10 authentic texts for phonics instruction

We asked Margery Hertzberg and Leonie Arthur, facilitators of the PETAA online course A Text-Based Approach to Teaching Phonics  to share examples of quality children’s literature that can be incorporated into classrooms as teachers focus on phonics.

They have provided 10 examples of authentic texts and suggested areas teachers might like to focus on -  from initial letter-sound relationships to alliteration and more!

You can find the list below, and because we know that sometimes it’s handy to have a resource you can download, print, and save, we’ve provided the list in a handy downloadable PDF!

Download the list!

Recommended authentic texts for phonics instruction (PDF, 334kb) 

Recommended authentic texts for phonics teaching

 

 

 Title 

 Author(s) 

 Focus on 

 Monster Party

Alison Lester and Jane Godwin, 

with the children from Rawa

  • m and s initial letter-sound correspondence

  • rhythm and rhyme

  • alliteration

  • action verbs

 Ruby Roars

Margaret Wild and Kerry Argent 


  • r and g initial letter-sound correspondence

  • onomatopoeia

  • rhyme

  • action verbs

 Full, full, full of love 

Trish Cooke and Paul Howard 


  • f and l letter-sound correspondence

  • rhythm and rhyme

  • sensing verbs 

 Quiet!

Kate Alizadeh 


  • l and f initial letter-sound correspondence

  • onomatopoeia

  • action verbs

 I wish I had a pirate suit 

Pamela Allen 


  • p and c initial letter

  • sound correspondence

  • repetitive refrain

 Wake up, Mr. B!

Penny Dale


  • w and b initial letter-sound correspondence

  • Illustrations tell most of the story, providing opportunities for a lot of oral and written work

 Gotcha!

Gail Jorgensen and Kerry Argent 

  • b and g initial letter-sound correspondence

  • alliteration

  • repitition

  • descriptive adjectives

     All the ways to be smart
     

    Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys 


    • s and f initial letter-sound correspondence

    • rhythm and rhyme

     The little yellow digger

    Betty and Alan Gilderdale 


    • d and b initial letter-sound correspondence

    • repetitive text

    • rhythm and rhyme

    • alliteration

    • descriptive adjectives

     I'm Australian, too!

    Mem Fox and Ronojoy Ghosh 


    •  and m initial letter-sound correspondence

    • repetitive text

    • rhythm and rhyme

    • easy to script for choral reading