Children's Books for 1st Graders
Bugs Fly to Me
Deep in the jungle lives Rafa, a big red flower with bold white spots and a smell so strong it could curl your toes! The other flowers giggle and groan, but Rafa just grins and puffs up her petals. Why won’t the butterflies visit her? And who are the special friends zooming in on tiny buzzing wings? Could Rafa’s stinky secret actually be her superpower? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘cry,’ ‘fly,’ ‘sky,’ ’try,’ and ‘we.’
I Made A Big Splash!
Have you ever meant to help… and made a giant splash instead? Meet a kid with a big, busy life full of chums, cuddly cats, bike rides with Grandad, bedtime tales with Nan, and one very patient uncle with a watering hose. What happens when the plants get a sprinkle - and so does Uncle? Get ready to giggle! This decodable reader practises the ch sound in words like ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ ‘chase,’ ‘much,’ and ’twitch.’
I Think I Can Help!
Bird has just landed in a brand-new part of the world, and he doesn’t know a soul! But when he spots a rhino with buzzing flies, a croc with a sore tooth, and a zebra watching for lions, he’s sure he can lend a wing. Can one little bird really help four big animals - and make four new friends? This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ’think,’ ‘blink,’ ‘stink,’ ’thanks,’ and ‘junk.’
No Fun With the Mouse!
Meet Hantu, a playful creature who loves to pop up and surprise everyone he meets! But his fun-loving antics don’t always go as planned. Will Hantu find a friend who actually enjoys his games, or will he keep searching for someone who thinks he’s fun instead of frightening?
I Choose That Home!
Ling is delivering figs to Nan, but every house along the way looks more exciting than the last. A stilt house in the sky? A shop that smells like lunch? A garage with a roaring bike? Even a house floating on the waves! Which one will Ling choose for a forever home? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘brings,’ ‘rings,’ and ‘sings.’
Slide, Glide, Stomp!
What if the dinosaurs never died out? What if a pair of cheeky raptors zoomed down your local slide, a sauropod strolled onto the football field, and a triceratops raided your fridge before breakfast? Would sharing the planet with them be a wild adventure - or a huge, stompy disaster? Join the chaos and find out what happens when prehistoric giants crash into everyday life. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘slide,’ ‘glide,’ ‘plate,’ ‘bone,’ and ‘space.’
In the Blue
Dive into an underwater adventure! A young girl explores the ocean and discovers amazing sea creatures. She meets a friendly fish that can fly, spots something shiny that looks like gold, and encounters animals with curly legs that nip! What other surprising creatures will she find in the deep blue sea? Join her as she swims through this exciting underwater world full of wonder and discovery.
Butter and the Big Prank!
Bon’s summer holiday is off to the worst start ever. Mum is busy, Dad is busy, and Su won’t even look up from her paper pinwheels. Will anyone in this house ever play with him? Just when Bon is ready to give up, a brilliant idea pops into his head - and it involves Butter, the family parrot, a polka-dot hat, and a very big secret. This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘wink,’ ‘stink,’ ’think,’ ‘blink,’ and ‘prank.’
Min Did It!
Today is Min’s very first day of school, and her shiny new uniform is laid out on the bed - but has Min ever done up a button in her life? She dashes from Mummy to Daddy to Grandpa, Grandma, and big brother Tim, but everyone is far too busy to stop. Can one small girl tackle a tricky shirt all by herself? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘help,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘went.’
Jump, Ned, Jump!
Ned is SO bored - there is nothing, nothing, NOTHING to do in the whole entire world! But what happens when he climbs the tallest tree he can find and the branch goes CRACK? Can a clever book, a pile of squishy honey blocks, and one very big idea turn a bored boy into the bravest jumper around? Climb up, look down, and find out! This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whack,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whiz.’