One of my favorite ways to work on a skill in the classroom is through trade books! Sometimes this seems like an obvious thing to do. If you are learning about butterflies you may pull out The Very Hungry Caterpillar or if you are talking about Thanksgiving, you might read Turkey Trouble.
But do you gravitate toward books when you are talking about phonics? There are so many great books that coincidently have a focus on a particular sound. Do you have a stack of short vowel picture books set aside? What about picture books that focus on vowel teams?
You probably noticed when you were teaching rhyming in the past that kids can pick up on rhymes a lot quicker when they hear them. Phonics concepts can be the same way.
The more a student hears a particular sound, the more likely they will be to retrieve it when they are reading or writing on their own.
The list of books you could use when teaching short vowel sounds is endless. Here are a few suggestions to consider when you are focusing on short a, short e, short i, short o, or short u sounds.
Short Vowel Picture Books by Sound
Table of Contents
Short A Books
One great picture book that can help teach the short “a” sound is “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss. This classic book is filled with words that contain the short “a” sound, making it a great tool for reinforcing this vowel sound.
Anotherto add to your short vowel picture books stack is “Pat Sat, Mat” by Edith Kunhardt. This book features simple sentences that are perfect for beginning readers who are just learning how to sound out words.
Short E Books
“The Best Nest” by P.D. Eastman is a fun and engaging picture book that can be used to teach the short “e” sound. The book features a bird named Mr. and Mrs. Bird who are searching for the perfect place to build their nest. The story is filled with words that contain the short “e” sound, making it a great resource for teaching this vowel sound.
Another to add to your short vowel picture books stack is “Bedtime for Frances” by Russell Hoban. This book features a young badger named Frances who is getting ready for bed. The story is filled with short “e” words that can help reinforce this vowel sound.
Short I Books
“The Big Pig” by Eileen Spinelli is a wonderful picture book that can be used to teach the short “i” sound. The story is about a big pig who loves to eat, and the words in the book are full of short “i” sounds.
Another to add to your short vowel picture books stack is “Pig in a Wig” by Emma J. Virjan. This book features a pig who is trying to find the perfect wig to wear, and the words in the book are perfect for teaching the short “i” sound.
Short O Books
“Fox in Socks” by Dr. Seuss is a great picture book that can be used to teach the short “o” sound. The book is filled with tongue-twisting rhymes that are full of short “o” sounds, making it a great tool for teaching this vowel sound.
Another to add to your short vowel picture books stack is “Bob Books Set 1: Beginning Readers” by Bobby Lynn Maslen. This book features simple sentences that are perfect for beginning readers who are just starting to learn about short vowel sounds, including the short “o” sound.
Short U Books
“The Bug in the Jug Wants a Hug” by Brian P. Cleary is a fun and engaging picture book that can be used to teach the short “u” sound. The book features silly rhymes that are filled with short “u” words, making it a great resource for teaching this vowel sound.
Another book to add to your short vowel picture books stack is “Tub Time with Tate” by Laura Gehl. This book features a young boy named Tate who is taking a bath, and the words in the book are full of short “u” sounds.
Creation Castle
Heather is the author of Creation Castle. She has experience with general education, special education, and ESL students in kindergarten through fifth grade. She specializes in early elementary math and literacy, as well as organization.
