Children's Books for 1st Graders
The Honking Gang
Jack, Zom, and Skel are splashing in the pink evening sea when they notice something strange - where have all the fish gone? A dark shape stirs on the ocean floor, and suddenly a gang of honking axolotls comes rocketing up through the kelp! Can anyone be brave enough to face the Lotl Gang? Maybe it’s time to call in someone who is never, ever scared. This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram in words like ‘blink,’ ‘clunk,’ ‘skunk,’ ’think,’ and ‘wink.’
Pluck Up!
Lily woke up with a big, squeezing belly-ache - and a heavy little monkey clinging to her back! He follows her everywhere: into the garden, into her dance practice, even into her tears. With the art festival just days away, how will Lily ever spin and leap with a monkey hanging on? Can Mum help her find the courage to shake him loose? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘hug,’ ‘pluck,’ and ‘yup.’
Sam Lost His Spark
Sam and his sister are the greatest monster slayers in the whole world - brooms up, buckets ready, no beast too scary! But what happens when a new kind of monster sneaks in quietly, one you can’t whack or chase away? Can a hug, a chat, and a very smart doctor help Sam find his spark again? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘glum,’ ‘slept,’ ‘smart,’ ‘quick,’ and ‘still.’
Don Lost His Cap!
Don has found the perfect soft blue cap at the market - and he loves it more than anything! But what happens when a sudden gust of wind whisks it high into an elm tree? Don tries everything to get it back, but that night something magical catches his eye in the sky. Could the moon itself be the cap thief? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘held,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘wind.’
The Nest
Bird has waited three long weeks for her eggs to hatch, and today is the day! But when her tummy rumbles and she sneaks off the nest for just a quick snack, a big, curious dog comes sniffing around her hidden eggs. Can Bird get back in time? What will the dog do when the chicks start to hatch? And who will the tiny chicks call Mum? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ’nest,’ ‘fast,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ and ‘went.’
The Girl and the Whales
Sara loves to float in her cool, clear stream, dreaming of faraway seas. But what happens when a tiny, bossy fish bursts out of the weeds and begs her to follow? Where will the current carry her - and whose sparkling kingdom waits in the deepest, darkest part of the ocean? Could a girl from a little creek really become queen of the whole sea? This decodable reader practises the wh phonogram through words like ‘whales,’ ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whose,’ and ‘whole.’
The Quest
Little Snap is setting off on the biggest adventure of her life! What is the most amazing thing in the whole world? Can a small creature really find it in such a big, big sea? Swim along as Snap zigs and zags through rivers, meets new friends, leaps beneath the stars, and discovers something wonderful waiting at the end of her journey. This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘quest,’ ‘snap,’ ‘swims,’ ‘grins,’ and ‘plans.’
The Swamp Hut
Deep in the misty swamp, a wooden shack sits high on stilts, hiding a witch, a black cat, and a mountain of glittering gold. Skel grips his bow tight while Bones sniffs the air, tail wagging like mad. Can a brave boy and his wiggly dog sneak past a witch’s potions and grab the treasure? Will Bones stick to the plan - or chase that cat? This decodable reader practises the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘shack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘click,’ and ‘pluck.’
There Are Ants!
A thin path of ants is winding right across Seth’s yard - hundreds of them, maybe thousands! Where are they all marching to, and what on earth are they hunting for? Seth and his dog follow the tiny army as it climbs his things, storms the kitchen, and sniffs out every crumb it can find. But can Seth stop them before they reach his favourite snack? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’thanks,’ ’through,’ and ’things.’
Ned Thumps Them!
Ned has a cosy home, golden crops, and a magical Book by his side - but what happens when the sun goes down? Every night, grim things creep across the grass, hissing and snarling in the dark. Ned is tired of hiding under his quilt while thumps and thuds shake the walls. Could a lump of iron and a brave plan finally turn the tables? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’them,’ ’then,’ ’thinks,’ ’thuds,’ and ‘with.’