Your child will enjoy previewing the new words and sounds for each book listed on the inside covers. Read the
comments below from the Teacher's Guide to learn what each book offers.
Set 1—Book 1
Comments
Title:
Max
A guide is found on the front page of each of The Family Readers.
This book shows the blending of consonant-vowel-consonant (cvc) short vowel word. Words to
sound, read, write and spell are introduced. A favorite storybook character, Max, is also
introduced. As soon as these first 9 consonants are learned and blended with the short vowel "a"
this book can be read.
Value:
Friendship
New Words:
cat, fat, hat, map, mat, Max, pal, sat
Consonants:
c, f, h, m, p, t, x, s, l
Vowels:
short a
Sight Words:
the
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about the “short a” word
family, “__at.”
Set 1—Book 2
Comments
Title:
Max Ran
Two more consonants are added and a simple sentence about Max and his pet
can be read. Success with reading is started early with this reading program.
Value:
Companionship
New Words:
ran, the
Consonants:
n, r
Vowels:
short a
Sight Words:
the
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about the word "pal" and
friendship.
Set 1—Book 3
Comments
Title:
The Bag
Extra practice is given to "b," "d," and "g" which are often reversed.
Kim, (Max's pal), another favorite storybook character is introduced.
Value:
Sharing
New Words:
and, bag, gal, in, sag
Consonants:
b, g, d
Vowels:
short a
Sight Words:
in
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about sharing play things with
others.
Set 1—Book 4
Comments
Title:
The Tan Cab
A review of the first three books is given. Phonics blending is
introduced as storybook characters interact with each other.
Value:
Safety
New Words:
cab, had, is, tan
Consonants:
Vowels:
short a and “i”
Sight Words:
is
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about wearing seatbelts.
Set 1—Book 5
Comments
Title:
The Map
The word "has" ends with an "s" but is pronounced "z." This is a good
book for story prediction and stimulates thinking by asking a question on the last page of the
book (p.16). "How would you get the map and the hat?" A possible answer is in the next book.
(This provides experience in predicting or forecasting).
Value:
Kindness
New Words:
can, has, Max's, nab, naps, on, sad
Consonants:
z
Vowels:
short a
Sight Words:
on
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about taking care of pets.
Set 1—Book 6
Comments
Title:
Razz
The double "z" on Razz makes one sound. Practice blending sounds smoothly
and rapidly. Max s (possession) is introduced. Max is successful in getting the map from Razz
and a new adventure develops.
Value:
Friendship
New Words:
Bam, lap, pit, pats, Razz, Ram, to, Zam
Consonants:
z, _ts
Vowels:
short a-i
Sight Words:
to
Conversation Skills:
After reading this book, talk for a few minutes about reading maps and making plans.
