
Titles in This Set
Cow Takes a Bow and Other Tales
Snail Brings the Mail
Bee Makes Tea
Underpants for Ants
Croc Gets a Shock
Crow in the Snow
Spider in a Glider
Seal at the Wheel
Ape's Great Escape
Chimp with a Limp
Hyena Ballerina
Giraffe in the Bath
Goat in a Boat
Bug in a Rug
Kangaroo at the Zoo
Mole in a Hole
Lizard in a Blizzard
Flamingo Plays Bingo
Raccoon on the Moon
Llamas in Pajamas
Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9789526528182
Publisher: Usborne
Age Range: Ages 3-7 (Preschool-Grade 2)
Overview
The Usborne Phonics Readers 20 Books Collection Box Set gathers twenty rhyming stories from Usborne's trusted Phonics Readers series into one bright, giftable library for children ages 3-7 (Preschool-Grade 2). Written mainly by Russell Punter and illustrated with lively, comic-style artwork, each 24-page paperback pairs a silly animal character with a repeating sound pattern, so kids hear and see phonemes in action as they follow the rhyme. Designed with reading experts, the series is a favorite pick for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers building confident, independent early readers one giggle at a time.
About the Books
This 20-book collection brings together some of the best-loved titles in Usborne's Phonics Readers series, a program created in consultation with reading experts to make early literacy fun rather than frustrating. Each slim paperback follows one goofy animal hero, such as a cow, a snail, a bee, or a raccoon, through a short rhyming tale that repeats a single phonic sound or blend again and again, so children absorb the pattern naturally as the story unfolds. Cow Takes a Bow and Other Tales, for example, follows a clumsy circus cow whose antics reinforce the "ow" sound, while Snail Brings the Mail turns a slow-moving delivery into a lesson in perseverance and simple word blends. Bee Makes Tea and Croc Gets a Shock use the same playful formula, pairing a memorable rhyme with bright, comic-book style illustrations that keep young eyes on the page. Every title in the set includes notes for parents and teachers at the back, explaining which sounds the story targets and offering tips for reading it aloud together, which makes the collection just as useful for a classroom phonics center as it is for bedtime reading at home. Because the twenty stories progress across a range of vowel and consonant sounds and blends, children can dip into the box in almost any order, building familiarity with letter-sound relationships one silly, memorable character at a time. It is an approachable, low-pressure way to move a child from sounding out letters to reading short sentences with real confidence.
Key Benefits
Book-by-Book Guide
Cow Takes a Bow and Other Tales — When Brown Cow visits the circus, a slapstick performance filled with slips and trips becomes a joyful lesson in the "ow" sound.
Snail Brings the Mail — A reliably slow snail races to deliver the mail on time, reinforcing simple word blends through a hilarious, read-aloud rhyme.
Bee Makes Tea — Bee prepares a special cup of tea for Queen Bee's birthday in a short, sound-repeating rhyme built for beginner readers.
Underpants for Ants — Chilly ants get help from a knitting mouse in a playful rhyming tale that keeps young readers giggling through each phonic sound.
Croc Gets a Shock — A perpetually late crocodile nearly misses her own birthday party in a giggly story built around surprising, easy-to-sound-out words.
Crow in the Snow — A wintry rhyme follows Crow through a snowy adventure, giving early readers a cozy, repeating sound pattern to practice.
Spider in a Glider — Spider takes to the skies in a gliding adventure, using rhyming text to reinforce a simple long-vowel sound family.
Seal at the Wheel — Seal takes charge of a seaside vehicle in a playful rhyme designed to build confidence with new phonic blends.
Ape's Great Escape — Ape makes a daring bid for freedom in a lively, rhyme-driven story built to strengthen early decoding skills.
Chimp with a Limp — A cheeky chimp's minor mishap becomes the basis for a repeating-sound rhyme that keeps beginning readers engaged.
Hyena Ballerina — A hyena trades her usual antics for ballet in a playful rhyme that pairs an unexpected hobby with phonics practice.
Giraffe in the Bath — Giraffe's oversized bathtime becomes a funny, rhyming vehicle for practicing a simple, repeating vowel sound.
Goat in a Boat — Goat sets sail in a wobbly boat in a short nautical rhyme built around an easy-to-blend word family.
Bug in a Rug — A small bug gets cozy in a rug in a gentle, rhyming story designed for very first independent reading attempts.
Kangaroo at the Zoo — Kangaroo's zoo day provides a bouncy backdrop for a rhyme that reinforces a repeating long-vowel sound.
Mole in a Hole — Mole burrows into an underground adventure in a simple rhyming tale built around a single repeating phonic pattern.
Lizard in a Blizzard — Lizard braves a snowy blizzard in a rhyme that pairs an unlikely wintry setting with playful sound repetition.
Flamingo Plays Bingo — Flamingo joins a game of bingo in a lighthearted rhyme built to reinforce a simple, repeating word pattern.
Raccoon on the Moon — A mischievous raccoon's lunar antics power a rhyming tale that keeps new readers laughing while they sound out words.
Llamas in Pajamas — Three friends enjoy a giggly, creepy sleepover in a rhyming bedtime story that rounds out the collection on a fun note.
About the Author
Russell Punter is a British children's author who trained as a graphic designer before entering the world of publishing, going on to write more than one hundred books for young readers, including many beloved titles in Usborne's Phonics Readers series. His stories pair simple, rhyming text with playful animal characters, a formula developed with reading experts to support genuine early literacy skills. Several stories in this box set are illustrated by artists such as Fred Blunt and are widely used by parents, teachers, and homeschoolers introducing children to independent reading time.
Why You'll Love This Collection
This 20-book set turns phonics practice into a giggle-filled daily routine, with silly rhymes and bold illustrations kids want to revisit again and again. It makes a perfect birthday gift, holiday stocking stuffer, or classroom library addition, and a smart pick for summer reading or back-to-school confidence building at home.
Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.
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