SnackPack Studios iconSnackPack StudiosFree illustrated reader
Stage 3 phonics · Free

Bug in a Cup

Meet the short U sound. A 8-page decodable story focusing on Short U · g o u l f b.

Stage 3DecodableRead together
Begin the story
Cover of Bug in a Cup.
A bug sat in a mug.
Page 1 of 8

A bug sat in a mug.

Pip got a big cup.
Page 2 of 8

Pip got a big cup.

The bug ran to the cup.
Page 3 of 8

The bug ran to the cup.

The bug hid in the cup!
Page 4 of 8

The bug hid in the cup!

Pip did not spot the bug.
Page 5 of 8

Pip did not spot the bug.

Bug! Bug! Bug!
Page 6 of 8

Bug! Bug! Bug!

Pip let the bug hop up.
Page 7 of 8

Pip let the bug hop up.

The bug sat in the sun. Pip had fun.
Page 8 of 8

The bug sat in the sun. Pip had fun.

The end · Brilliant reading

For grown-ups

Stage 3 adds g, o, u, l, f and b, which unlocks short O and short U. The word spot starts with two consonants run together — sound both, then blend, rather than treating sp as one sound. Short U is the hardest short vowel to hear, so it helps to say bug, mug, cup, sun and fun aloud together before opening the book and again at the end.

SnackPack ABC & Alphabet continues with letter activities, read-together stories and more early phonics practice.