Songbirds phonic reading scheme
The books on this page are arranged into ascending stages. Click the heading to reach the group
Stage 1+
Matches a sound to one letter. Teaches the short vowel sounds and all consonants except x and q
Stage 2
Matches a sound to one letter or more than one letter. Teaches two consonants making one sound; double consonants (ll, zz, ff, ss) and th, sh, ch, wh, ck, ng. Teaches qu, x, and revises short vowels and consonants.
Stage 3
Teaches words with consonant clusters making more than one sound, and revises ck, x, qu, th, ch, sh, wh, ll, ff, ss, zz, and all short vowels and consonants learnt in Stages One and Two.
More Stage 3
These books revise all the phonics learnt in stages 1-3: the short vowel sounds a, e, i, o and u; consonants and double consonants; two consonants making one sound th, sh, ch, wh, ng, ck; and consonant clusters making more than one sound at beginning and ends of words (e.g. elf, lift). In addition, one letter pattern for each of the common long vowels sounds is taught: ee (as in three), ie (as in tie), oa (as in toad), ai (as in train) oo (as in too and also as in good).
Stage 4
These books introduce all the common spelling patterns of the following long vowel sounds:
ee (tree, sea, jelly, he)
ie (tie, why, night, mine, diving)
oa (boat, home, bowl, no)
ai (rain, day, make, raven)
In addition, the spelling patterns wr and kn are taught.
More Stage 4
These books revise the long vowel sounds and spelling patterns taught in Stage 4, and all the short vowels and consonants taught in previous stages. Book 6 also features oo as in food.
Stage 5
These books introduce all the common spelling patterns of the following long vowel sounds:
ue as in blue (with the letter patterns oo, ew, ue, u-e, o )
oo as in look (with the letter patterns oo, u, oul)
ow as in down (with the letter patterns ow, ou )
oi as in join (with the letter patterns oi, oy )
Stage 6
This stage introduces the vowel sounds ar (as in star), au (as in August), ur (as in fur), air (as in hair), ar (as in star), ear (as in near), and ure (as in pure). Book 6 teaches the soft g/dge letter patterns (as in giant/bridge), and the ea (as in tread) spelling pattern.
Stage 1+
Teaches the short vowel sounds and all consonants except x and q
TOP CAT
Illustrated by Joelle Dreiderny
isbn 9780198466598
A cartoon-style story of two rival cats
Focus phonics: short vowels a and o; consonants m, c, t, p)-
SAM’S POT
Illustrated by Pauline Stewart
isbn 9780198466581
A toddler and a cat create chaos
New phonics: s and g, plus revision of a, o, m, c, t, p
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BOB BUG
isbn 9780198466574
Illustrated by Deborah Allwright
A story about night-time fears
New phonics: short vowels i and u; consonants b, f, d, h, l, r,
Plus revision of a, o, m, c, t, p, s and g -
DIG, DIG, DIG!
isbn 9780198466567
Illustrated by Andy Hammond
Tim and his dog dig for treasure
New phonics: n
Plus revision of a, o, i, u, b, f, d, h, l, r, m, c, t, p, s and g -
ZAK AND THE VET
Illustrated by Alan Marks
isbn 9780198466550
A disobedient dog is hit by a van
New phonics: short vowel e; consonants v, w, y, z, j, k
Plus revision of a, o, i, u, n, b, f, d, h, l, r, m, c, t, p, s and g -
MUM BUG’S BAG
isbn 9780198466543
Illustrated by Deborah Allwright
A cumulative story about a shopping trip
Revision of short vowel sounds e, i, u, a, o, and consonants.
Stage Two
Matches a sound to one letter or more than one letter. Teaches two consonants making one sound; double consonants (ll, zz, ff, ss) and th, sh, ch, wh, ck, ng. Teaches qu, x, and revises short vowels and consonants.
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THE ODD PET
Illustrated by Judy Brown
isbn 9780198466680
It’s not a cat. It’s not a dog. It’s a zog!
Revision of short vowels e, i, u, a, o, and consonants s, m, c, t, g, p, r, l, d, b, f, h, v, y, z, j, n, k -
MISS! MISS!
Illustrated by Ross Collins
isbn 9780198466673
A story about a harassed teacher
New phonics: ll, ss, ff, zz, plus revision of short vowels and consonants -
THIS AND THAT
Illustrated by Andy Hammond
isbn 9780198466666
A boy makes a DIY rabbit
New phonics: sh, ch, th, plus revision of short vowels and consonants; introduces some two-syllable words -
FISH AND CHIPS
Illustrated by Jonathan Allen
isbn 9780198466659
Ron Rabbit is fed up with his job as a waiter
New phonics: wh, plus revision of sh, ch, th, and short vowels and consonants -
SINGING DAD
Illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi
isbn 9780198466642
A rhyming story about a jolly but irritating father
New phonics: ng, plus revision of ll, ff, sh, ch, th, and short vowels and consonants -
DOCTOR DUCK
Illustrated by Deborah Allwright
isbn 9780198466635
“Come quick! Bob Bug is sick!”
