All About Reading
A parent-taught, multisensory phonics and reading curriculum with a Pre-Reading level and Levels 1–4. Lightly scripted lessons use letter tiles, flashcards, activity books and decodable readers, and the company offers a one-year return guarantee.
What is All About Reading?
All About Reading is a phonics and reading curriculum that parents teach at home. It's published by All About Learning Press, which also makes All About Spelling. There's a Pre-Reading program and four numbered levels. By the end of Level 4, students can decode nearly any word.
The core idea is multisensory, mastery-based teaching. Children see, hear and touch each new concept, usually by building words with magnetic letter tiles. Each lesson builds on mastered skills, and flashcard review keeps old skills fresh.
How it works
The parent teaches from a lightly scripted Teacher's Manual. Lessons are open-and-go, so there's little prep. Plan on about 20 minutes a day, plus 20 minutes of reading aloud to your child.
A typical lesson in Level 1:
- Review a few flashcards from the Review Box.
- Introduce a new sound or concept with the letter tiles.
- Build and read words together.
- Do a short activity-book page or game.
- Read a story from the decodable reader.
Lessons aren't meant to be finished in one day. Some take a week or more, and you move on only when your child is ready.
What it covers
| Level | Stories | What it teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Reading | Read-aloud books | Letters, early sound skills and read-alouds for preschool and kindergarten |
| Level 1 | 52 | A–Z sounds plus TH, SH, CH, CK, NG, NK; blending short-vowel words |
| Level 2 | 27 | 12 new phonograms, blends, longer words |
| Level 3 | 25 | 16 new phonograms, multisyllable words |
| Level 4 | 29 | 15 new phonograms, advanced decoding |
Levels aren't grades. Take the free placement test with your child to find the right start.
Who it's best for
All About Reading suits parents who want to teach reading themselves, and children who need patient, multisensory review, including many kids with dyslexia traits. It's also popular for older struggling readers because placement is by skill, not age.
If you'd rather an app do the teaching, look at Reading Eggs or Hooked on Phonics. If you want reading, spelling and handwriting in one program, compare Logic of English.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, Pre-Reading costs $119.95 and each of Levels 1–4 costs $159.95 as a one-time purchase. Add Letter Tiles ($25.95) once per household and a Review Box ($17.95) once per student. Siblings only need a new Student Packet. Direct purchases come with a one-year return guarantee.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. Phonics curriculum is commonly an allowable expense in education savings account programs such as the Arizona ESA and Florida's programs, and All About Learning Press accepts ESA and state scholarship orders. Those orders have a 45-day return window. Each program decides what qualifies. Save All About Reading to your Edulist wishlist, then apply once through Edulist. Read what ESA funds can buy.
How it compares
- Logic of English combines reading, spelling and handwriting. See All About Reading vs Logic of English.
- Explode the Code is a cheaper workbook series that often supplements AAR.
- Barton Reading is a more intensive Orton-Gillingham tutoring system for dyslexia.
- Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a one-book, low-cost start.
See more homeschool reading curriculum, phonics programs, reading programs for dyslexia and the best phonics programs.
