Children's Books for 1st Graders

Pip the squirrel has stashed forty-nine nuts all over Butternut Hill, ready for winter - but when she checks her secret spots, every single nut has vanished! Who would take them? The buzzing bees? A sneaky fly? Her kind friend Liz? Pip is determined to solve the mystery, even if it means tumbling out of a tree or two along the way. Could the answer be hiding somewhere she never thought to look? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘hive,’ ‘chase,’ ‘dome,’ and ‘smile.’

What is the best thing in the whole wide world? Meg knows the answer: WHEELS! They whirl, they whir, they run the whole world - until one morning, every single wheel vanishes. Who took them? Where did they go? With a stubborn white goat by her side, Meg sets off to crack the mystery, and discovers a quieter world she never expected. Can she figure out who did it? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘wheel,’ ‘what,’ ‘where,’ and ‘whirl.’

Zom has a BIG plan to get rich - he’s opening his very own milk bar! But why should every cow make the same milk? When the cow is brown, the milk tastes like chocolate. When the cow is white, it’s sweet vanilla. And the pink cow? Strawberry, of course! But what happens when Zom reveals his strangest flavor yet? Will the villagers dare to try it? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ and ‘whirl.’

Meet a puppet with amazing abilities! Its puppeteer can make it hop, kick, and perform incredible tricks using strings. But what can a puppet really do? Discover all the fun things this toy can accomplish—and what it can’t—in this delightful story about imagination and play.

Chad has big plans for the best garden on the street - until the sky starts doing something very strange. Swirls twist overhead, his shovel slips, and then… fish! Squid! Splattering down all around him! But what happens when the sky clears and there’s not a single drop of proof left behind? Will anyone believe Chad’s wild story? This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words such as ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ ‘chunk,’ and ’twitch.’

Deep in the Ashanti forest lives a fairy no bigger than your thumb, with a magic spoon that fills any pot with food. So when hungry Anansi spots it, what will he do? And when he finally holds that wondrous spoon, why won’t it work for him? Can a trickster learn to share? This Bookbot story practices the /ŋk/ sound with words like ’think’, ‘blink’, ‘sink’, ‘chunk’, and ’thank’.

Meet Archie, a creative kid who loves building and inventing! From helpful household bots to an amazing art-making machine, Archie uses cogs, tubes, and his imagination to create incredible inventions. He stays active by riding his bike and working hard on his projects. But what will Archie dream up next? Will his creations help others or just bring him joy?

Jack loves his farm, but something is missing - where are all the bees, birds, and bats? When Jack hauls up a hive and flings seeds across the grass, the buzzing and chirping begins. But bats are tricky critters whose homes are hard to find. What can a clever scarecrow build to bring them in, and which spot will feel just right for a sleepy bat? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ phonogram in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘while,’ and ‘whose.’

Have you ever wondered why birds are so different from each other? Some are tall with big legs, while others are small and fluffy. Some can zip through the air to catch fish, while others strut around farms looking for scraps. From their funny flapping to their amazing bills, birds are full of surprises! What makes each bird so special? Open this book to discover the wonderful world of birds and all their quirks!

Deep in the dark, twisty woods, Ned is hopelessly lost - and something bony is creeping closer through the trees! Can Ned dodge the skeleton’s arrows, find a hiding spot behind a thick trunk, and land one perfect shot before his luck runs out? What happens when a whole pack of grinning skeletons steps out of the shadows? A spooky, thrilling adventure for brave young readers! This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ‘quick,’ ‘stuck,’ ’thick,’ ‘pack,’ and ‘crack.’