New phonics: ck, x, qu, plus revision of ng and short vowels and consonants
Stage Three
Teaches words with consonant clusters making more than one sound, and revises ck, x, qu, th, ch, sh, wh, ll, ff, ss, zz, and all short vowels and consonants learnt in Stages One and Two.
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THE BIG MATCH
Illustrated by Chris Mould
isbn 9780198466772
Can Rick Duck win the big match or will Max Fox fix him?
New phonics: tch, plus revision of ng, ck, x, qu and all short vowels and consonants from Stages One and Two THE SHOPPING LIST
Illustrated by Anni Axworthy
isbn 9780198466765
A mix-up in a department store
New phonics: words with consonant clusters at the end, e.g bank, held, list, lift, belt, golf, lamp, milk-
GRAN IS CROSS
Illustrated by Ross Collins
isbn 9780198466758
The twins bring a frog to visit Gran
New phonics: words with two consonants at the beginning e.g. twins, Gran, bring, pram, frog, steps, black, spills, drink, cloth, cross, glad, smash, stop, plus revision of consonant clusters at the end of words -
THE TRUNK AND THE SKUNK
Illustrated by Woody
isbn 9780198466741
A mammoth sniffs something bad.
Phonics: more practice of words with consonant clusters at the beginning and/or end, e.g. trunk, skunk -
THE SCRAP ROCKET
Illustrated by Jonathan Allen
isbn 9780198466734
Will Ron Rabbit’s scrap rocket lift off?
New phonics: triple consonants at beginning of words, e.g. scrap, string, spring, splash, plus revision of shorter consonant clusters -
SPLASH AND SQUELCH
Illustrated by Pauline Stewart
isbn 9780198466727
Let’s splash in the pond, squelch in the mud and spring like squirrels!
Phonics: revision of words with consonant clusters at the beginning and/or end
More Stage 3
These books revise all the phonics learnt in stages 1-3: the short vowel sounds a, e, i, o and u; consonants and double consonants; two consonants making one sound th, sh, ch, wh, ng, ck; and consonant clusters making more than one sound at beginning and ends of words (e.g. elf, lift). In addition, one letter pattern for each of the common long vowels sounds is taught: ee (as in three), ie (as in tie), oa (as in toad), ai (as in train) oo (as in too and also as in good).
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RON RABBIT’S BIG DAY
Illustrated by Jonathan Allen
isbn 9780199117390
Ron gets a new job – and a medal.
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern ee as in see -
THE WISHING ELF
Illustrated by Anni Axworthy
isbn 9780199117406
An elf comes to school and gives everyone a wish
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern ie as in tie -
BOB BUG AND THE INSECT CLUB
Illustrated by Deborah Allwright
isbn 9780199117413
You have to have six legs to be in Bob’s club.
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern oa as in toad -
WHERE IS THE SNAIL?
Illustrated by Kay Widdowson
isbn 9780199117420
Can you spot the snail in every picture?
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern ai as in snail -
STOP CHATTING, BILL
Illustrated by Ross Collins
isbn 9780199117437
Will Miss Hill succeed in silencing the chattiest boy in her class?
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern oo as in too -
BACK TO BED
Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy
isbn 9780199117444
A story about two demanding twins and their babysitter
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2 and 3, plus letter pattern oo as in good
Stage 4
These books introduce all the common spelling patterns of the following long vowel sounds:
Ee (tree, sea, jelly, he),
Ie (tie, why, night, mine, diving),
Oa (boat, home, bowl, no),
Ai (rain, day, make, raven)
In addition, the spelling patterns wr and kn are taught.
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QUEEN ANNEENA’S FEAST
Illustrated by Melanie Williamson
isbn 9780198466864
Fifteen Queens tuck in, but what will Queen Teeny Weeny eat?
New phonics: ee (as in three), with letter patterns ee, ea, y and e) -
SPIKE SAYS
Illustrated by Teresa Murfin
isbn 9780198466857
Spike says he can drive, dive, fight fires and feed wild lions!
New phonics: ie (as in tie) with letter patterns igh, y, ie, i-e and i -
THE WRONG KIND OF KNIGHT
Illustrated by Melanie Williamson
isbn 9780198466840
Nasim likes reading, writing and knitting. Can he fight the dragon?
New phonics: kn and wr, plus revision of long vowel sounds ee (letter patterns ee, ea, y, e) and ie (letter patterns igh, y, ie, i-e and i) -
MOAN, MOAN, MOAN!
Illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi
isbn 9780198466833
A rhyming story about a moany mum
New phonics: oa (as in boat) with letter oa, ow, o-e and o -
THE SNAKE AND THE DRAKE
Illustrated by Jenny Williams
isbn 9780198466826
Can Drake play a trick to escape from Snake?
