Children's Books for 1st Graders
The Best Thing, Ned!
It’s Ned’s birthday, and The Book has a plan - but wait, where’s the present? Why does Ned need wheat, sugar, eggs, and milk? And what on earth is The Book up to, bossing Ned around the fields with no hands of its own? From chasing chickens to milking cows, Ned is sure something wonderful is coming… but what could it possibly be? This decodable reader practises the th sound in words like ‘birthday,’ ’thanks,’ ’thick,’ ’thing,’ and ’three.’
Me First!
Rabbit has a big, brilliant plan - he’s going to be FIRST at EVERYTHING on his very first day of school! First through the door, first across the finish line, first to finish his painting, his story, his maths. But what happens when Bee beats him to class, Turtle beats him in the race, and Dog paints a masterpiece? Could there be something Rabbit is first at after all? This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ ‘share,’ and ‘wish.’
Dash to the Shed
Meow loves her cosy farm, where nothing ever gets past her sharp eyes - but what happens when a real, wild ocelot creeps out of the bush and heads straight for the chicken shed? Can one small house cat outsmart a hungry jungle hunter? With a clever plan, a wobbly scarecrow, and the bravest dash of her life, Meow is ready to try anything! This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘bush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ and ‘shed.’
Mer
Jack has never caught a fish - not once! But when he casts his wobbly branch-rod off the dock, what on earth tugs back? Something green, something grumpy, something that is definitely NOT a fish. Could a pumpkin boy and a mermaid really become friends? And what happens when the sun starts sinking on their silly, splashy adventure? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ phonogram in words like ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whines,’ and ‘whale.’
She Thinks Small
Zara has one big dream: to discover a brand new microbe that nobody has ever seen before. But where do you start hunting for something so tiny? When a stinky smell drifts out of the lab fridge, Zara’s super-powered nose gets to work. Could this gross, fuzzy fruit really be hiding a scientific treasure? Join Zara as she sniffs, tests, and investigates. This decodable reader practises the th phonogram in words like ’that,’ ’then,’ ’these,’ and ’thinks.'
The Birch Patch
Have you ever stood beneath a tall birch tree and felt the cool shade on your face? Step into the forests of Minecraft, where each patch of trees holds charm, chill, and surprise! Why do players chop so much wood in their very first minutes? What hides behind the trunks of a dark oak forest, waiting to make you flinch? Grab your axe and reach for adventure! This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘birch,’ ‘chop,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘patch.’
Ping and the Gang
Dive beneath the waves with Ping the fish! From warm, sunny reefs where pink things cling to the rocks, to icy seas where cod and squid hang on in the deep, the Minecraft ocean is full of wonder. But what happens when junk starts to wreck the sea? Can Ping, Tang, and their gang help life spring back to all things? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘cling,’ ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘brings.’
A Pink Pig on the Ranch
Have you ever wandered across the wide, flat plains of Minecraft? A pink pig sniffs the dirt, a hen pecks by a tall birch trunk, and horses gallop under a bright blue sky. Could this be the perfect spot to build a ranch? But when too many cows munch the grass, what happens to the land? This decodable reader practices the nk phonogram in words like ‘pink,’ ’trunk,’ ’think,’ ‘dunk,’ and ’thank.’
He Can Do It!
Dr. Can Do’s furnaces are hungry, hungry, HUNGRY - and there isn’t a lump of coal left in town! Can a clever inventor build his way to the faraway mine before his workshop goes cold? With a hammer in hand and a big idea brewing, Dr. Can Do is about to find out that walking is NOT the fastest way to get more coal. What will he invent next? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘so,’ and ’try.’
Hot Dog for Cat?
Dot has a brand new cat, but there’s one tiny problem - he won’t eat a thing! Will he nibble warm bread? Nope. A shiny red apple? No way. A freshly cooked egg? Absolutely not. Poor Dot runs all over town, trying every food she can think of, while Cat just stares with his big green eyes. What on earth does this fussy little creature actually want for dinner? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words like ‘cat,’ ‘got,’ ‘hot,’ and ‘red.’