Who All About Reading is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Parents who want to teach reading themselves with scripted lessons
- Struggling readers and kids with dyslexia traits who need multisensory review
- Families with younger siblings who can reuse most materials
- Screen-free homeschool families
Look elsewhere if
- Parents who can't spend 20 minutes a day teaching one-on-one
- Kids who want an app to do the teaching
- Advanced early readers who need little phonics review
All About Reading pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, lightly scripted lessons with little prep
- Multisensory, mastery-based approach with built-in review
- Decodable readers kids enjoy
- Free placement test; levels aren't tied to grades
- One-year return guarantee
Cons
- High parent involvement every day
- About $160 per level, plus tiles and review box
- Spelling is a separate purchase (All About Spelling)
- Can feel slow for quick learners
What’s included
- Pre-Reading plus Levels 1–4; after Level 4 students can decode nearly any word
- Lightly scripted, open-and-go teacher's manuals
- Multisensory teaching through sight, sound and touch with letter tiles
- Decodable readers with 25–52 stories per level
- Free placement test
- Pairs with All About Spelling using the same letter tiles
- One-year money-back guarantee on direct purchases
All About Reading levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Reading | Pre-K–K | For preschool and kindergarten children who don't yet read. Builds letter knowledge and early sound skills through activities and read-aloud books before Level 1. |
| Level 1 | By skill | 53 lessons. Teaches letter sounds A–Z plus TH, SH, CH, CK, NG and NK, blending and short-vowel words, with 52 decodable stories in three readers. Some children start around age 5. |
| Level 2 | By skill | Adds 12 new phonograms, consonant blends and longer words, with 27 decodable stories. |
| Level 3 | By skill | Adds 16 new phonograms and multisyllable words, with 25 stories. |
| Level 4 | By skill | Adds 15 new phonograms and advanced word attack. After this final level, students can decode nearly any word; 29 stories. |
A free two-part test. The student reads story excerpts while an adult rates fluency and comprehension, then takes a skills check for the identified level. Level numbers don't match grade levels, so place by the test, not age.
Official All About Reading placement test ↗How much does All About Reading cost?
All About Reading is a one-time purchase per level, not a subscription. As of October 2026 the Pre-Reading Program costs $119.95 and each Level 1–4 Materials kit costs $159.95 (Teacher's Manual, Student Packet and readers). You also need Letter Tiles ($25.95, or a $19.99 app) once per household and a Reading Review Box ($17.95) once per student. Teacher's Manuals and readers are reusable for younger siblings; buy a new Student Packet ($67.95 for Levels 1–4) for each additional child.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Reading Program | $119.95 | One-time | — |
| Level 1 Materials | $159.95 | One-time | — |
| Level 2, 3 or 4 Materials (each) | $159.95 | One-time | — |
| Letter Tiles (one per household) | $25.95 | One-time | — |
| Reading Review Box (one per student) | $17.95 | One-time | — |
Free trial: No trial, but the placement test is free, and the one-year return guarantee lets you try a level risk-free.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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All About Reading FAQs
What level of All About Reading should I start with?
Use the free placement test. Level numbers don't match grade levels, so a 1st grader might start in Level 1 or Level 2. Children who don't yet know their letter sounds usually start with Pre-Reading.
What does All About Reading Level 1 cover?
Level 1 has 53 lessons. It teaches the sounds of A to Z plus TH, SH, CH, CK, NG and NK, blending, and reading short-vowel words. It includes three readers with 52 decodable stories.
How much does All About Reading cost?
As of October 2026, Pre-Reading is $119.95 and each of Levels 1–4 is $159.95. You also buy Letter Tiles ($25.95) once per household and a Review Box ($17.95) once per student. There's no subscription.
Is All About Reading good for dyslexia?
Many families of kids with dyslexia use it because it's multisensory, explicit and mastery-based, with lots of review. It's built for parents, not certified specialists, so a child with severe dyslexia may still need a trained tutor or a program like Barton Reading.
Is All About Reading religious?
All About Learning Press does not present All About Reading as a faith-based curriculum, and its product pages make no religious claims. Families of all backgrounds use it. If faith content matters to you, the one-year return guarantee lets you review the materials with little risk.
Can I reuse All About Reading for siblings?
Mostly yes. The Teacher's Manual, readers, letter tiles and review box can be reused. Each new student needs their own consumable Student Packet.
Is there an All About Reading coupon code?
We don't list coupon codes. All About Learning Press occasionally runs promotions on its own site; check there directly. The one-year return guarantee already lets you try a level with little risk.
Can I buy All About Reading with ESA funds?
Often. All About Learning Press accepts ESA and state scholarship purchases, though those orders have a 45-day return window instead of one year. Each program decides what it funds.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: