All About Reading Pre-Reading
Boost pre-reading skills the fun way—with hands-on games, clever crafts, and cozy read-alouds your child will love (and learn from)!
$119.95
Quantity:
Complete Course
Consumable
In a Curriculum Kit
Nonreligious
2026 Pre-K Curriculum Kit
All About Reading Pre-Reading
Learning to read starts long before a child sounds out his first word. All About Reading Pre-reading builds the foundational skills that make later reading instruction easier, more natural, and more successful.
Designed for preschoolers and kindergarteners, this gentle introduction focuses on five essential readiness skills: print awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, listening comprehension, and motivation to read. Instead of asking children to decode words before they're ready, the program develops the skills that prepare them for future reading success.
Lessons are filled with rhyming games, letter crafts, movement activities, picture books, and playful language experiences. Children practice listening for sounds, identifying letters, understanding how books work, and developing a love for stories—all while simply having fun.
The carefully structured lessons follow the same multisensory philosophy used throughout the All About Reading series, making Pre-reading an excellent first step for families planning to continue with Level 1.
For children who aren't quite ready to read words but are eager to learn, All About Reading Pre-reading provides a playful, confidence-building bridge between early childhood and formal reading instruction.
Reading lessons shouldn't feel like a daily battle. All About Reading is a mastery-based, multisensory program that helps children build strong reading skills one step at a time. Based on the trusted Orton-Gillingham approach, it combines phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and reading practice into structured, effective, and surprisingly enjoyable lessons.
Rather than rushing children through a long list of concepts, All About Reading introduces one skill at a time and provides plenty of practice before moving on. This careful pacing helps children develop genuine confidence while reducing frustration for both parent and child.
Because the program is built around phonics, children learn how words work instead of relying heavily on memorization. Since the vast majority of English words can be decoded using phonics patterns, children gain the tools they need to tackle unfamiliar words independently.
The lessons are open-and-go, lightly scripted, and easy to teach. Parents don't need specialized training to be successful. Just a few minutes a day builds steady progress and strong reading habits.
One of the program's most-loved features is its collection of full-color readers. Unlike many beginning readers, these stories contain only the concepts children have already learned, allowing them to experience the satisfaction of truly reading on their own. Interactive activities, games, and hands-on review help reinforce new skills while keeping lessons engaging.
The series includes five levels, beginning with Pre-reading and continuing through Level 4. Whether you're preparing a preschooler for reading, teaching a beginning reader, or helping an older child strengthen foundational skills, All About Reading provides a clear, systematic path toward reading success.
See some sample pages from this series and browse all that it has to offer.
How to Use All About Reading Pre-reading
- Start with the Teacher's Manual. The lessons are lightly scripted and easy to follow, so you don't need to plan or figure out what to say. Simply open to the next lesson and follow the instructions.
- Gather materials as needed. Before each lesson, spend a minute or two collecting any supplies called for in the manual. Most activities use simple items such as flashcards, crayons, scissors, glue, or game pieces.
- Work through the lessons in order. All About Reading Pre-reading includes 78 sequential lessons that build foundational literacy skills step by step. Your child will practice print awareness, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, listening comprehension, and motivation to read through games, crafts, movement activities, and hands-on learning.
- Invite Ziggy to help. The Ziggy Zebra puppet appears throughout the program, helping make lessons interactive and memorable. Many children are more willing to participate when Ziggy asks the questions.
- Enjoy the read-alouds. The Zigzag Zebra and Lizard Lou are woven into the lessons to strengthen listening comprehension and build a love of books. When prompted, simply pause and enjoy the story together.
- Keep lessons short. Plan on about 20 minutes per day. Short, consistent lessons help your child stay engaged and make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
- Follow your child's pace. Some children move quickly through the lessons, while others benefit from extra review. Feel free to slow down, repeat activities, or spend additional time on concepts as needed.
- Have fun. Pre-reading is designed to build a strong foundation before formal reading instruction begins. Through stories, games, crafts, and playful activities, your child develops the skills and confidence needed for future reading success.
