This series of 20 decodable books is recommended for ages 4 to 7 for use in kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms.

Developed in partnership with Dyslexia Canada, Cedar School Decodables is a series of 20 decodable books for young readers. Designed for students who have previously learned short vowel and consonant sounds, additional phonic skills are developed progressively throughout the series. Cedar School Decodables is divided into six sets, which increase in word count and complexity of sentence structure:

Set 1 – Short Vowels (40-60 words)
Set 2 – Digraphs (60-80 words)
Set 3 – VCe (80-90 words)
Set 4 – Longer Words (90-100 words)
Set 5 – Ending Spelling Patterns (100-110 words)
Set 6 – R-Controlled Vowels (110-125 words)

View the Scope and Sequence

Welcome to Cedar School! Join Liv, Tom, Gus, and Bell as they learn on the land and explore Mi’gmaw teachings with their teacher, Miss Sam, and the school’s Mi’gmaw Elder, Jen. With charming illustrations and simple storylines, this decodable series engages students as they practise their reading skills. Each book includes a pre-reading review of non-decodable words, and many of the books introduce special words related to Indigenous teachings. Talking Together prompts facilitate discussions led by the reading teacher.

Author Emma Metallic is a Mi’gmaw writer from the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation, located in Quebec. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of King’s College, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Emma is the author of the children’s story Nipugtug, published with Kegedonce Press. Inspired by her territory and the Mi’gmaw language, Emma enjoys writing short stories that reflect her community’s knowledge, needs, and desires.

Illustrator Natalie Laurin is a Métis and settler illustrator and interdisciplinary designer, with family roots in the Georgian Bay Métis community. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Design from NSCAD University, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Design and minored in Illustration.