Peter and Jane Key Words: Which Level to Start? | Wau Books [![Wau Books](https://waubooks.com/logo/logo-wordmark-502.webp)Wau Books](https://waubooks.com/) [Discover](https://waubooks.com/discover) [Collections](https://waubooks.com/collections) [Journal](https://waubooks.com/journal) [About](https://waubooks.com/about) [Contact](https://waubooks.com/contact) [← Journal](https://waubooks.com/journal) 1. [Home](https://waubooks.com/)/ 2. [Journal](https://waubooks.com/journal)/ 3. Key Words with Peter and Jane: Which Level Should Your Child Start On? Reading Guides # Key Words with Peter and Jane: Which Level Should Your Child Start On? Most children should start Peter and Jane at 1a. How the 12 Key Words levels and the a, b and c books work, where to start, and when to move up. ![Dayang](https://waubooks.com/about/author-avatar.webp) By Dayang Co-founder & Lead Curator · 12 Oct 2026 · 7 min read ![A mother and her young son lying on a striped rug at home, reading a picture book together](https://waubooks.com/journal/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-which-level.webp) _The first levels of a reading scheme work best as a shared activity, with the child gradually taking over._ Most children should start Key Words with Peter and Jane at 1a, whatever their age, and read the books in order: 1a, 1b, 1c, then 2a, 2b, 2c. The only reason to start later is if your child can already read the Level 1 words on sight and reads simple sentences without effort. In that case, try 1c: if it is easy, move to 2a. Move up a level when your child reads the "c" book comfortably and can answer the questions at the back. Below, we explain how the scheme is built, how to judge where your child is, and how to use the six books Wau lists. ## [How the Key Words scheme is structured](#how-the-key-words-scheme-is-structured) All of the details in this section come from Ladybird's own [_Key Words with Peter and Jane Parent Guide_](https://www.ladybirdeducation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/KWParentGuideA4digital-2.pdf) and the [Ladybird Education website](https://www.ladybirdeducation.co.uk/learn-to-read-with-peter-and-jane/), which describe the current edition of the series. The scheme is based on research by William Murray, the series' original author. According to Ladybird, Murray found that: - 12 words make up about 25% of the words we read and write - 100 words make up about 50% - around 300 words make up about 75% The series teaches those 300 high-frequency words, which Ladybird calls Key Words, so that children learn to recognise them "on sight". It has **twelve levels, with three books in each level** (a, b and c), and Ladybird recommends reading them in order. Each level introduces new Key Words, and the books get longer as the levels rise. Ladybird's parent guide gives these figures for the first two levels: The table in the next section gives Ladybird's figures for every level. Ladybird also says that around half of the Key Words are phonically decodable, and that the stories add phonically levelled vocabulary alongside the Key Words. In other words, this is not a choice between sight words and phonics. The scheme is designed to sit alongside the phonics your child learns at school. ## [Peter and Jane books in order](#peter-and-jane-books-in-order) Read the books in this order: 1a, 1b, 1c, then 2a, 2b, 2c, and so on up to 12a, 12b and 12c. That is 36 books across twelve levels. Ladybird's parent guide gives the new Key Words and the average word count per book for each level: | Level | New Key Words | Average words per book | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 14 | 150 | | 2 | 16 | 220 | | 3 | 20 | 350 | | 4 | 23 | 450 | | 5 | 25 | 650 | | 6 | 27 | 850 | | 7 | 30 | 1,000 | | 8 | 33 | 1,250 | | 9 | 35 | 1,450 | | 10 | 37 | 1,650 | | 11 | 40 | 1,850 | | 12 | Consolidation level | 1,850 | Wau lists Levels 1 and 2, the six books a child starts with; see the [series page](https://waubooks.com/series/key-words-with-peter-and-jane) for all six in order. ## [What the a, b and c books are for](#what-the-a-b-and-c-books-are-for) The three books in each level do different jobs. According to Ladybird: - **The "a" book** introduces the level's new Key Words on its first two pages, and repeats each new word at the foot of the page where it first appears in the story. - **The "b" book** drops the introduction, so the child goes straight into the story, but still repeats each new Key Word at the foot of the page where it first appears. - **The "c" book** has neither the introduction nor the new-word panels, which moves the child towards reading independently. Each book also has comprehension questions at the back. So the three books are a ladder of support within a single level: introduced, then prompted, then on their own. That is why skipping straight to the "c" book usually backfires for a child who has not met the words before. One note: Peter and Jane books have been in print in several editions since the 1960s, and older printings were organised differently. If your copy does not match the description above, check its opening pages to see how it introduces new words. ## [How to judge where your child should start](#how-to-judge-where-your-child-should-start) Age is a poor guide here. Two five-year-olds can be far apart in reading, and a seven-year-old who is new to English may need to start at the very beginning. Look at what your child can actually do. **Start at 1a if your child:** - knows some letter sounds but reads few whole words yet - is just starting to point at words while you read - has not met a structured reading scheme before **Try 1c, then decide, if your child:** - recognises everyday words such as _a_, _and_, _the_, _is_, _I_ and _like_ without sounding them out (Ladybird's parent guide lists words like these among the first 100 words it suggests practising) - reads short sentences such as "I like the ball" without help **Try 2a if your child:** - reads 1c easily and with expression - can answer most of the questions at the back of 1c A rough rule of thumb we use at Wau, not a rule from Ladybird: if your child gets stuck on more than about one word in twenty, the book is too hard to read alone for now. Read it together, or go back a book. There is no cost to going back, and a real cost to a child deciding that reading is a struggle. Our guide to [reading for 6 year olds](https://waubooks.com/journal/reading-for-6-year-olds) covers this in more detail. ## [When to move up](#when-to-move-up) Move to the next level when your child: 1. reads the "c" book of the current level with few stumbles 2. answers the comprehension questions at the back 3. reads the new Key Words on sight, not by sounding them out each time If your child flies through an "a" book, it is still worth reading the "b" and "c" books at that level. Ladybird designed them as practice that removes support step by step, and an easy book read fluently builds the confidence that carries a child into the next level. If your child gets stuck, the fix is usually to slow down, not to stop. Re-read the "a" book together, look at the Key Word introduction pages again, and point out the words in the pictures, which Ladybird's own tips also suggest. ## [The six Key Words books Wau lists](#the-six-key-words-books-wau-lists) Wau lists the first two levels: six books in total. These are retailer offers, not Wau stock. Our catalog lists 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b for ages 3 to 5, and 1c and 2c for ages 6 to 8. Treat those age labels as a loose guide. The level your child can read matters more than their age. You can see all six on our [Key Words with Peter and Jane series page](https://waubooks.com/series/key-words-with-peter-and-jane). ### [Level 1](#level-1) 1a introduces the first Key Words through repetition. 