Children's Books for 1st Graders

Ned is marching through a blazing desert in a full suit of iron armor, hunting for treasure - but what happens when the ancient ruins go BOOM? With his stomach growling, no food in sight, and shuffling husks closing in, will Ned listen to The Book before he eats something truly disgusting? Can a hungry knight survive his own bad ideas? This decodable reader practices the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘plank,’ ‘sank,’ ‘chunk,’ ‘blink,’ and ‘yank.’

Mara has one big rule: curly is ALWAYS better than straight! Her bouncy curls boing back every time, and even her cat’s tail agrees. But what happens when she meets a lion with a perfectly straight tail? Or tries to draw a straight line and ends up with a question mark? From spiral staircases to swirly buns, Mara is on a mission to prove curly wins - but will snack time change her mind? This decodable reader practices the th sound in words like ’think,’ ’those,’ ’three,’ and ‘smooth.’

Mom said don’t follow that butterfly - but how can Nell resist when a flash of blue flits down the path ahead? What will she find in the deep, wild jungle: pink snakes, chimps in the trunk, or something far more dangerous? And when trouble slinks closer, can she make it back home? This decodable reader practices the ’nk’ sound with words like ‘pink,’ ‘sank,’ ‘shrank,’ ‘slunk,’ and ’think.’

Little Fish longs to leave the same old sandy floor behind. What’s hiding deeper in the sea, just past the quiet rocks? One peek turns into a dash for safety, with jagged teeth closer than he’d like! Will he reach help before it’s too late? This story practices the ‘sh’ sound, with words like ‘shark’, ‘splash’, ‘rush’, ‘shock’ and ‘wish’.

Ned’s tiny shed is safe, but oh, is it COLD! With chattering teeth and a floating, talking Book for company, he’s made one very important rule: Don’t go outside! But what happens when the only way to get warm means stepping out where spiders lurk and zombies shuffle? Can brave little Ned dig up stone, chop some logs, and beat the chill before night falls again? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘broke,’ ‘flame,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘safe.’

Behind the pink curtains, a puppeteer is ready for the perfect show - but what happens when the wrong backdrop turns a fancy lady’s quiet evening into a jungle adventure? With a huge tiger on the loose and a calm doctor who refuses to panic, can anyone convince the Rich Lady to run? Kids will giggle as every plan goes delightfully sideways. This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘hide,’ ‘cute,’ ‘shine,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘wide.’

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.’

Birds zoom, dragonflies zip, and butterflies drift past like leaves on the breeze - but what about us? Could three brave kids with big ideas and bigger dreams really make it up into the sky? When a fluffy cloud and a soaring kite both fail to lift them, will they ever find a way to fly? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words such as ‘fly,’ ‘sky,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ and ‘we.’

Ned is DONE with fighting monsters - from now on, he’s a peaceful baker! But to bake cakes, he needs milk, and to get milk, he needs cows. Can Ned lead a herd home with just a handful of wheat? And what happens when dusk falls before his pen is finished and something groans in the shadows? Will Ned keep his cows safe through the night? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words such as ’this,’ ’thump,’ ’thud,’ and ’thanks.'

Tim has a SECRET mission, and it’s all for Jan’s big birthday surprise! There’s a cake to taste, balloons to puff up, a shiny new bike, and a pretty red dress - but someone has to carry the whole wobbly pile into the party room without tripping. Can Tim balance every single gift? Will the boxes topple before Jan walks through the door? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘bike,’ ‘cake,’ ‘ride,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘prize.’