Learn to Read From Sounds by Florence Barnes is a comprehensive guide meant to teach children (and adults) the invaluable skill of reading through phonics and sound. Phonics, a centuries-old, tried-and-true method of educating readers, has been viewed by some as outdated, unnecessary, even boring. By others, it’s still regarded as one of the best ways to develop a new reader of any age. (I couldn’t agree more!) Throughout history, the ways to teach children to read have not been without controversy, but the use of sound and phonics has more than proven its effectiveness. Between the pages of this easily-understood book, the author provides the tools necessary to become familiar with the sounds of each consonant and vowel so that the reader may piece together words, sentences, and paragraphs; to ultimately experience the joys of literacy and reading!

Without a doubt, Learn to Read From Sounds by Florence Barnes is an excellent tool for helping someone become a top-notch reader. It was so easy to follow! I remember when I was helping my son with his first-grade homework, I was shocked to learn that they weren’t teaching him to sound out vowels and consonants. In fact, he had no idea what a vowel or consonant even was and insisted, “We don’t do it that way, Mom.” When I spoke with his teacher about my concerns, she told me phonics was outdated and would only derail him. What? I watched my son struggle day after day, unable to sound out letters and build words, so I took things into my own hands (despite the derailment warnings) and created a few homemade workbooks for him to practice. Well, it must have worked because he is now a writer and teaches English. Phonics works! I wish I’d had this book back in 1996! What a perfect learning tool for parents or anyone beginning to read. Five stars.

Learn to Read From Sounds by Florence Barnes is a short but impactful book about how to teach phonics to children in schools, but it could also be helpful to anyone trying to learn English as a second language. The idea behind this book is phonics and how to teach it -- that is, how to sound out letters in the alphabet as they appear in words. The book starts with a definition of phonics and why it's important for young readers to learn to read using phonics. With phonics, almost any word in the English language can be sounded out. Barnes offers multiple examples of phonics, words and sentences alike. Repeating the sounds and learning phonics is the foundation for learning to read, but the author explains that not all teachers teach it, and there is no uniform education plan that incorporates phonics as "the one and only way" or "the best way" to teach reading.

Learn to Read From Sounds by Florence Barnes is concise and easy to read and understand. Teachers unfamiliar with phonics can benefit from knowing how to teach it in the classroom, and students can read along with the examples as well. If you love reading, and love reading to your own children, you will appreciate the purpose and execution of this book. Some of the examples found in Learn to Read From Sounds will no doubt have readers hearkening back to the days of "Dick and Jane" books taught in schools, and yes, the concepts, words, and rhythms are still there. There are several different ways to teach reading -- sight words being one of them -- but phonics, and this book, should provide a good foundation to anyone wanting to read and teach skills to last a lifetime.