· By Jen Jones
Why We Created Fiction and Nonfiction Decodable Books Aligned to the Same Scope and Sequence
When teachers ask us what makes Hello Decodables different, our answer is simple:
We believe students deserve both fiction and nonfiction decodable books aligned to the exact same phonics scope and sequence.
Many decodable book collections offer fiction texts. Some offer nonfiction texts. But very few provide both genres intentionally aligned so students can practice the same phonics skill in either type of text.
That's exactly why we created Hello Decodables with each fiction and nonfiction decodable book pairing aligned to one focus skill.
The Problem We Kept Seeing in Schools
As literacy coaches and classroom teachers, we often saw students reading a decodable story during phonics instruction and then switching to an entirely different text that didn't reinforce the same skill.
The result?
Students were often expected to apply new phonics learning in texts that contained patterns they had not yet been taught.
We wanted something different.
We wanted students to have multiple opportunities to practice the same phonics skill in meaningful, engaging texts while building confidence and reading success.
Why Fiction Matters
Children love stories.
Fiction decodable books allow students to:
- Connect with characters
- Follow a plot
- Build reading stamina
- Develop confidence as readers
- Practice newly taught phonics skills in connected text
A carefully written fiction decodable gives students the feeling that they are reading a "real book" while still providing the controlled text necessary for successful phonics practice.
Our fiction decodable books were designed to help students experience success from the very beginning of their reading journey.
Why Nonfiction Matters
Many students are naturally curious about the world around them.
They want to learn about:
- Animals
- Science
- Weather
- Transportation
- Nature
- People and places
Nonfiction decodable books provide opportunities for students to build knowledge while practicing phonics skills.
Research continues to show the importance of knowledge building and vocabulary development in becoming a skilled reader. We wanted students to have access to informational texts without sacrificing the phonics alignment necessary for successful decoding practice.
That is why our nonfiction decodable books feature real photographs and informational text features while remaining aligned to the same phonics progression as our fiction books.
One Scope and Sequence. Two Genres.
The heart of Hello Decodables is our carefully designed phonics scope and sequence.
Instead of creating separate pathways for fiction and nonfiction, we aligned both genres to the same progression of skills.
This means students can:
- Read a fiction book focused on a specific phonics skill
- Read a nonfiction book focused on that same phonics skill
- Practice decoding across multiple text types
- Strengthen transfer and generalization
- Build both foundational skills and background knowledge
Teachers can confidently provide additional reading opportunities without worrying whether a book contains phonics patterns that have not yet been taught.
60 Fiction Books + 60 Nonfiction Books
Hello Decodables includes:
Fiction Decodable Books
- 60 fiction titles
- Controlled phonics patterns
- Engaging storylines
- Aligned to a cumulative phonics progression
Nonfiction Decodable Books
- 60 nonfiction titles
- Real photographs
- Informational text features
- Aligned to the same cumulative phonics progression
Together, these 120 decodable books provide students with multiple opportunities to apply newly learned phonics skills in meaningful reading experiences.
Designed for Science of Reading Classrooms
Hello Decodables was built with the principles of structured literacy and the Science of Reading in mind. A core ingredient of a Science of Reading is a simple to complex Skill Scope and Sequence, a roadmap for the delivery and timing of systematic, explicit phonics instruction.
Our books are designed to support:
- Explicit phonics instruction
- Systematic skill progression
- Cumulative review
- Small-group instruction
- Decoding practice
- Reading fluency development
- Vocabulary growth
- Knowledge building
Because the books are aligned to a systematic scope and sequence, teachers can confidently match texts to instruction.
Supporting Small-Group Instruction
One of the biggest challenges teachers face is finding texts that match the skills being taught in intervention and small groups.
Hello Decodables was created specifically to support teacher-led instruction.
Whether students are reading fiction or nonfiction, teachers can easily provide texts that reinforce the exact phonics skill currently being taught.
This creates more opportunities for successful decoding, increased confidence, and stronger transfer of phonics learning into authentic reading experiences.
Our Goal
Our goal has never been to create more books.
Our goal has always been to create better opportunities for students to practice reading.
By providing both fiction and nonfiction decodable books aligned to the same phonics scope and sequence, we help students experience the best of both worlds:
- The joy of stories
- The excitement of learning new information
- The confidence that comes from successful reading
Because every student deserves texts that match what they have been taught—and every teacher deserves resources that make that possible.
Putting This Approach Into Practice
Providing both fiction and nonfiction decodable books aligned to the same phonics scope and sequence is only the first step. The next step is knowing how to use those books effectively during instruction.
Learn how teachers can incorporate fiction and nonfiction decodable books into a teacher-led small-group routine in our article:
How to Use Fiction and Nonfiction Decodable Books During Small-Group Reading Instruction
Explore Hello Decodables
Ready to provide students with fiction and nonfiction decodable books aligned to the same phonics scope and sequence?
- Browse our Fiction Decodable Books
- Explore our Nonfiction Decodable Books
- View the Scope and Sequence
- Learn More About Hello Decodables