Bookbot Decodable Books: ng
We’re committed to helping every child discover the joy of reading through stories they love. These ng decodable books focus on the sound at the end of sing, king, song, bang and strong. Children learn to read ang, ing, ong and ung as familiar chunks, which makes longer words like spring and string much easier to tackle.
Free
I Choose That Home!
Ling is delivering figs to Nan, but every house along the way looks more exciting than the last. A stilt house in the sky? A shop that smells like lunch? A garage with a roaring bike? Even a house floating on the waves! Which one will Ling choose for a forever home? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘brings,’ ‘rings,’ and ‘sings.’
Free
Kaa Sings a Strong Song!
Kaa’s land is dry, dry, dry, and no matter how loudly he sings up at the sky, not a single raindrop falls. Then - BANG! BANG! BANG! - something huge comes stomping down the trail. Who could it be, and could a new friend’s booming voice be just what Kaa’s rain song needs? Grab your hat and find out! This decodable reader practices the ng sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘bring,’ ’long,’ ‘sing,’ and ‘strong.’
Free
Dog Springs at the Ball!
Coach Vic has a big surprise hidden in an old trunk, and when he pulls out a shiny white ball, everyone’s eyes go wide - especially Dog’s! Can the kids learn to smash, dig, and serve without using their feet? And what happens when a wiggly pup decides volleyball looks like the best dog sport ever invented? Get ready for paws, pounces, and plenty of giggles! This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘swings.’
Free
Go, Squad, Go!
Five kids, one dog, and zero chance of losing - at least, that’s what the squad promised before the championship match. But when the other team’s bus rolls up and out steps the biggest, most serious squad anyone has ever seen, can teamwork really beat pure power? Will one brave gang of friends find a way to score? Lace up your boots and find out! This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘strong,’ ‘sprang,’ ‘flings,’ and ‘rings.’
Free
It Springs Back!
The bravest explorer in the whole world has walked through dark caves and crossed rivers at night - so why is this quiet village under the full moon making their legs wobble? The jack-o-lanterns glow, the huts stand empty, and a see-through cat is watching every step. Where did all the villagers go, and what rises up when the rain comes hammering down? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ’long,’ ‘sing,’ ‘strong,’ and ’twang.’
Free
Don't Drop That Sack!
It’s mango harvest day, and every single fruit matters! Can our hero balance a wobbly sack across the garden without a splat? Will Bing stop showing off before disaster strikes the tree? From baskets lowered on ropes to a bumpy boat ride at the floating market, there’s singing, sorting, and one very hopeful dog who’s just waiting for somebody to drop the big one. This decodable reader practices the ng sound in words like ‘bring,’ ‘sing,’ ’long,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘swing.’
Free
Ping and the Gang
Dive beneath the waves with Ping the fish! From warm, sunny reefs where pink things cling to the rocks, to icy seas where cod and squid hang on in the deep, the Minecraft ocean is full of wonder. But what happens when junk starts to wreck the sea? Can Ping, Tang, and their gang help life spring back to all things? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘cling,’ ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘brings.’
Free
Sing It, Bug!
Spring has sprung, and Bug has a fizzy, buzzy feeling in her belly - she wants to SING! But what happens when Duck’s song is too wet, Frog’s is too long, and Big Bird’s is far too loud? Can one tiny bug really find a song of her very own, and will the whole gang ever learn to sing together? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘sing,’ ‘song,’ ’long,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘spring.’
Pat And The Long Lunch
Pat the cat has no home, but he has a cozy tree, two singing birds, and a kind family next door who always leaves out food. But what happens when the family pack their bags and drive away? With a rumbling tummy and an open kitchen window, Pat spots his chance - but will one little cat really gobble up everything? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘string,’ ‘king,’ and ’things.’
Big Thing in the Lake
The fish are gone from Lake Victoria, and the nets come back empty night after night. Twelve-year-old Opiyo has seen the water bulge and breathe in the dark. What enormous, glowing thing waits below the black surface, and why does his grandmother’s old lullaby make it pause? Could one small, cracking voice be enough to save the whole village? This Bookbot level practices the ’ng’ sound with words like ‘sing’, ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, and ‘along’.
Come Back, Rex!
Rex is the wiggliest, waggiest dog on the block - and the second Benny opens the door, WHOOSH, off he goes! Can Benny catch his runaway pup before Rex chases a flying umbrella over the hills, dives into a scratchy bush, and sniffs out Uncle Bruce’s yummy rice? It’s a wild, barky, breathless dash across town with one very determined boy and one very bouncy dog. This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ ‘song,’ ‘cling,’ and ‘zing.’
