Children's Books for 1st Graders

Ned is lost in a spooky swamp with only his floating Book for company - and something slimy is bouncing his way! Can Ned battle the splitting slimes, make it home before dark, and figure out why a mysterious pink pig keeps staring at him? And what happens when he straps a saddle onto its back? Giggles, oinks, and carrot-powered chaos await! This decodable reader practices the sh sound in words like ‘shade,’ ‘splash,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘shock,’ and ‘shrug.’

Ned thinks he’s the greatest miner ever - but his pockets are tiny and his gold pile is HUGE! What happens when he spots a white, four-legged creature on the plains and decides it MUST be a horse? And when The Book tells him to wrap gold around carrots, could something truly magical be about to hatch? Saddle up for a silly, sparkly adventure! This decodable reader practices the ch phonogram with words like ‘chomps,’ ‘catch,’ ‘bunch,’ ‘chase,’ and ‘ranch.’

Ned is brave and bold, rowing across the waves to find the perfect spot for a new home. But when he lands on a strange shore, he finds a talking book, a giant pine tree, and a blobby thing hanging from a branch. What happens when Ned punches it in haste? Can he outrun what comes buzzing after him? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘froze,’ ‘hive,’ ‘chase,’ and ‘pride.’

Ned’s shed looks dull and boring, but The Book has a secret plan to fix it up! Why does Ned need to dig up squishy blue blobs at the beach? What will happen when he grabs a big fistful of flowers right in front of a buzzing swarm of bees? Join Ned on a wild adventure of digging, baking, and running for his life! This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘bakes,’ ‘brave,’ ‘chase,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘home.’

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 practices the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘funk,’ ‘blink,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘honk.’

In a village between two green hills lives Nomvula, a clever girl who can read a footprint the way others read a face. When a tall, unhurried stranger arrives to ask for her hand, she notices the odd little things nobody else does. Who is he really, and can she outwit him before it is too late? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ck’ sound with words like ’track’, ‘stick’, ‘quick’, ’lock’, and ‘black’.

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 practices VCC/CVCC words including ‘bold,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ ’next,’ and ‘rest.’

White light splits the sky, the cattle bolt for shelter, and every child in the valley knows the rule: when the storm comes, you run home. So why is Langa climbing toward the ridge instead? Somewhere in the thunder lives the Lightning Bird, and Langa carries one small, secret gift meant just for it. Will the great bird come, or break apart like every storm before it? This Bookbot book practices the ‘wh’ sound with words like ‘when’, ‘while’, ‘which’, ‘whips’, and ‘whole’.

Level: CK. Amahle’s family is having a run of bad luck, and when she goes to fix the broken bridge alone, she fails. But down in the river live gentle spirits who watch those who care for the water. What do they want her to see? Can one brave girl mend her family’s fortune, and will the river remember her kindness? Find out in this gentle tale from the Zulu hills. This story practices the /k/ sound with words like ’luck’, ‘muck’, ‘rock’, ‘stack’, and ‘back’.

Ted is off to Jess’s party, white cane in hand, and he’s sure he knows the way. But when Kim rushes up worried he’ll get lost, can Ted really find the party using just smells, sounds, and his trusty cane? What happens when a huge puddle blocks the path, or a barking dog leaps out? Follow Ted and Kim on a clever, sniffy, surprising adventure across town. This decodable reader practices the wh sound in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘whiff,’ and ‘whole.’