or [o:] - boat (boat)
oi, oy - [oi] - enjoy (enjoy)
oo [u:] or [u] or [uə] - moon (moon), book (book), poor (poor)
ou - [au] - ground (earth). In the middle of a word

Silent consonants

Those who have been reading English for quite some time rarely remember all the rules for pronouncing diphthongs. And even more so in the process of reading, not everyone pays attention to the fact that some consonants are dumb. But at the initial stage of learning, it is important to remember that the following letters are not read in English:

G and K before N at the beginning and end of a word. Foreign (foreign)
B and N after M. Autumn (autumn)
W before R. Wrong (incorrect)
P before N and S. Psychology (psychology)

You can learn to read English from scratch on your own. Do not try to cover everything at once, learn the sounds gradually. After you learn a diphthong or a letter, do not forget to consolidate the result by performing special pronunciation exercises.

In fact, there are a lot of rules for reading in English and exceptions to them, we have considered only the main ones. True, it is not necessary to learn them all. As you memorize new words, memorize their pronunciation and spelling immediately. So you will not have an urgent need to master all the rules of reading.

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