The jury is still out for some readers when it comes to e-books and e-books to download. Some prefer the feel of a book in their hands, the sound of a turning page, and the dreamy afternoons spent in a ramshackle book shop.

But E-books have their advantages. The ability to carry hundreds of books for the space of one is a game-changer for those who can read a book a day.

E-books can also improve accessibility in more new ways. Readers can now zoom in on their device if fonts are too small, adjust screen brightness in the place of a light, and save their place without the need for a bookmark.

And for these reasons and more, e-books have been a wonderful teaching tool for educators working with young reluctant readers.

Photo by Twinkl via Unsplash.

Reluctant Readers

As a book blogging website, it’s a safe bet that most of you on this page will love reading.

Reluctant readers however fall on the other end of the spectrum. They don’t just dislike reading. They will go out of their way to avoid it altogether.

There are all kind of reasons for reluctant reading. And for most educators, getting to the bottom of this often helps a reluctant reader find a love of books.

But one of the classic reasons is time. In a world mining for your attention, books have to compete with all sorts of media. Reading books has loads of benefits. But against short videos which give viewers a dopamine kick in a matter of seconds, books don’t always have the competitive edge.

All is not lost though.

Rhino Readers

Plenty of e-books are using the same technology to try and boost engagement with reluctant readers.

One example of this are Rhino Readers. As Twinkl resources, these are e-books designed for young readers. The books come with a reading scheme, classroom resources, and are set by level so educators have a rough idea of what book is best suited to the child.

If you’ve come across Rhino Readers before, then you’ll have seen the proverbial mountain of e-books you can download.

But some books Rhino Reader books fall a particular category. And we’d like to pay extra special attention to the type of book in particular that can win over a reluctant reader.

How Can Rhino Readers Help?

Rhino Readers books come in all shapes, sizes, and genres. They help to bridge the gap for struggling readers through decoding strategies. And help children master the art of reading, one step at a time.

As part of a bid to support reluctant readers, you’ll find a hand-picked list of the best e-books to download. Most books have been set for children aged around 5-7.

They’re a bit easier to read, are more interactive, and have got the most giggles from our readers so far. 

Level 1 E-books To Download

Level 1 is for young readers who are starting to sound out words and make their own ideas about parts of the books they see.

Azeez’s Noisy Toy

Follow Azeez as he tries to find his missing toy by listening out for the right noise. This e-book is a wonderful way to add sound effects as a reader and is a great way to support reluctant readers by reading together. 

Level 2 E-books To Download

At this stage, pupils may be able to use sounds to read words like ‘cat’ and ‘if.’ They might be able to follow the story using pictures too.

Pat a Pig

Learn about Kit and Sam’s fun day out as they meet a really messy pig on a farm. Perfect for little readers, who only need twelve letter sounds to read the story. And they get to giggle and chuckle away at the pictures.

A Big Mud Mess

Read along with Sam and Sid as they dive into the fun world of mud, enjoying the rhyme and rhythm of the story as they make their muddy feast!

Level 3 E-books To Download

Pupils reading these books should be able to read small words and blend parts of sounds together to make sense of words like ‘dog.’

Pupils may also be finishing pre-school and moving into the equivalent of year 1 soon.

Will We Win?

This lovely e-book is set out like a scrapbook. Readers go back in time to replay the exciting football match with Sam, Chen and Tess. Packed with illustrations and a gentle narrative style to guide readers along.

All Sorts of Jobs

This non-fiction book gives young readers a window into the lives of being a grown up and having a job. They can read about chefs, artists, and even vets. And the book is full of lots of interesting photographs too!

Level 4 E-books To Download

Pupils at Level 4 will be around the age of 6, though this is a rough guide.

They will be able to follow a story with a little bit of guidance. And they’ll be able to form words like ‘little’ and ‘out.’

In the Bug Hut

Make the most of curious minds with this close-up on creepy-crawlies! There’s lots of repetition and structure for practising key phonics, and your readers can have a go at their consonant clusters too!

Steg and the Egg

Steg and his friends try to return a lost egg to its Mum. But Steg is a pretty clumsy dinosaur. So it doesn’t all go according to plan. 

All Sorts of Fish

Dive into a world of bubbles and barnacles with this wonderful page-turner! Readers can learn about the deep depths, as they work their way through the latter stages of decodable reading scheme.

This e-book is great to download for reluctant readers who love learning about the world around them as well.

Level 5 E-books To Download

Readers at Level 5 will be able to read without too much fuss and use the punctuation like full stops and commas while reading.

They might even notice rhyming words as well.

The Game Player

Do your readers like video games? If so, they’ll love this action packed e-book. Follow the journey of Seb as he’s launched into a mysterious world. Using the illustrations, help him find his way out.

This is the first book of the codebreaker series. That means it’s created just for reluctant readers, too.

Level 6 E-books To Download

Pupils may be aged around 7 at the point they’re giving level 6 books a try.

They should also feel more confident about reading small words and will have a go at bigger, three-syllable words too.

How to Make a Paper Rocket

Everyone loves making paper planes, right? Well, if you think they’re good, try a rocket. They’re out of this world (…sorry, not sorry.)

More On Rhino Readers

For some, there’s nothing like the romance of reading a real book. But if you’re pragmatic, an e-book can be a wonderful teaching tool, a compact travel companion, and interactive book guide.

If you’d like to give some e-books a try with any young reluctant readers, you can try this sample pack of e-books to download.

We hope you found this list of e-books to download useful. If you’re looking to update your bookshelf with even more stories, you’ll find loads on the Rhino Readers homepage.

Feel free to have a closer look, or join the bookish conversations online:

Cover photo by Yael Gonzalez on Unsplash

Discover more from Books of Brilliance

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.