The books
What is Fin Tales?
A series of learn-to-read books for children ages 4 to 7, starring Fin and Tif. Each short, funny story is built from the letter sounds your child has learned so far, plus a few pink words, and each book adds a little more. Set 1 has twenty books.
What age is it for?
Ages 4 to 7, or any child who is ready to start reading. Your child doesn’t need to know their letters first: each book’s warm-up page introduces the letters and words it uses.
What’s in Set 1?
Twenty full-colour stapled books, 5.5 × 8.5 inches and 20 to 24 pages each, in a slipcase, with reward stickers for the sticker page at the back of every book. Every book has a short guide for grown-ups at the front and a warm-up page before the story.
How much is Set 1?
$64.99 for all twenty books, with free shipping in the US.
When can I buy it?
Set 1 isn’t on sale yet. Join the list in our shop and we’ll email you the moment it’s ready.
Is Book 1 really free?
Yes. You can read the whole of Book 1 here, page by page, with your child.
What are the pink words?
A few common words don’t follow the sound rules: a, I, is and the. On the warm-up page they’re printed in pink. Pink words break the rules, so just tell your child the word.
How is this different from levelled readers?
Levelled readers often use words a child hasn’t been taught yet, so children learn to guess from the pictures. Fin Tales are decodable: each story is built from the sounds taught so far, so your child can work the words out instead of guessing.
Teaching at home
Do I need any teaching experience?
No. The front of every book has a short guide that shows you what to do and what to say.
How long should we read each day?
About ten minutes. Stop while it’s still fun, and read each book twice before moving on to the next.
What if my child guesses from the pictures?
Keep a finger under each word as your child reads; it keeps their eyes on the letters. If a word comes out wrong, say “Try again”, kindly, and help them sound it out.
What if my child can already read a little?
Start at Book 1 anyway. The early books go quickly, and the easy wins build confidence. Move on once a book feels easy.
My child is older and finding reading hard. Will this help?
The step-by-step method suits any beginning reader. The stories and pictures are made for 4- to 7-year-olds, so some older children may find them a little young. If you’re worried about a reading difficulty, talk to your child’s teacher or doctor too.
Shipping and returns
Where do you ship?
Anywhere in the United States, for now.
How much is shipping, and how long does it take?
Shipping is free in the US. Sets go out by USPS Media Mail, which usually takes 2 to 8 business days.
A book arrived damaged. What do I do?
Email us a photo within 30 days of delivery and we’ll send a replacement, free.
Can I return Set 1?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery, if the books are in new condition. Email us first. We’ll refund the price once the set comes back. Return postage is yours to pay, unless we made a mistake.
Do you sell to schools and homeschool groups?
Yes. Email us about class sets and bulk prices.
Still have a question?
Email us at hello@readwithfin.com. We read every message.