Children's Books for 1st Graders
Did the Fish Sink?
Meet Hank - a fish who does NOT just swim in circles! Ever heard of a fish who walks on land, naps in mud, and shrugs off hungry birds with a back full of sharp spines? When the pond dries up and his friends flop in the cracked gunk, what on earth will Hank do next? Climb aboard for a muddy, rainy, rule-breaking adventure. This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram in words like ‘bank,’ ‘drink,’ ’think,’ ‘sunk,’ and ‘wink.’
The Shy Calf
Kobi is a snow-white buffalo calf, and tonight he gets to lead the big New Year parade through the glittering city! But Kobi is shy, the crowds are loud, and Abi has made a very important promise: to stay by his friend’s side the whole way. Can a boy keep his word when the lanterns blaze and his tummy starts to rumble? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ’no,’ ‘shy,’ and ’try.’
Pep Thinks Big
Pep the bird has ENORMOUS plans for the village parade, and he is absolutely, definitely a genius - just ask him! But when a giant paint spill turns his wall into a masterpiece, Pep gets a dangerous idea. Why stop at one cart when he could paint every house in the village? Will his neighbors cheer, or will they chase him up the hill? This decodable reader practices the th sound in words such as ’this,’ ’them,’ ’these,’ ’they,’ and ’thinks.'
Shine Back at Me!
Have you ever stared at a frog and wondered if it’s staring right back? Every day, our curious narrator plays a secret game - catching the eye of a grinning cyclist, a stubborn cow who won’t budge, a sleepy cat on the gate, and tiny fireflies that glow like whispered secrets. But when night falls and the stars start to shimmer, could someone far, far away be playing the very same game? This decodable reader explores the ‘sh’ sound with words like ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ ‘shine,’ and ‘wish.’
Who Stole My Shoe?
Poor Shep the caterpillar has lost a shoe - and with so many feet to keep warm, one bare toe is a BIG problem! Who could have taken it? Frog offers a floppy swim flipper, Hop hands over a pinchy red one, and Crab’s pointy shoe down by the shore is just plain painful. Will Shep ever find the perfect fit? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘shoe,’ ‘shore,’ ‘shine,’ ‘splash,’ and ‘hush.’
Who Hid the Wheels?
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 practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘wheel,’ ‘what,’ ‘where,’ and ‘whirl.’
Ben and His Birds
Ben has one little bird, and its song is the sweetest sound he’s ever heard. But what if he had ten birds? Or a hundred? With his dad’s help, Ben fills the house with cages of every colour - but why won’t any of the birds sing? Can Ben figure out what his feathered friends really need before it’s too late? This decodable reader focuses on the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ’then,’ and ‘with.’
Gran Made That Up!
Jill races to Gran’s house, where books fill every shelf and a black cat blinks hello. Today Gran says Jill gets to choose the story - but will Gran read what’s actually on the page, or sneak in her own wild, made-up bits again? Can Jill catch her in the act this time, and what surprise might Jill add herself? Curl up and find out! This decodable reader practises the th phonogram in words like ’this,’ ‘both,’ ’thinks,’ ’three,’ and ’through.’
Quick, Ned!
Ned wants to build the greatest gear ever, but the best stuff needs diamonds - and diamonds hide deep, deep down in the dark. Can Ned dodge the spiders skittering from every crack? Can he outsmart the rattling bones and cross a lake of bubbling lava without a single slip? With his trusty pickaxe and a very nervous Book, Ned is about to find out. This decodable reader practises the ck phonogram in words such as ‘pick,’ ‘stacks,’ ‘quick,’ ‘brick,’ and ‘check.’
What Will Zom Whip Up?
Zom the zombie is SICK of brains for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - so today he’s becoming a chef! But what does a zombie pick for ingredients? A green egg from a field, soggy wheat, sugar covered in bugs, and a pail of very lumpy old milk. Why on earth would anyone want to eat that? And what strange creation is Zom about to whip up on his crafting table? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words such as ‘what,’ ‘wheat,’ ‘why,’ and ‘whip.’