Children's Books for 1st Graders
The Big Honk
Jack is stuck in the grumpiest funk ever, and nothing - not the sun, not the flowers, not even a perfectly nice butterfly - can pull him out of it. But what happens when his friends Skel and Zom drag him into a bamboo forest and spot something huge in the grass? Could a baby panda, a sneaky cake, and one enormous sneeze be the cure? This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘funk,’ ‘blink,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘honk.’
The Big Bad Dog!
Rabbit thinks his cozy farm is the best place in the whole world - but what happens when Farmer heads off with a big basket, and a curious bunny hops in for the ride? When Rabbit tumbles out into the wild, he discovers new smells, a big red barn, and one very unfriendly dog! Will being an explorer turn out to be as easy as he hoped? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘farm,’ ‘fast,’ ‘past,’ and ‘romp.’
The Cursed Emerald Part 1
CHINK, CHINK, CHINK goes Steve’s pickaxe - just another boring day in the mine. But what happens when a strange green gem starts glowing in the wall? One touch, one flash, and suddenly Steve is standing under the stars with monsters closing in from every side. Can he outrun a spider, a skeleton, and a baby zombie riding a chicken? This decodable reader practices the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘clink,’ ‘sinks,’ ‘bank,’ ’thank,’ and ‘wink.’
The Dump
Two kids live beside a vast dump piled high with junk - but could a kind visitor with a box of books change everything? When she stops coming one week, the kids start to sulk. Something must be wrong. Can they rush into the big, busy town and find her before it’s too late? A warm tale about friendship, courage, and the magic of stories. This decodable reader builds short u with j, v, y through words like ‘junk,’ ‘hug,’ ‘sulk,’ ‘vast,’ and ‘rush.’
A Tug On The Jug!
Meg is the best vet in the whole forest, and today her bag is packed with precious medicine for the animals who need her most. But what happens when a cheeky little fawn finds her bag first? Can Meg help a sore monkey, a hurt bird, and a tangled fawn when her jug of medicine is almost gone? A warm woodland adventure about kindness, stubbornness, and unexpected friends. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘vet,’ ‘yuck,’ and ’tug.’
The Bold One Next Door
Iron Golem has a speech ready, a friendly wave, and a very big heart - but has anyone in the village actually noticed him? He tries the cats. He tries the pigs. He even builds a wall tall enough to stop a sneaky skeleton. So why won’t anyone stop to listen, and could a lonely golem ever find someone who truly sees him? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words including ‘bold,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ ’next,’ and ‘rest.’
The Brave Lamp
Out past the last road, in a little cabin in the woods, Cam has a good little lamp that helps him chase frogs and read stories after dark. But what happens when bright electric lights arrive and Cam forgets all about his faithful flame? Will the lonely little lamp ever shine again? Snuggle in and find out why some friends glow brightest when you need them most. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘flame,’ ‘home,’ ‘safe,’ and ‘while.’
The Net
Meet Internet Mascot - a bouncy little globe with googly eyes who zips around the world on silvery web strands! Have you ever wondered how a silly cat video can travel across the planet in just one second? From dancing to music videos to cheering on a climber at the top of a snowy mountain, the internet connects us all. But how do we use it safely and kindly? This decodable reader focuses on the ’th’ sound in words like ‘both,’ ’these,’ ’through,’ and ’truth.’
The Iron Golem
What happens when a giant iron golem gets stuck walking in circles, guarding nothing but an empty field? Jack is determined to move the enormous hunk of metal to a town that really needs protecting - but pushing doesn’t work, yanking doesn’t work, and throwing rocks barely makes a clink. Can a clever farm boy outsmart a creature taller than a house? This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram in words like ‘clank,’ ‘clink,’ ‘shrink,’ ’think,’ and ‘yank.’
He Did It!
THWACK! Arrows are raining down from the sky, and poor Hop has nearly been turned into a pincushion! Who could be shooting at him, and why? Hop is furious and marching off to find the culprit - but along the way he picks up a nervous Cob, a brave Brown, a mighty Hip, and a surprising Ape. Can this little band track down the mystery archer before another arrow flies? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words such as ‘by,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ‘me,’ and ‘why.’