Learn to Read with Geckos in Hawaii: Set of 5 Books for Beginning Readers

Start your keiki on their reading journey with these five phonics-based books that focus on learning short vowel sounds in three- and four-letter words. Each book begins with an overview of consonant sounds, a list of letter blends, and a list of sight words used in the story.

Phonics teaches children how to connect letters with their corresponding sounds, which helps them decode words. By learning the sounds of individual letters and letter combinations, kids can begin to sound out unfamiliar words. This skill lays the foundation for fluency in reading and spelling, as children start to recognize word patterns and understand how words are built. Over time, phonics helps them develop stronger reading comprehension by enabling them to read more confidently and independently.

Verdana, a sans-serif font, was used for the text of these stories to make it easier to read for kids with dyslexia, and the engaging, silly, and fun illustrations by local artist Jon J. Murakami capture the spirit of everyday life in Hawai‘i and offer visual cues to help reading comprehension and spark imagination.

Keiki will enjoy reading them over and over again as they practice their short vowels.