Skill 1 of 10
Decodable books for CVC & short vowels
CVC words are the shortest real words in English: one consonant, one short vowel, one more consonant, as in cat, sit, and mop. The vowel stays short, so the a in cat sounds nothing like the a in cake. For a child who has just learned that letters map to sounds, these three-letter words are where reading actually begins. They can be sounded out one letter at a time and blended into a whole word, and that blending move is the core skill every new reader practices until it feels automatic. This is the ground floor of the phonics sequence.
A child usually needs most single-letter sounds in place before CVC words click, and once they do, digraphs like sh and ch and blends like st and fl come next. If your student recognizes most letters by their sound rather than their name, can hear the first sound in a spoken word, and can stretch a slow mmm-aaa-nnn back into man, they are ready to start. A little frustration is normal at first; steady decoding beats guessing from the pictures. Series like Bob Books and the Dandelion Launchers from Phonic Books are built almost entirely around this stage, and All About Reading keeps its early word lists tightly controlled so nothing sneaks in ahead of the lesson.
39 book sets — sets that introduce this skill are listed first.
All About Learning Press
All About Reading Level 1 Materials
Level 1 of 4
Bob Books
Set 1: Beginning Readers
Set 1 of 5
Bob Books
Set 2: Advancing Beginners
Set 2 of 5
Bob Books
Phonics for Early Readers
Supplemental set (Set 1 level)
Bob Books
More Beginning Readers
Supplemental set (Set 1 level)
Bob Books
Rhyming Words
Supplemental set (Set 1 level)
Bob Books
Animal Stories
Supplemental set (Set 2 level)
Charge Mommy Books
Stage Pre-1: Beginning Letters Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage Pre-1
Charge Mommy Books
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1
Charge Mommy Books
Stage 1.5: CVC Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1.5
Flyleaf Publishing
Emergent Reader Series | Book Set (41 Titles)
Emergent (precursor to Reading Series)
Flyleaf Publishing
Reading Series One | Book Set (10 Titles)
Series 1 of 3
Junior Learning
Letters & Sounds Phase 2 Set 1 Fiction
Phase 2, Set 1 (Fiction)
Junior Learning
Letters & Sounds Phase 2 Set 1 Non-Fiction
Phase 2, Set 1 (Non-Fiction)
Junior Learning
Letters & Sounds Phase 2 Set 2 Fiction
Phase 2, Set 2 (Fiction)
Junior Learning
Letters & Sounds Phase 2 Set 2 Non-Fiction
Phase 2, Set 2 (Non-Fiction)
Junior Learning
Science Decodables Phase 2 Non-Fiction
Phase 2 (Non-Fiction)
Junior Learning
The Beanies HiLo Set 1 Decodable Readers - Letter Sounds (Phase 2)
Letter Sounds (Phase 2)
Junior Learning
The Pods - Early Decodables - Letter Sounds (Phase 2)
Letter Sounds (Phase 2)
Just Right Reader
Kindergarten-Early Decodables
Kindergarten
Phonic Books
Alba
Complete set
Phonic Books
Dandelion Launchers Stages 1-7
Stages 1–7
Phonic Books
Dandelion Launchers Extras Stages 1-7
Extras, Stages 1–7
Phonic Books
Dandelion Readers Set 1 Units 1-10
Set 1, Units 1–10
Phonic Books
Dandelion Readers Set 2 Units 1-10
Set 2, Units 1–10
Phonic Books
Dandelion Readers Set 3 Units 1-10
Set 3, Units 1–10
Phonic Books
Dandelion World Stages 1-7
Stages 1–7
Phonic Books
Get Out of the Game
Complete set
Phonic Books
Magic Belt
Complete set
Phonic Books
Mel on Mars
Complete set
Phonic Books
Moon Dogs Set 1
Set 1
Phonic Books
Moon Dogs Extras Set 1
Extras, Set 1
Phonic Books
Pet Sitters
Complete set
Phonic Books
That Dog!
Complete set
Phonic Books
Totem
Complete set
Reading Elephant
Decodable Books- 10 Extra Stories for Short Vowels
Extra – Short Vowels
Reading Elephant
Series 1-5 – Short Vowels – 24 Decodable Books
Series 1-5
Junior Learning
Sound Families Consonants Fiction Phase 5.5
Consonants (Phase 5.5), Fiction
Junior Learning
Sound Families Consonants Non-Fiction Phase 5.5
Consonants (Phase 5.5), Non-Fiction
Common questions
What are decodable books for CVC & short vowels?
Consonant-vowel-consonant words with short vowel sounds — cat, sit, mop. The first step in most phonics scope and sequences, and the entry point for brand-new readers. Decodable books for this skill use only words a student can sound out with it (plus previously taught patterns), so new readers practice decoding instead of guessing.
How is this list put together?
Every alignment comes from the publisher's own published scope and sequence — never from third-party spreadsheets — and each record links its source. Sets that introduce CVC & short vowels as the new skill are listed before sets that only practice it.