Emerging Readers

emerging readers buttonHow to Grow a Reader

Welcome to our Emerging Readers Guide! We developed this page to help parents choose just-right books for little ones. On this page, you'll find information about developing a reader, recommended reading lists, and other resources to support your child as they begin learning the basics of reading. Don't forget to check our Early Literacy Resources for more opportunities. 

  1. Emerging Reader Skills
  2. Our Collection
  3. Tips

Wondering what's normal for your child at this stage? An early / emerging reader (PreK - 2nd grade) is just beginning to learn how to read independently with assistance from an adult. They are developing Early Reading Skills like:

  • Phonemic Awareness - memorizing alphabet letters by sight and sound, and applying that knowledge to sound out new words
  • Recognizing Sight Words - memorizing simple, high-frequency words by sight without needing to sound them out (examples: the, and, they, no, yes)
  • Fluency - reading smoothly and with expression, with some pauses to identify words
  • Basic Vocabulary - absorbing common words and using them in sentences
  • Comprehension - understanding the gist of what they read and recalling 2-3 important details  

Learn more about the Five Pillars of Reading Development in this Reading is Fundamental video on YouTube.