All About Reading Pre-reading Set includes:
- Teacher's Manual
- Student Packet
- The Zigzag Zebra book
- Lizard Lou book
- Divider Cards
- Letter Sounds A to Z app
- A Review Box
- Puppet
- Adorable Animal Stickers
All About Reading Pre-reading includes:
- Teacher's Manual
- Student Packet
- The Zigzag Zebra book
- Lizard Lou book
- Divider Cards
- Letter Sounds A to Z app
- A Review Box
- Puppet
- Adorable Animal Stickers
All About Reading Pre-reading teaches:
Letter Knowledge
- Learn to recognize capital letters
- Learn to recognize lowercase letters
- Learn to recite the alphabet song
- Learn to blend sounds orally to make a word
- Learn to clap syllables
- Learn rhyming and word boundaries
- Identify the beginning and ending sounds in a word
Print Awareness
- Understand that the words on the page can be read
- Understand that books are read from cover to back, and sentences are read from left to right
Listening Comprehension
- Answer simple questions about a story
- Learn to retell a story in his own words
- Ask pertinent questions about a story
- Cultivate an enthusiasm for learning
- Instill a delight for books and reading
- Observe situations in which reading is beneficial
- Establish a desire to learn to read and write
Note: Teaching more than one student at a time? You will want to either order an additional Activity Book for each student or photocopy each page as allowed for family use, as specified in the copyright. The student pages in the Activity Book are perforated, making them convenient to tear out and use or photocopy. If you plan to reuse the package with future students, you will also want to obtain the consumable progress chart and certificate of achievement, which are available as free downloads.
Publisher's Information
Publisher: All About Learning Press
Author: Marie Rippel
Age Recommendation: 4
Grade Recommendation: PreK
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Yes (Student Pack only)
Lessons: 78
Format: Softcover (Student & Teacher's books), Hardcover (Readers), perforated sheets
- Mom's Choice Awards - Honoring Excellence
- One of Cathy Duffy's 103 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
- Academics' Choice Award Winner: Smart Book
- Back to Homeschool Curriculum Awards Winner 2024, homeschool.com
- The Old Schoolhouse Excellence in Education Award: 1st Place, 2020
- Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards: #1 in Phonics, 2013 and 2014 Reader Awards
- Moonbeam Children's Book Awards
- "The most age-appropriate and parent-friendly Orton-Gillingham program on the market."
Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-Trained Mind
Download the All About Reading Pre-reading Scope and Sequence PDF.
View a Sample of the Table of Contents
Download this Readiness Checklist to determine if your student is ready for Pre-reading.
Download Lizard Lou Book sample PDF
Download The Zigzag Zebra Book sample PDF
Download Activity Book sample PDF
Download Teacher's Manual sample PDF
The Art Kit:
”What I also love about All About Reading is that it is lightly-scripted and their “open and go” lessons make it so easy and stress-free.”
Read the Review
Cummins Life:
”All About Reading is a multisensory, mastery-based curriculum. You can really tailor it to your student and your schedule. ”
Read the Review
Homeschool and Humor:
”Uncomplicated, easy to understand and teach, and successful – that’s what this pre-reading program truly is.”
Read the Review
The M Word
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this product below:
The puppet is not just an "add-on" to our program. Many lessons include a script where it helps children learn important phonological awareness skills. We use a puppet to encourage children to do the hard work needed to learn these skills--he provides motivation to learn! Kids love the addition of the puppet because he learns right along with them, making mistakes that they get to correct. So instead of just "being taught," children help their friend learn the lesson, too, making kids feel empowered, successful, and eager to learn more.
Puppets help children enjoy learning and spark their imagination. When children enjoy learning, they can pay attention longer and make stronger connections to the content they are learning--which creates better long-term retention.
A quick search of Google Scholar shows a lot of research has been done on the benefits of using Puppets as teaching aids. Here are some examples:
Puppet as a Pedagogical tool - "This study examines the potential of puppets in the educational context." Benefits found:
- (1) generating communication,
- (2) supporting a positive classroom climate,
- (3) enhancing creativity,
- (4) fostering co-operation in and integration into a group, and
- (5) changing attitudes.
- "This article presents partial results of a broader study that examined the influence of an intervention program integrating a puppet as a mediation tool on learning motivation, and enhancing literacy achievements in regular and special kindergarten children."
- "Mediation using puppets facilitated learning processes, while using puppets, children's cooperation level increased, as did interest, attention span and their involvement in learning interaction was evident."
Beyond Pinocchio: Puppets as Teaching Tools in inclusive early childhood classrooms: "Puppets, used as a tool in the instructional process, can be effective in enhancing child interest and engagement."