New phonics: ai (as in train) with letter ai, ay, a-e, a -
TADPOLES
Illustrated by Susie Thomas
isbn 9780198466819
A factual account of how tadpoles turn into frogs.
Phonics: revision of the long vowel sounds and spelling patterns learnt in the other Stage 4 books
More Stage 4
These books revise the long vowel sounds and spelling patterns taught in Stage 4, and all the short vowels and consonants taught in previous stages. Book 6 also features oo as in food.
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THE RED MAN AND THE GREEN MAN
Illustrated by Andy Parker
isbn 9780199117482
The men from the traffic lights go on holiday
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4 -
PIRATES
Illustrated by Matt Buckingham
isbn 9780199117499
Pirate Jack and Pirate Jade both want the gold. Who will win?
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4 -
TAILS
Illustrated by Illustrated by Carol Liddiment
isbn 9780199117505
A non-fiction book about animal and bird tails
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4 -
PEN-PALS
Illustrated by Alison Bartlett
isbn 9780199117512
Will Joan be happy when she comes to stay with Megan?
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4 -
MY CAT
Illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi
isbn 9780199117529
A rhyming story about a cat who stops a girl from writing a poem
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4 -
TIM’S BAD MOOD
Illustrated by Andy Hammond
isbn 9780199117536
A rhyming story about a bad day
Revision of phonics from Stages 1+, 2, 3 and 4, plus oo as in food
Stage 5
These books introduce all the common spelling patterns of the following long vowel sounds:
ue as in blue (with the letter patterns oo, ew, ue, u-e, o )
oo as in look (with the letter patterns oo, u, oul)
ow as in down (with the letter patterns ow, ou )
oi as in join (with the letter patterns oi, oy )
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SUE KANGAROO
Illustrated by Daniel Postgate
isbn 9780198466956
A rhyming story about a kleptomaniac kangaroo
New phonics: ue as in blue (with the letter patterns oo, ew, ue, u-e, o ) -
THE CINDERELLA PLAY
Illustrated by Ross Collins
isbn 9780198466949
Cinderella’s slipper is lost in the school play
New phonics: er (as in over), ce (as in prince), ci (as in cinema) -
USMAN’S BOOKS
Illustrated by Martin Chatterton
isbn 9780198466932
What would happen if Usman could step inside one of his books?
New phonics: oo as in look (with the letter patterns oo, u, oul) -
THE UPSIDE-DOWN BROWNS
Illustrated by Sam McCullen
isbn 9780198466925
Find out about the funny goings-on in the round house
New phonics: ow as in down (with the letter patterns ow, ou ) -
LEROY
Illustrated by Jess Mikhail
isbn 9780198466918
Who pops my bubbles and puts coins down the toilet? It’s my annoying little brother, Leroy.
New phonics: oi as in join (with the letter patterns oi, oy ),le (as in middle) -
NO MILK TODAY
Illustrated by Jenny Williams
isbn 9780198466901
The jug is empty. How can Mrs Green feed her cat?
Phonics: revision of these long vowel sounds
ee (letter pattern ee, NO EA SO CUTea, y, e)
ie (letter pattern y, i-e, I)
ai (letter pattern ay, a-e, a)
oe (letter pattern ow, o-e, o)
ue (letter pattern oo, o)
oo (letter pattern oo, oul)
ow (letter pattern ow, ou)
oi (letter pattern oi)
Stage 6
This stage introduces the vowel sounds ar (as in star), au (as in August), ur (as in fur), air (as in hair), ar (as in star), ear (as in near), and ure (as in pure). Book 6 teaches the soft g/dge letter patterns (as in giant/bridge), and the ea (as in tread) spelling pattern.
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TARA’S PART
Illustrated by Ross Collins
isbn 9780198467045
Tara has a party but Martha won’t pass the parcel
New phonics: ar (as in far) -
PAULA THE VET
Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy
isbn 9780198467038
A rhyming story about a vet who is getting bored with seeing dogs and cats all morning
New phonics: au (as in August), with additional letter patterns or (as in thorn), aw (as in paw), ore (as in sore), oor (as in door) aur (as in dinosaur), a (as in all) -
WHERE WERE YOU, BERT?
Illustrated by Richard Watson
isbn 9780198467021
“You’re late, Bert! Where were you?” Bert always has the perfect excuse
New phonics: ur (as in fur) with additional letter patterns er, ir, ur and ear -
CLARE AND THE FAIR
Illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi
isbn 9780198467014
Two poems. Come to the fair, and meet Clare and her bear
New phonics: air (as in hair) with additional letter patterns are, ear -
THE DEER AND THE EARWIG
Illustrated by Scoular Anderson
I hear with my little ear . . . A poem and a story
isbn 9780198467007
New phonics: ear (as in near), with additional letter patterns eer, ere -
JACK AND THE GIANTS
Illustrated by Martin Chatterton
isbn 9780198466994
A play about a family of giant tourists
New phonics: ure as in pure and also as in picture; soft g/dge as in giant/bridge; ea as in tread