The Best Sight Word Books for Children

This is a series of boxed books designed to help children read short stories that are totally written in sight words. There are 10 books in the set and each book adds a two or three new sight words to enlarge your child’s sight word vocabulary.

This book is part of the Peat the Cat early reading series. In the book, Pete tries his hand at playing ball. It doesn’t quite go according to plan. But in true Pete the Cat tradition, Pete doesn’t let his early failures get him down. Instead, he just keeps on trying. Not only will this book help your child decode new words, but it’s a great reminder that frustration doesn’t need to get Pete, or your child down.

When Sally and Dick are bored and home alone, a cat walks in the door and turns their world upside down. He not only plays games they have never considered, but he brings two little monsters called Thing One and Thing Two. All the while, the family’s fish is terrified and warns the children that they should not let this strange cat in the house. This classic book is longer than many early reader books. It is comprised almost entirely from sight words and uses rhymes and repetition to help emerging readers decode the words in the story.

This nonfiction book explores the everyday world of Gabe, an American Humane Association Award-winning dog who works for the American Military. Children read about how he was trained to sniff out danger and keep people safe.

In this book, children learn about koalas in their natural habitat. It follows the animals from birth, exploring their habits, food sources, threats and even how they relate to each other. The book is filled with photographs of the adorable creatures. The frequent illustrations help the child decode the text, making it a great book to start your child’s nonfiction library.

These clever bears ride bikes. But the longer the book goes on, the more bears are on bikes. This book not only gives your child a sense of reading, but also helps to teach numbers, all with a a sense of humor.

This is the story of a little bird who is looking for its mother. It meets a cat, at dog and finally a steam shovel all in its search for Mommy. The refrain is repeated so often that even the youngest listener will know when to shout it out.

Spot isn’t just any dog. He doesn’t have just any spot. He can make his spots to wonderful magical things and believes that he is so special he belongs in the zoo. But the children he talks to have another idea. This book uses repetition and rhyming words to help emerging readers.

Another classic book that uses few words and is almost entirely written in sight words. This book shows several dogs as they travel from here to there in tiny one and two-page vignettes. The entire book culminates in a huge dog party in a tree. Eastman uses repetition and rhyme to help children decode words and remember sight words.

This rhyming picture book explores the trials of a long-suffering creature that does not want to try Green Eggs and Ham. Sam, a smaller creature, does his best to offer every conceivable option to encourage the attempt. As the book goes on, the creature’s temper grows and grows until he is shouting at Sam. But Sam persist until he tries the food and decides it’s not bad. The hilarious situations that these creatures get into hide the fact that it’s really about something every child can identify with: trying new and unusual food.

In this book, an elephant names Gerald is sad. His best friend, a pig named Piggie is determined to cheer him up. He tries several different ways, and ultimately discovers that a good friend is the fastest way to a smile. This book uses repetition and simple sight words, but you may still need to help your emerging reader decode some of the names.

This nonfiction pairs clear photographs with sight words to give emergent readers a good reading experience. It explores nature and families in both human and animals.

This is the first book of an entire series of books starring Biscuit the puppy. In this book, Biscuit needs to go to bed, but he stalls. He wants a snack, then a story, then his special blanket. Children reading the story will be able to relate to the little dog’s attempt to put off bedtime, and so will their parents! The words are simple and the illustrations help the young reader decode any special nouns such as the dog’s name. But once your reader gets that word down, the entire series is open to your child.