Children's Books for 1st Graders

Ned the farmer has pigs, cows, and one very big problem - his new vest is dull, dull, DULL! Can a handful of red roses and a splash of gold really turn a plain vest into something fantastic? And what happens when Ned mixes the two together? Will he finally find a shade bold enough to wear into the dark? Join Ned and The Book for a colorful adventure. This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’think,’ ’this,’ ’these,’ and ‘both.’

Dora the duckling goes EVERYWHERE with her big red umbrella - to breakfast, to the park, even to the bath! But one rainy morning, it’s vanished. Can a squirrel’s bushy tail, a frog’s lily pad, or a mouse’s tin can help a very soggy duck find what she’s lost? Will Dora ever track down her favorite polka-dot treasure? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘junk,’ ‘just,’ ‘up,’ and ‘yup.’

Mom Otter has a big day planned for her wiggly pack of pups - swimming, hiding, and finally, FISHING! But can four bouncy little otters stay still long enough to learn? What happens when they spot a net in the river, a snapping trap in the grass, and a crocodile with its jaws wide open? And will anyone actually catch a fish before lunch? This decodable reader practices the ck phonogram in words like ‘pack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘snack,’ ‘rock,’ and ’tricks.’

Ahoy there! Can Fig Pig really sail the wide blue sea without a crew? He packs his ship with snacks, steps onto the deck, and sets off to find brave sailors to join him. But the fish just flick away, the polar bears stamp, and the swamp is full of muck and yuck! Will Fig Pig ever find the right crew? This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ‘deck,’ ‘snacks,’ ‘quick,’ ’luck,’ and ’trick.’

Poor Pup just wants a nap, but something in the garden keeps going CHIRP! CHIRP! Who could be making all that noise? Is it Trunk the elephant, with his big floppy trumpet? Is it prickly Spike, or the colorful toucans high up in the tree? Pup sniffs and searches every bush to track down the mystery chirper - but will he ever get his quiet little snooze? This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chirp,’ ‘chirps,’ ‘branch,’ and ‘patch.’

When Brat Cat spots a slick horse all alone in the glade, she thinks she’s found the perfect new pet for her farm - but what happens when lightning cracks and the horse turns out to be made of rattling white BONES? Can Brat Cat escape the bony fists chasing her through the thick black woods? Will her loyal pack of dogs reach her in time? This decodable reader practices the ck phonogram in words like ‘click,’ ‘crack,’ ‘knock,’ ‘quick,’ and ‘smack.’

From the coziest spot in the whole rainforest - Mom’s pouch - one little joey spies butterflies, berries, and blue feathers floating by. But what happens when Mom suddenly won’t let him climb back in? Could there be a secret tucked inside her pouch? Follow along as a curious kangaroo discovers that the best treasures sometimes come in very tiny packages. This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘she,’ ‘shy,’ and ‘fly.’

Ned dug for three whole days to find one shiny gem - and just as he held it up, a sneaky zombie shoved him into the lava and stole it! Can Ned dodge exploding creepers, clattering skeletons, and a swarm of hungry spiders to get his diamond back? Will his worst day ever turn into his luckiest? This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ’luck,’ ‘quick,’ ‘rock,’ ‘crack,’ and ‘stuck.’

A dry season grips the enkang, the river is dust, and the cattle stand thirsty in the sun. When a girl named Entito finds a lost hornbill chick with a bent wing, will she share her last water to save it? And when a strange cloud caps the great mountain while the elders sit still, can one child’s song call the rain? A tender tale of courage and hope. This Bookbot SH level practices words like ‘hush’, ‘shares’, ‘shock’, ‘rushes’, and ‘splash’.

Naru’s grandmother calls her “the girl of the stars.” So when the drought comes hard and the pans dry up, who will remember the old star that leads to hidden water? While the elders argue about which way to trek, can one small girl trust what her grandmother taught her, and watch the night sky alone? This warm Kalahari story practices the WH sound with words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘which’, ‘while’, and ‘who’.