Sounds of the Alphabet
Join us for a brr-illiant reading adventure!
Follow the icy escapades of Mim, Pip, and their furry friends as they build snow dens and outsmart a sneaky sabre-toothed cat! Following a synthetic phonics methodology, these eight fully decodable books encourage children to sound out just a few key sounds at a time.
Tip Top Phonics collection:
Frequently asked questions: phonics & decodable Books
What is systematic synthetic phonics?
Systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) is a structured method of teaching reading where children learn the individual sounds (phonemes) represented by letters (graphemes), and then "synthesise" or blend those sounds together to read words. Tip Top Phonics follows a strict, step-by-step synthetic phonics progression so children only encounter words made up of sounds they have explicitly been taught.
What are fully decodable books, and why are they important?
Fully decodable books are stories written strictly using letter-sound relationships that a child has already learned. Instead of guessing words from pictures or relying on memorised sight words, children can sound out every single word for themselves. This builds genuine decoding habits, removes guesswork and frustration, and gives early readers a proud sense of independent success from their very first page.
How does Tip Top Phonics align with the Science of Reading?
The Science of Reading highlights the necessity of explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness and decoding. Tip Top Phonics supports this evidence-based approach by introducing just a few new sounds at a time in a scaffolded sequence, reinforced with explicit pre-reading warm-up word lists and post-reading discussion prompts to ensure comprehension develops alongside decoding.
How is each Tip Top Phonics book structured?
Every book in the series follows a clear, three-step learning cycle:
- The Warm-Up: A pre-reading list of target sounds and words to practise before opening the story, building immediate confidence.
- The Story: A fully decodable, character-led Ice Age adventure featuring Mim, Pip, and their prehistoric animal friends.
- The Wrap-Up: Interactive conversation questions and a fun game to reinforce comprehension, vocabulary, and phonetic recall together.
Can I use Tip Top Phonics alongside my school’s core reading scheme?
Absolutely. Tip Top Phonics is built to work seamlessly alongside any core curriculum as an essential supplementary series. Children often lose engagement when relying on a single scheme’s characters for every lesson. Adding a fresh, distinct series into your rotation brings expressive new worlds to life, giving children brand-new topics to explore, question, and discuss while reinforcing the exact phonic sounds they are learning in class.
Compatible alongside core reading schemes across the UK, US, and Australia (such as Little Wandle, Read Write Inc., UFLI, Fundations, or InitiaLit) as an ideal "gap-filler" for small-group intervention, additional practice, or home reading sets.
What sound sequence does Set 1 (Sounds of the Alphabet) follow?
Set 1 breaks down the alphabet into small, manageable stages across eight books:
- Book 1: s, a, t, i, m
- Book 2: n, o, p
- Book 3: b, c, g, h
- Book 4: d, e, f, v
- Book 5: k, l, r, u
- Book 6: j, w, z
- Book 7: x, y, ff, ll, ss, zz
- Book 8: CVC Word Consolidation
How does Tip Top Phonics support reluctant or struggling readers?
Struggling readers often experience fatigue with traditional, repetitive drill readers. Tip Top Phonics pairs strict decodability with expressive, modern artwork and engaging Ice Age stories featuring characters like Tam the mammoth and Nat the baby bison. By wrapping rigorous phonics in high-appeal visual storytelling, children feel like they are reading a "real storybook" rather than being tested.
How do I know when to introduce each book to a child?
You should introduce a book once a child has been taught the specific letter-sound correspondences featured in that title. You can consult our free online Scope & Sequence Map to match our book sets directly to the exact point in your school’s phonics teaching timeline.
Are these books easy for Teaching Assistants or parents to use?
Yes. Every book includes clear, simple guidance on the inside cover, including the target sound warm-up list and discussion prompts. This allows Teaching Assistants, 1:1 reading volunteers, or parents at home to lead structured, high-impact reading sessions without needing extra prep time.
How does Tip Top Phonics align with my phonics programme?
Tip Top Phonics is designed as a flexible, supplementary reader series that seamlessly supports any structured literacy program or core phonics scheme.
We have mapped our sets against popular national and global curricula so you can easily match each book to the exact phonics skills your students are learning.
Free resources and downloads
Bring the Ice Age adventure into your classroom or home! Our free printables are crafted to reinforce initial sounds, support guided practice, and keep early reading fun.
Explore our growing collection of downloadable phonics worksheets, classroom games, discussion cards, and printable cut-outs, including character bookmarks featuring Mim, Pip, and Tam the mammoth.
I love what Echo Bloom are doing with Tip Top Phonics. Children deserve stories worth reading right from the start, not just words to practise on, and that's exactly what these are!
Clair Wilson, Phonics Author and Early Literacy Expert