Phonics-based devices and methods for improving reading skills. The reading improvement devices and methods may incorporate a book or other text-containing media that includes an initial activity-based phonics portion that is designed to teach a less experienced reader about an aspect of phonics. The activity is designed to promote interaction by the less experienced reader with a parent or other more experienced reader to complete the activity portion. This initial activity portion is followed by a story portion that includes text selected to emphasize the phonics skills from the activity portion. The reading of the story portion may be performed collaboratively by the readers. The more experienced reader may provide additional instruction to emphasize the teachings of the initial activity portion. The reading improvement device may include a third portion, which may contain additional instruction about the phonics skills from the activity portion.