Puppetry activities in early childhood programmes: "This qualitative study was aimed to investigate the benefits of puppetry activities for children who were enrolled in early childhood programs....Based on the thematic analysis, it was found that the inclusion of puppetry activities in an early childhood program can boost intellect and memory; enhance creative thinking and imagination; more manageable of self-control and emotions; ensure social and interaction; allow practice in focusing; language and communication; improve physical and mental health; connected spirituality and moral values.
The box is for you to store the All About Reading cards in. The cards are in 8.5” x 11” perforated sheets that need to be separated. They will be with your other materials. The sponges are provided as spacers to help fill the box for now, as you will add cards to the box as you go along.
If you’re on Facebook you might find it helpful to join the All About Learning Support group for more ideas and suggestions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AALPSupportGroup
- April 30, 2026
Maddie B.
I wish my review could be as positive as others, but this program just wasn’t a great fit for my son. He loves to listen to Ziggy and play the word games with him but the coloring pages just aren’t that engaging for him. I did this program with my son and the 180 Days of Phonics workbook and I feel like he learned a lot more from the phonics workbook. We are going to be trying the Happy Cheetah Reading Program Timberdoodle recommends for his language arts/reading this year.
- September 2, 2025
Fantastic
Yeri
These kit is all we need to start reading. All the materials have an important function to promote learning and the children adapted quite easily.
- July 23, 2025
A Vital Part of Language Arts Learning
Dorothy W.
I do not have enough good things to say about this cirriculum. I really feel like I am succesfully teaching my son about letters and letter recognition, phonics, rhyming and other language conepts. The lessons are fun but thorough. And that puppet is NOT optional. Seriously my son absolutely adores the puppet and it's been integral to how well he is learning. There's a variety of games, activities, songs and things to facilitate learning the material. Absolutely wonderful piece of cirriculum to get the little scholars ready to start reading next year in Kindergarten. Never stop offering this for language arts Timberdoodle!
- January 19, 2025
Love this
Kathy E.
This curriculum does such a great job of teaching letters and letter sounds. My daughter was able to know all of her letters and letter sounds and CVC words before kindergarten. It makes reading approachable both for the parent and child.
- September 7, 2024
Just What We Needed
Rebecca L.
This set is easy to use, fun to teach and my daughter is loving it. Open and go curriculum takes very little prep and holds my daughter’s attention.
- August 15, 2024
Love
Anna C.
Used this before and enjoyed it
- June 9, 2024
Pretty Great
D
So far so good with this program for my almost 3 year old. He knows his letters pretty well already but this is a really good game set and discussion point with the reader. We are also getting on great using Ziggy to help out with games. I wasn’t sure my kiddo was going to get into it but he loves the puppet so far!
- April 17, 2024
Provides A Solid Foundation
Jana M.
Although we had previously used All About Reading Levels 1-4, this was our first time using the pre-reading level. Overall I would recommend the pre-reading program, but there were a few drawbacks. One disadvantage for us is that the readers and wall posters lack color since they are printed in black & white. The readers have some lovely rhymes and poems, but it was often difficult to engage our kiddo who typically loves to look at colorful picture books. My additional concern has been shared by atleast one other reviewer where the items picked to associate with each capital letter are a bit abstract for the audience this curriculum targets. For example "G" stands for guppy, with a picture of a fish and "Q" for quack with a picture of a duck. There are a few other letters that have similar issues. While it's fun to have most of the capital letters associated with animals it is still natural for an inquisitive learner to look at the letter G and say "fish" or Q and say "duck". Ultimately what made this program a hit was the Ziggy Zebra puppet. Our little one would get SO excited when we brought the puppet out! We also enjoyed the little "games" in each lesson. In the end we felt this curriculum was worth both our time & money providing a solid foundation as we jump in to level one.
- January 14, 2024
Family Friend
Lillie O.
Ziggy has been an amazing resource. Years ago this puppet helped teach my son to read and has been an enjoyed resource ever since! He's like an old Family friend and All About Reading curriculum has been used in my family for multiple children over the years.
- October 19, 2023
Love!
Rebecca G.
We are loving All About Reading pre reader! I’m using it to help my kiddo before we start full time homeschool next year and it’s doing wonders! I’ll be using it next year with my pre-k kiddo as well!
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