Animal Books for 1st Graders
Hold On, Big Fish!
CRASH! SPLASH! When a fishing net traps Big Fish on the rocky seabed, Little Fish knows there’s only one way to save his best friend - find someone with really, really sharp teeth. But where do you look when you’re tiny and the ocean is huge? Will Turtle help? Will Whale? Who on earth has teeth sharp enough to slice through a net? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘sharp,’ ‘shrimp,’ ‘splash,’ and ‘swish.’
Run! Run! Run!
Goya the Komodo dragon is having the worst day ever. First a flood sweeps him into a grimy tunnel, and then, when he finally pops out into the sunshine, a bunch of kids start screaming one truly awful word at him: CROCODILE! Can Goya prove he’s a proud, magnificent Komodo dragon? And will he ever find his way back to his warm jungle rock? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘yuck,’ ‘jumps,’ ‘just,’ and ‘runs.’
My Big Act!
Susy has a BIG dream - she wants to be a real magic queen, with a cape, a wand, and a crowd cheering her name! But what do you do when you have no stage, no top hat, and no rabbit? Luckily, Susy has Mak, her dog and trusty sidekick. Can a rice basket, an old sheet, and one brave puppy pull off the greatest magic show ever? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words such as ‘be,’ ‘go,’ ‘my,’ and ’try.’
She Builds a Hut
It’s the hottest day of the whole summer, and Gilly the goat is MELTING. The stream is too wet, the shrubs are too small, and the shade she finds is never quite goat-sized. But what happens when Gilly spots a family building a house in town? Could a goat really build her own shelter from sticks and leaves? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘blaze,’ ‘shade,’ ‘hides,’ ‘home,’ and ‘smiles.’
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?
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.’
A Bed for Ned!
Ned’s shed looks nice, but the cold stone floor is no place to sleep! What he really needs is a big, soft, woolly bed - and that means finding sheep to shear. But have you ever tried to catch a fluffy sheep on a sunny slope? Will Ned chase them down, or can he come up with a cleverer plan? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘chase,’ ‘hide,’ ‘pine,’ and ‘smile.’
Kip Jumps
Kip has somewhere very important to be - but a hungry mob of crocs is blocking the path through the mud! Can Kip outrun the snapping jaws? Can he leap over the pond before the crocs catch up? Join this brave little hero as he jumps rocks, sails over surprised frogs, and races toward a very special surprise waiting just for him. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘mud,’ ‘run,’ ‘stuck,’ and ‘yum.’