For beginning readers
Help your child
learn to read.
Explore letters, practice first words and enjoy stories together. A growing digital library with reading games and printable activities.
$49 today for one year of digital Premium. Five printed books mailed to you, with U.S. shipping included. Renews at $49/year, without another book set.
Florida PEP families: reimbursement may be available. See detailsHide details
Your student's portion of Premium may qualify for reimbursement. Confirm eligibility with Step Up before purchasing.
Try it together
A story to watch. A letter to discover.
Watch The Amber Apple Tree, then try its activities right here. No account needed.
The Amber Apple Tree From The Littlest Letters
Try the reading activities
Choose a game. It opens right below.
The Amber Apple Tree
Trace A and a
Letter 1 of 2
Capital A
Stroke 1 of 3. Start at the top. Slant down to the left.
Start at the dot and follow the path. Lift your finger any time; start again at the dot.
Parent help and paper practice
Say the letter name together. Show one stroke at a time and let your child try. We use simple print letters; follow your school's letter style if it differs. Stop whenever your child has had enough.
Use Show me to watch the direction. Drawing is optional. Paper practice works with a keyboard too.
Keep practicing with the letter books. Printable story cards, Bingo boards and tracing sheets are included.
Included with Premium
A growing kids' library to read, watch and explore.
Keep finding stories your child wants to come back to. Read all the letter books and ten Sam stories online, and explore more children's books across unQbd.
More letters. More adventures.
Meet new characters as you read aloud and practice letters and sounds together. These are a few more stories in the digital collection.
The Isle of Icicles
The Call of the Crescent Moon
Going Beneath Green Waters
A Home for Hero
First Reading with Sam
Help your child read the words.
Ten stories to practice short words and sentences with you. You read the longer passages; your child tries the short lines with your help.
Practice together with Sam and His Cat
Help your child blend am, then Sam. Help with I, then try this line together:
I am Sam.
A small example of the reading practice included with the Sam stories.
- Read togetherLetter stories, Sam books and more children's stories.
- Watch and listenEnjoy story videos and books with read-along narration.
- Play and practiceExplore sounds, blend words and trace letters.
- Take it to paperPrint story cards, Sound Bingo and tracing sheets.
Plus five printed storybooks. Yours to keep.
Alongside your digital library, get these five paperback books by mail at no extra charge with your first year of Premium. Read them aloud together and keep practicing online.
A
The Amber Apple Tree
M
The Misty Mountain
S
The Sleepy Snake
T
Tilly and the Train Tracks
P
Papa Bear's Picnic
A year of digital Premium + five printed books
$49 today. Read all letter books and ten Sam stories online, with reading activities and printable downloads. The five paperbacks above are included at no extra charge, with U.S. shipping included.
For your first Premium membership through this offer. One set per account. Renews at $49/year; renewals do not include books.
- Join PremiumCreate your account, then pay for your first year and enter your U.S. shipping address.
- Start online right awayOpen Meet the Letters to read and practice while your printed books are on their way.
- Receive five printed booksYour paperback set arrives by mail, ready to read together and keep.
Good to know
Questions parents ask
What can we do for free?
Create a Free account to read The Amber Apple Tree and Sam and His Cat online. Amber also includes matching reading activities and printable downloads. No credit card is needed. Later books are included with Premium; some offer a limited preview.
Where do I find the printables?
Open a letter book in Meet the Letters and expand Print. Download the story cards, Sound Bingo or letter-tracing sheets and print them at home.
Are the five books printed books or digital books?
They are five printed paperback storybooks mailed to your U.S. address: the A, M, S, T and P books. They are an included bonus with your first annual Premium membership. Your digital access includes all letter books, ten Sam stories, the wider unQbd library, reading activities and printable downloads. $49 is charged today, with U.S. shipping included. One set per account. Renews at $49/year, without another book set.
What ages and starting points does this suit?
These paths support preschool and early elementary practice. Choose by readiness: letters and first sounds, then blending and shared Sam reading. An adult helps throughout.
How do I help my child?
Read the letter stories aloud, talk about the pictures and help with sounds. Finishing a book records taking part; it is not a test of reading mastery. The parent guide explains how to help with each activity.
Is this a complete reading curriculum?
No. These are stories and practice to use alongside your teaching, not a complete kindergarten curriculum. Letter stories are adult read-alouds, and Sam stories include words that need adult help. The stories are not strictly controlled decodable texts.
Does Premium include books for me, too?
Yes. Premium includes the wider unQbd library, with tech books, fiction and audiobooks as well as children's stories.
Can I cancel?
You can cancel future renewal through your account. For a refund request or a problem with your books, contact us.
Can Florida PEP families request reimbursement?
Your student's portion of Premium may qualify for reimbursement. Confirm eligibility with Step Up before purchasing.
Keep learning together
Keep your child learning to read.
Bring the stories and activities you tried into your family's reading time.
- All letter books and ten Sam stories online
- More children's books, story videos and read-alongs
- Reading games and printable activities
- Five printed storybooks mailed to you, yours to keep
One year of digital Premium
$49 today
Plus five printed storybooks
U.S. shipping included
For your first Premium membership. Renews at $49/year; books included once.