Reading Resource

Great books motivating children to read

Phonics Board Books

First Stories Great first stories for ages 3 and up.

Begining Reading

Young Reading Series 1 Begining reading books have have easy-to-read text for children ages 5-12.

Young Reading Series 2 Begining reading books have have easy-to-read text for children ages 5-12.

True Adventure Stories

Paperback classics

Reading Program: For children – For Parents – For Schools

Learn more about this reading program

Parents can support their child's reading in the vital early stages, knowing the books are underpinned by Usborne values and a sound framework.

Teachers can use the books in class, for homework and in the library to stretch the able and engage those in need of support.

Beautifully produced, and with lively writing and fabulous illustrations, the books are designed to capture the imagination and build the confidence of beginner readers, and motivate and inspire those who find reading difficult or dull.

Seven levels that Inspire Reading

The books are graded in seven levels. There is a gradual but clear progression in terms of subject, style, narrative length, sentence structure and vocabulary, giving children the satisfaction of mastering real books and making measurable progress.

Learn more about this reading program

• First Reading
  • Level One titles are designed to be the first real books a beginner reader will tackle, with very light support from an adult. Each book has a single story with six pages of reading-related puzzles.
  • Level Two stretch the reader a little more, with more advanced storylines, sentences and vocabulary, plus reading-related puzzles.
  • Level Three titles have longer stories that encourage children to develop reading stamina. Stories have a strong element of repetition to help the reader gain confidence.
  • Level Four titles build readers' stamina still further, with 48 pages devoted entirely to the story, more text on each page and more descriptive vocabulary.
• Young Reading Series
  • Series One titles are for children just starting to read on their own. They use everyday vocabulary, and contain several short stories or one story divided into chapters.
  • Series Two titles are for children who are reading more confidently. Most titles contain a single story divided into chapters, with varied sentence lengths and more challenging vocabulary.
  • Series Three titles are for fully confident readers who still need to gain the stamina for standard length books. They use advanced sentence structure and vocabulary, and have more complex plots.

Each beautifully designed hardback book has a ribbon marker and combines vivid, engaging writing with captivating full-colour illustration on every page, featuring the work of artists from around the world and superb contemporary or archive photography.

Audio CDs

Young Reading audio CDs contain two readings: a dramatic listen-along version with music, sound effects and superbly characterised readings, and a read-along version, with a page-turn indicator, for the child to listen to while following the story in the book.

Internet links

A number of titles have recommended websites packed with historical details, dramatic reconstructions and puzzles and games. There are links to the recommended sites on the Usborne Quicklinks Website.

Learn more about this reading program