Animal Books for 1st Graders
What Will Jack Be?
Jack’s mind just will not sit still! One second he is on the moon, the next he is a goat on a cliff, a mole in the dirt, or a fish chatting to a goldfish. Where will his daydreams take him next, and what could possibly be strong enough to pull him back? Follow Jack on a whooshing, wandering adventure full of surprises. This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘where,’ ‘which,’ ‘whiff,’ and ‘whoosh.’
Get It, Sam!
When Deb’s cat Sam digs up a very grumpy crab in the yard, what’s a kid to do? Pop it in a bucket, of course! But then come the babies - dozens of tiny, scuttling, sand-digging babies - and suddenly Deb has crabs going everywhere. Can she catch them all before they vanish into the dirt? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ and ’try.’
Stop The Fox!
When a sneaky fox zips into the pen and grabs a hen, Fig Pig, Tip, and Brat Cat have to think fast - but how do you stop a fox who can leap over logs and outrun everyone in the yard? Brat Cat has a big, noisy plan with an axe, yet Fig Pig is quietly smiling by his shovel. Could a simple hole in the ground save the day? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘stop,’ ‘drop,’ ‘flip,’ ‘snap,’ and ’trap.’
Stop the Hat!
Ray has the best hat in the whole wide land - it has googly eyes, teal horns, and a long pink tail made by Gran. But what happens when a gusty Cloud decides that flappy tail looks far too fun to blow? Can Ray and Bull race fast enough to catch a runaway hat as it glides into the sky? A decodable reader practising silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘close,’ ‘face,’ ‘race,’ and ‘ride.’
Stop! Save the Lake!
Shel the fish thinks her lake is the very best place in the whole wide world - until one morning, something strange bobs on the surface, and bits of rubbish start drifting past her nose! Who would dump trash in her beautiful home? Can a tiny fish really stand up to the culprit and save her sparkling lake before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘shade,’ ‘shock,’ and ‘fresh.’
A Bunch of Chums for Pip!
Kara has the best idea ever: a surprise birthday party for Pip, her happy little pup! But what happens when Pip overhears the secret and decides he wants to help too? Can a puppy really plan his own surprise? From a finch on a branch to a bunch of bouncy chums marching up the path, this cheerful tale is packed with wagging tails and giggles. This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘branch,’ ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ and ‘march.’
Tal Tugs the Calf!
Tal just has to walk the calf home before dark - easy, right? But when his friends call him over for a game, the rope slips and the calf wanders off to munch grass. Later, no matter how hard Tal tugs, yanks, and jabs, that stubborn calf will not budge! Is Tal stuck on the hill forever? Will anything get this calf moving before dusk? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘just,’ ‘fun,’ ‘yank,’ ’tug,’ and ‘mom.’
That Horse Is Bones!
When Brat Cat spots a slick horse all alone in the glade, she thinks she’s found the perfect new pet for her farm - but what happens when lightning cracks and the horse turns out to be made of rattling white BONES? Can Brat Cat escape the bony fists chasing her through the thick black woods? Will her loyal pack of dogs reach her in time? This decodable reader practises the ck phonogram in words like ‘click,’ ‘crack,’ ‘knock,’ ‘quick,’ and ‘smack.’
That Pig Wants My Crop!
Ned loves building things on his farm, but he’s tired of growing only wheat. What happens when he wanders off and discovers a field of strange orange carrots poking out of the ground? And why is a round, pink, sneaky pig suddenly following him home at sunset? Can Ned keep his new carrot safe - and can he build a pen strong enough to protect a whole herd of hungry pigs? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’that,’ ’then,’ ’this,’ and ’three.'
The Junk Got My Cat!
Ben’s cat has missed dinner - and that NEVER happens! When he follows muddy paw prints to a giant, googly-eyed pile of rubbish, he spots his furry friend perched happily on top like a queen. Then the pile WALKS AWAY with her! Can Ben outsmart a walking heap of junk before his cat vanishes forever? This decodable reader practises open syllables through words such as ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘sky,’ and ‘so.’