Bob Books are the decodable readers that homeschool parents, kindergarten teachers, and reading specialists have been handing to beginning readers since the 1970s. Created by teacher Bobby Lynn Maslen, the series uses a carefully controlled phonics progression so children experience immediate success from their very first book.

The first book in Set 1 uses only four letter sounds: M, A, T, and S. From there, new sounds are introduced gradually across 12 books until all letters of the alphabet (except Q) have been covered. The stories are intentionally simple, the illustrations are deliberately plain, and the vocabulary is tightly controlled. This minimalist approach keeps the focus entirely on decoding.

At a Glance

What to Know

The series is organized into stages. Stage 1 (Starting to Read) covers basic phonics with short vowels. Stage 2 (Emerging Reader) adds sight words and consonant blends. Stage 3 (Developing Reader) introduces long vowels and more complex word patterns. Box sets run $15-25 each and are available everywhere books are sold.

Bob Books are not a reading curriculum. They are practice readers that pair with any phonics program. Families using All About Reading, Logic of English, Explode the Code, or even Reading.com frequently use Bob Books as the decodable reading practice that reinforces what the child is learning in their main program. At $15-25 per box set, they are one of the most affordable and effective early literacy tools available to homeschool families.