Early readers don't take a standard path to reading, and the first time around that can be really disconcerting. When my older one learned to read, I was baffled that "thud" or "cog" could be more difficult than "butterfly" or "excitement". Both of mine learned phonics from reading rather than learning reading through phonics.

If she's got a strong visual memory, run your fingers under the words as you read to her. My four-year-old required no additional reading instruction in his second language and became fluent just from being read to. Have her point to words as she reads, even if it's memorization. She'll memorize the individual words and recognize them in other contexts.

For strong, early sights readers, phonics won't be necessary for reading, but it becomes necessary for spelling. Kids get phonics at school several times, so your child has plenty of opportunity to pick up phonics.