10 Books to Help Kids With
Sight Words

by Iva-Marie Palmer

Photography by Seana Williamson

While every child develops an interest in reading at their own pace, it most often happens between the ages of 4 and 7. To help kids prepare for reading readiness, many kindergarten classes teach sight words. Sight words typically include between 100 and 300 words children memorize and become familiar with in order to read and write. They fall into two categories: frequently used words (think: it, can, will) and non-phonetic words (or simple words that you can’t “sound out,” like buy and talk).

These 10 books are all entertaining and engaging places to start looking for sight words. Have fun reading with your child by making a game out of finding the words they recognize. Use these printable lists of common sight words to help as you go.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2022.