1b reinforces them while adding more variety in sentence patterns. 1c uses longer sentences and repeated Key Words to build fluency and independence. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1A](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1a.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1A A structured early reading book that introduces simple key words through repetition, helping young children take their first steps towards confident and independent reading. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1a) If 1a goes well over a week or two, move to 1b. Expect the same words in new sentences; that repetition is the point, not a sign the child is stuck. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1B](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1b.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1B A structured early reading book that reinforces familiar key words while introducing more variety in sentence patterns to strengthen reading confidence. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1b) 1c is the check at the end of the level: longer sentences built from the same Key Words. A child who reads it with few stumbles is ready for Level 2. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1C](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1c.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 1C A structured early reading book that strengthens reading fluency through longer sentences and repeated key words, helping children read more confidently and independently. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1c) ### [Level 2](#level-2) 2a builds on the Level 1 words and introduces short phrases. 2b develops sentence reading and comprehension. 2c supports more fluent, independent reading with longer sentences and richer vocabulary. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2A](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2a.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2A A structured early reading book that builds on basic key words and introduces short phrases, helping children develop confidence as they progress towards independent reading. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2a) 2b is where many children first follow a short story on their own. Ask one question about what happened at the end of each session; the answer tells you whether the words are landing as meaning, not just sounds. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2B](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2b.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2B A structured early reading book that develops sentence reading and comprehension skills, helping children read with greater confidence and fluency. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2b) 2c closes the level. After it, Level 3 adds twenty new Key Words, so a short pause to reread favourite 2a and 2b pages before moving on does no harm. ![Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2C](https://waubooks.com/book-covers/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2c.webp) Learn to Read & Phonics Key Words with Peter and Jane - 2C A structured early reading book that supports more fluent and independent reading through longer sentences, richer vocabulary, and steady progression. [View this book](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2c) For more first readers and phonics practice, browse our [learn to read and phonics collection](https://waubooks.com/collections/learn-to-read-phonics), or the age collections for [3 to 5](https://waubooks.com/collections/books-for-ages-3-5) and [6 to 8](https://waubooks.com/collections/books-for-ages-6-8). You can also read [how we choose the books we list](https://waubooks.com/about/how-we-choose). ## [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions) ### [What age should a child start Key Words with Peter and Jane?](#what-age-should-a-child-start-key-words-with-peter-and-jane) There is no fixed age. Start when your child is beginning to recognise letters and show interest in words, and choose the level by what they can read, not by their birthday. Older children who are new to reading in English can start at 1a too; the step-by-step progression is the same whatever their age. ### [Do I need all three books in each level?](#do-i-need-all-three-books-in-each-level) You can read only the "a" books, but you lose the step-by-step reduction in support that Ladybird built into the "b" and "c" books. If you are buying selectively, keep the "a" book for introducing the words and the "c" book for checking independent reading. ### [Is Key Words a phonics scheme or a sight-word scheme?](#is-key-words-a-phonics-scheme-or-a-sight-word-scheme) Both, in the current edition. Ladybird says the Key Words are taught to be recognised on sight, that around half of them are phonically decodable, and that the stories also introduce phonically levelled vocabulary. ### [What comes after Level 2?](#what-comes-after-level-2) Level 3, then on up to Level 12, which Ladybird describes as a consolidation level. The books get longer as the levels rise: Ladybird gives an average of about 350 words per book at Level 3 and about 1,850 at Levels 11 and 12. Wau currently lists Levels 1 and 2 only, so for Level 3 onwards you will need to look elsewhere for now. ## [Books in this guide](#books-in-this-guide) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 1A](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1a) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 1B](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1b) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 1C](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-1c) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 2A](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2a) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 2B](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2b) - [Key Words with Peter and Jane 2C](https://waubooks.com/book/key-words-with-peter-and-jane-2c) ## The Curator's Letter Sign up for our letter: curated books and reading ideas for multilingual families. No sales. Email address Subscribe We respect your digital peace. 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