Start from not reading at all to confident, fluent reading—one small step at a time.

The Ella and Mark 10-book series is designed to support children as they begin learning to read. Each book introduces a small number of new words while continuing to use familiar words from earlier books. This gradual, cumulative approach allows children to build confidence, fluency, and comprehension over time. Across the complete 10-book series, children are introduced to 124 words. These words are intentionally repeated throughout the stories to support word recognition and early reading success.

This series is ideal for children in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2, whether they are just beginning to read, building early fluency, or gaining confidence through independent or shared reading. On this website, families can access free online games and download printable flashcards that complement the books and reinforce early reading skills.

Series highlights

• Clear progression from single words to short paragraphs
• Short, engaging stories based on relatable, everyday experiences
• Supports independent reading and read-aloud learning
• Includes free online games and downloadable printable flashcards
• Perfect for home, classroom, and early-literacy practice

How to Use the Series

The Ella and Mark books work well for shared reading with an adult, small-group instruction, or independent practice. Children benefit most when books are reread multiple times, allowing familiar words to become automatic while new words are gradually introduced. This repeated exposure helps strengthen confidence and enjoyment.

Printable Flashcards

Printable flashcards are available to support additional practice at home or in the classroom. The cards can be printed on standard 8.5 × 11 inch paper or cardstock. Each page is designed to be cut into four flashcards.

High-Frequency Word Coverage

The Ella and Mark series aligns with several widely used high-frequency and sight word lists commonly taught in Kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms.

• 28 of the 40 Dolch Pre-Primer sight words
• 35 words from the Fry First 100 list
• 40 words from the Children’s Picture Book (CPB) First 100 Sight Words
• 28 words from the Oxford English Corpus (OEC) First 100

Detailed alignment lists are available for educators who wish to see the specific words included.

Benefits of Sight Reading

Sight reading, also known as whole-word recognition, helps children quickly recognize common words without needing to sound them out letter by letter. As word recognition becomes automatic, children can focus more on understanding meaning rather than decoding, supporting reading fluency, confidence, and enjoyment.

Who This Series Is For

The Ella and Mark series is well suited for beginning readers, typically in pre-Kindergarten, Kingergarten, Grade 1 or Grade 2, as well as older children who benefit from additional reading practice, repetition, and confidence building. In addition, the simple sentence structures and consistent vocabulary can support English language learners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this series replace phonics instruction?
No. The Ella and Mark series is designed to complement phonics instruction by supporting automatic recognition of high-frequency words. Phonics and sight word learning work together to build strong early reading skills.

Why are words repeated across multiple books?
Repetition helps children develop automatic word recognition. Words introduced in earlier books continue to appear in later stories so children can practice, review, and build confidence over time.

Are there online resources to support the books?
Yes. Free online games are available to complement the series, including interactive flashcards, matching games, and spelling activities. These resources provide additional practice in an engaging format for home or classroom use.

Is this series appropriate for classroom use?
Yes. The series is suitable for whole-class reading, small-group instruction, intervention, and independent practice, particularly in Kindergarten and Grade 1 settings.