Don't Stop, Tim!
Tim is the world’s worst bird at not stopping. Butterflies? He stops. Bugs? He stops. A pretty cloud shaped like a cherry? You bet he stops! But when his young gang zooms off and night falls fast, Tim is all alone - and bird catchers are waiting in the dark. Can one easily-distracted little bird learn to keep flying, no matter what? This decodable reader practices the ng sound in words like ‘sing,’ ’long,’ ‘strong,’ ‘wings,’ and ‘zing.’
Here They Come!
Night is falling, and something is groaning in the shadows. Can Ned and his brave wolves hold back the skeletons, zombies, and creepy crawlies clawing across the field? His leather armor is no match for their fangs - but what if The Book has a shiny, clanging plan to turn Ned into a hero? Will iron be enough when the monsters swarm again? This decodable reader practices the ng phonogram in words like ‘bang,’ ‘clang,’ ‘king,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘swing.’
Cub
Jack already has two pets, Bones and Starfang, but he dreams of finding another animal friend. One chilly day, he sets off on a walk hoping to discover the perfect pet. A cat? A bird? Then he spots something unexpected - a tiny cub all alone! Jack thinks this could be his new pet, but is the cub really all by itself? What happens when Jack finds out the truth?
Big Izim Runs Off
The giant izim has terrorized the valley for three seasons, stealing cattle and laughing at every grown man who tried to stop it. So when eight year old Thandi says, “Let me try,” everyone laughs too. But what if being small and clever beats big and certain? How could one brave girl, a shiny bottle, and a narrow gap in the rocks succeed where the strongest warriors failed? This Bookbot NG level practices the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘strong’, ’long’, ‘clings’, ‘springs’, and ’things’.
Leopard Wants a Snack
Sungura the Hare has the quickest mind on the savanna, and he never lets anyone forget it. So when a hungry Leopard steps out of the grass and decides the boastful little hare would make the perfect snack, what can one small, fast-talking creature possibly do? Can quick thinking really outmatch sharp claws before the chase is done? This Bookbot book practices the /ng/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, ‘bring’, and ‘song’.
Jackal Asks for Soup
The bun sings in his gut when he waits for the song. Can Jackal really learn Kaggen the Mantis’s soup recipe, or is the clever little trickster leading him astray? Sit in the hot sun, wait for the singing, and find out who truly wins. This Bookbot level practices words with the ’ng’ sound, such as ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, and ‘brings’.
The Thing in the Sky
Naisula stands on the ridge and hears only the wind. Could the old story be true, that the sky god will one day send a living gift down to the Maasai? When a thick rope appears trailing from the clouds, holding fast to something heavy and unseen, will Naisula be brave enough to grab hold? A tender retelling of how cattle came to the savanna. This Bookbot level practices the /ŋ/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘hangs’, ‘strong’, ‘swing’, and ‘song’.
Njoki Digs for a Spring
The rains have not come, the goats are thin, and every morning Njoki must dig in the dry riverbed for water. So when she finds a strange carved gourd that pours clean water and even milk, is it a gift or a trap? What happens when a curious neighbor learns the gourd’s secret? A tender story of trust, mistakes, and mending. This book helps young readers practice the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘sing’, ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, and ‘spring’.
Simba Blocks Kalulu
Kalulu the Hare is just a small creature, but Simba the Lion rules the whole riverbank and takes whatever he pleases. When the mighty king demands Kalulu’s supper, can a clever hare outwit a beast so much bigger and stronger? What plan could possibly bring a proud lion down to earth? Read on to find out how wit beats brute strength! This Bookbot book practices the /ŋ/ sound, with lesson words like ‘king’, ’long’, ‘sings’, ‘strong’, and ‘brings’.
Fisi Longs for Pods
The Baobab drops its fruit for everyone who asks politely, and there is always enough to share. But when a greedy hyena named Fisi decides he wants all of it before dawn, will his shouting and scheming get him a single pod? Can a clever girl and a patient tree teach him that you cannot steal what is freely given? Find out what Fisi finally learns. This story practices the /ŋ/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘bring’, ’thing’, ‘fangs’, and ‘springs’.
That's My Hot Drink!
Rain is drumming on the roof, and Sam just wants hot coffee and a good book - but have you ever tried to keep one quiet cup away from a muddy bull, a nosy cat, and a whole gang of soggy animals? When the puddles call and the rain won’t stop, what is a boy with a cold coffee supposed to do? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘sing,’ ‘song,’ ‘strong,’ and ’thing.’
Ned Brings the Sting!
