We’ve used Bob Books for years. For me, they were a great, level-appropriate complement to All About Reading that gave us additional fluency practice. I always appreciated how simple the reading was… but let’s be honest—my kids were never exactly enthusiastic to read about Bob and all his weird, pointless shenanigans.

So when I first stumbled across Dash into Reading on Instagram, I was intrigued. What held me back initially was the idea that it’s designed to be used as a full phonics program (which it absolutely can be!). But once I reached out to Amelia (the author), she assured me that many families were using them alongside All About Reading. Since my experience with AAR has been so solid, I wasn’t really looking for a replacement—but as a companion? That had my attention.

Amelia sweetly sent me Set 1 for an honest review, and we were thrilled. Here’s what stood out most:

1. Excellent Quality

These books are high quality. They’re comparable in size to the jumbo Bob Books, which I love—no straining tiny eyes to see tiny text. They’re paperback with a stapled binding, and with just a little care, they’ll easily last through multiple kiddos.

2. Stunning Illustrations

The graphics are gorgeous. You all know how I feel about putting the best, most beautiful images in front of my children. I believe that beautiful art reflects our Creator, and I take it seriously to incorporate beauty into all that we do.

3. Truly Engaging Stories

The stories are so well done. You could absolutely use Dash into Reading as a complete phonics program with a typically-developing reader. (If reading disabilities are a concern in your family, I wouldn’t recommend it as a standalone.) But even as a supplement, it’s a total win. The stories are interesting, thoughtful, and memorable—so much so that even my 14-year-old sat down and read through the whole set!

Honestly? I have zero cons for this product. As a supplemental reader, it’s a much more engaging and beautiful alternative to Bob Books. My kids love the characters and actually look forward to reading time now.

Set 2 is releasing very soon, and we can’t wait.

Whether you’re looking for a complete phonics solution or just a lovely supplement to a program like All About Reading, I really believe you’ll love Dash into Reading as much as we do.

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