New Ready to Read Phonics Plus resources available now

June 2026

Five new Ready to Read Phonics Plus student books are being delivered to primary schools and kura using the New Zealand Curriculum in June.

This release adds to the instructional reading resources already available to support structured literacy approaches in Years 0–2. The new titles are designed for regular classroom use and support students to become confident, capable readers and writers. 

The five new books in this release are: 

• Sam and Dad – Kākano 

• Fun with Nan – Kākano 

• A Good Choice – Māhuri

• A Storm on the Shore – Rākau 

• The Ghostly Surprise – Rākau 

As with the wider Ready to Read Phonics Plus series, these books reflect the diverse characters and contexts of Aotearoa New Zealand, supporting all learners to see themselves, their cultures, and their communities represented in their reading. 

Where these books fit 

Updated Book Phase Overviews are available on Tāhūrangi to show where these new titles sit within the suggested teaching order: 

• Ready to Read Phonics Plus – Kākano l Seed

• Ready to Read Phonics Plus - Māhuri | Sapling

• Ready to Read Phonics Plus - Rākau l Tree 

You can find more teaching resources to support structured literacy approaches on Tāhūrangi: Teaching resources to support structured literacy approaches. 

Ordering extra copies 

If your school requires additional copies of the latest Ready to Read Phonics Plus books, please email [email protected] to update your school's entitlement.