Up on the tallest tower, young Ned is sure he can fight off a whole zombie gang with just his bow and string. But when dusk falls and his arrows go dang, dang, dang into the dirt, will he give up - or find a cleverer way to practice? Can a boy who hit zero zombies ever become a hero? This decodable reader practices the ng phonogram with words like ‘bring,’ ‘fling,’ ‘sting,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘zing.’
Don't Shoot, Ned!
Ned is hungry, and rabbit stew sounds just right - but what happens when the cutest little bunnies in the field turn out to have a very big, very angry protector? Can Ned outrun a sword-swinging giant rabbit, and will The Book ever convince him that kindness works better than arrows? Hop along for a wild chase, a clever plan, and a surprise in the moonlight. This decodable reader practices the ng phonogram in words like ‘bang,’ ‘sing,’ ‘strong,’ and ’thing.’
Brat Cat Gets Her Wings
When Fig Pig gives Brat Cat a brand new pair of wings for her birthday, she’s not so sure about this whole flying thing. What happens when you leap off a very tall, very scary cliff with a friend who promises it’s the simplest thing in the world? Can Brat Cat find the courage to jump, soar, and swoop through the clouds? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘wings,’ ‘spring,’ ‘sings,’ and ‘bang.’
Pups
Meet the most adorable pups you’ve ever seen! From a tiny pup that fits in a cup to playful pups with their favorite toys, this book is full of furry friends doing cute and silly things. Some pups nap, some pups play, and some even make big messes! But what happens when all these pups get together? Will you join the fun and find out what a pup party looks like?
Tortoise Longs to Go
Long ago, Tortoise had the smoothest shell on the whole veld. But when a great drought hits and the birds fly off to a faraway feast, how can a tortoise with tiny legs ever join them in the sky? And when the birds finally carry him aloft, can a creature who never stops talking really hold his tongue? This Bookbot NG level builds the ’ng’ sound with words like ’long’, ‘sing’, ’thing’, ‘wings’ and ‘song’.
Rot
Steve and Alex catch WAY too much cod - and then make some truly terrible choices about what to do with the leftovers. What happens when fish is left to go bad? Why are cats suddenly swarming the yard, and what giant creature is snuffling around in the cave? Can two friends fix a stinky, slimy, oozy mess before the whole farm turns into an animal party? This decodable reader practices the ng phonogram in words like ‘bring,’ ‘cling,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘song.’
Bees Sting Zom!
Zom the zombie is tired of neighbors who only groan about brains - he wants a REAL friend! When he hears a buzz and finds a golden hive humming in a birch tree, he’s sure he’s struck friendship gold. But will shaking the tree to say hello really bring the bees out to play? And what happens when a swarm with fangs comes zinging after him? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ phonogram in words such as ‘sing,’ ‘spring,’ ‘hangs,’ ‘wings,’ and ‘sting.’
Hang On, Mel!
When the water rises fast and swallows the whole street, what can Mel do but cling to a pole and hug her toy giraffe, Gus? A kind helper named Jen scoops her up and brings her somewhere safe - but can Mel be brave enough to help others too, and will Jen keep her biggest promise of all? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words such as ‘clung,’ ‘hang,’ ‘sang,’ ‘flung,’ and ‘strong.’
Ted
Ted is strong and makes everyone sad. His family tries hard to be kind to him, hoping he’ll change, but nothing seems to work. When they come up with a clever plan involving red rings, something surprising happens. Will Ted finally become a friend worth having? Find out what happens when you read Ted!
Bookbot Decodable Books by Level
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some ng words?
Ng words often come in rhyming families: bang, hang and sang; ring, sing and king; long, song and strong; and hung, rung and stung. Reading a family together shows children that one ending can unlock many words. The sound is made at the back of the mouth, and in these words the g is not said on its own.
Do any English words start with ng?
Everyday English words never begin with ng. The sound only turns up in the middle or at the end of a word, as in singer, ring and long. A few names and words borrowed from other languages start with ng, such as the surname Ng, but children will not meet these in early reading.
When should children stop using decodable books?
Children usually move beyond decodable books once they can read most common spelling patterns accurately and fairly smoothly, and the timing varies a lot from child to child. The switch works best as a gradual mix of decodable text and other books rather than a sudden stop. Jeanne Chall described this as a stage of confirmation and fluency, when children reread familiar texts to build speed and confidence.
Where can I find free ng decodable books?
Many of the ng decodable books on this page are free to read online, and depending on the title, some include read-along audio or a printable PDF. Short stories are easy to fit into a busy day, and a few minutes of reading most days adds up. The University of Chicago found that giving families a free digital library for shared reading improved young children’s literacy skills.