Starting from Scratch: Why Phonics Became the Priority
- Adrienne De Luna
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
When I stepped into my Youth Services role, one thing quickly became clear: our children’s collection was missing a critical foundation—phonics. There were no phonics-specific books at all, and while we did technically have leveled readers, the way materials were organized made independent browsing difficult for both children and their caregivers.
Leveled readers were shelved in a very small, underdeveloped section. Leveled nonfiction titles were mixed into the general nonfiction collection, and early chapter books were interfiled with all other chapter books—regardless of reading level. For children eager to choose books on their own, this made browsing frustrating. For guardians trying to support a child’s reading development, it often meant guesswork.
Before we could meaningfully build new literacy resources, the first step had to be organization.
Reworking the physical layout of the collection created clearer pathways for families: children could more easily find books they felt successful reading, and adults could better support emerging readers without needing staff assistance for every selection. Once materials were organized in a way that encouraged independent discovery, a much larger gap became impossible to ignore—there was nothing intentionally supporting reading readiness or phonics development.
That realization shaped everything that followed. The solution wasn’t just to buy more books, but to intentionally build a phonics-focused collection designed to meet children where they were developmentally, support struggling readers, and make learning to read feel achievable—and even fun.
One of the most impactful expansions of our phonics collection was creating Reading Readiness Kits specifically designed to support struggling and emerging readers. These kits combined phonics-based books, consumable learning materials, and educational games into themed, bagged sets that families could check out and use at home.
The goal was simple: make learning to read feel exciting rather than intimidating.
Each kit was intentionally designed to blend instruction with play, recognizing that children—especially those who struggle with traditional reading instruction—learn best when they are engaged, curious, and having fun. By including tactile games, hands-on activities, and approachable books, the kits transformed phonics practice into something kids genuinely looked forward to bringing home.
Why Play-Based Learning Matters
Incorporating play into literacy instruction isn’t just a “nice extra”—it’s essential. Games and interactive materials help children:
Practice phonics skills without the pressure of formal assessment
Build confidence through repetition in low-stakes ways
Strengthen fine motor skills and problem-solving alongside reading
Associate reading with positive emotions and family connection
Parents consistently shared that their children were excited to use the kits, often asking to check out another one as soon as they returned the first. That enthusiasm matters—especially for struggling readers who may already associate reading with frustration or failure.
What Went Into the Kits
Each Reading Readiness Kit included a curated mix of:
Decodable or phonics-aligned books to reinforce specific skills
Consumable worksheets or activities for hands-on practice
Educational board games or manipulatives that supported phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondence, and word building
By bundling these materials together, families didn’t have to guess how to use them—the kit itself became a ready-made literacy experience.
Some of the items purchased and used in these kits can be found HERE.
A common problem with phonics books is that they are small paperbacks, which we know are not ideal for libraries. I removed these small books and put them into zipper pouches, making them their own kits, as the boxes do tend to fall apart. Sometimes, through library book vendors, you can find the BOB book series bound for libraries, but unfortunately, they are hard to find.
A Model Worth Replicating
Literacy kits are a powerful way for public libraries to:
Support families who may lack access to educational materials at home
Reach struggling readers in a way that feels supportive, not remedial
Reinforce the library’s role as an active partner in early literacy
Enhance their resources to support neighboring schools and their teachers
For libraries looking to strengthen phonics collections, Reading Readiness Kits offer a scalable, adaptable model that blends collection development, programming, and outreach into one highly effective service!
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