Adventure Books for 1st Graders

What happens when Cam drifts off to sleep and suddenly feels lighter than air? Up, up he goes - past bushes, past birds, past an eagle and a plane all shouting the same warning: hold on tight! But hold on to what? Cam zooms higher and higher, whirling past clouds and rockets and even the stars themselves. Will he remember what he’s really holding on to? This decodable reader practices the wh phonogram in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ and ‘whole.’

Long ago, all the world’s stories sat locked in a carved chest high in the sky, guarded by Nyame the Sky God. When clever Anansi the spider decides they should be his, the god names an impossible price: capture four dangerous creatures. Can one small spider outwit a python, a swarm, a leopard, and a fairy? Will his web hold enough clever schemes to win? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ck’ sound with words like ‘stuck’, ‘quick’, ’trick’, ‘back’, and ’luck’.

The forest people have lost every fire to the cold rains, and only greedy Old Ape guards a flame on his hill. When brave little Kele sets off with just his pipe and a clever plan, can a song win what a whole village cannot? Will the boy outsmart a beast who guards fire with all his might? This Bookbot SH level practices the /ʃ/ sound with lesson words like ‘shift’, ‘hush’, ‘dash’, ‘shy’, and ‘wish’.

Ned is picking flowers on a sunny day when - HISS! - a sneaky green Creeper pops up right behind him. KA-BOOM! Now Ned is grumpy, dented, and stuck in a smoking hole. Will his clanky iron armor help him win the next round? Or does he need a cleverer plan to outsmart these bouncy, booming pests? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’thanks,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ and ’three.'

Kalulu the Hare is the smallest animal in the village, and everyone says he’s too small to matter. So when the mighty buffalo Ngombe seizes the finest field and refuses to share, what can one tiny hare possibly do? Could clever feet and a sharp mind outrun a beast ten times his size? Find out how one little hare stands up to a very big bully. This Bookbot level practices the ‘ch’ sound with lesson words like ‘champ’, ‘chant’, ‘check’, ‘cheer’, and ‘much’.

Ned has a pointy hat, a talking book, and big wizard dreams - but why does his next lesson involve chopping cane, crafting stacks of books, and battling mobs at dusk? What happens when the grumpy Book barks orders and Ned just keeps asking questions? Can a boy with a shiny sword and sore fingers really learn to spark real magic? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whose,’ and ‘why.’

Ahoy there! Can Fig Pig really sail the wide blue sea without a crew? He packs his ship with snacks, steps onto the deck, and sets off to find brave sailors to join him. But the fish just flick away, the polar bears stamp, and the swamp is full of muck and yuck! Will Fig Pig ever find the right crew? This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ‘deck,’ ‘snacks,’ ‘quick,’ ’luck,’ and ’trick.’

Ned dug for three whole days to find one shiny gem - and just as he held it up, a sneaky zombie shoved him into the lava and stole it! Can Ned dodge exploding creepers, clattering skeletons, and a swarm of hungry spiders to get his diamond back? Will his worst day ever turn into his luckiest? This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ’luck,’ ‘quick,’ ‘rock,’ ‘crack,’ and ‘stuck.’

Naru’s grandmother calls her “the girl of the stars.” So when the drought comes hard and the pans dry up, who will remember the old star that leads to hidden water? While the elders argue about which way to trek, can one small girl trust what her grandmother taught her, and watch the night sky alone? This warm Kalahari story practices the WH sound with words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘which’, ‘while’, and ‘who’.

Nomsa is only nine, but when the river stops flowing and the crops begin to wilt, she is the one who dares to ask what ancient thing waits in the still, dark pool. Something has been taken from the water. Can a curious girl put right what was broken before it is too late? Follow her along the muddy bank and into a long night by the fire to find out. This SH level practices words like ‘she’, ‘fresh’, ‘shape’, ‘splash’ and ‘wish’.