Nature Books for 1st Graders
Not One Drop!
Girl is thirsty - the thirstiest she has ever been! But when she grabs her pail, only one tiny drop falls out. Where has all the water gone? The pump is dry, the tank is empty, and even the river has nothing left to give. Will Girl find a drink before she gives up? And why won’t that one little cloud do its job? This decodable reader focuses on the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ and ‘while.’
Just One!
May the fairy has one simple job: fly through the garden and pick her very favorite flower. Easy, right? But wait - which bloom is truly the best? The sunny daisies? The pinky-pink roses? That mysterious red bloom no one has ever seen? Even the bees can’t agree, and a zippy little bee keeps buzzing, ‘Pick one already!’ Can May ever choose just one? This cheerful decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘fly,’ ‘go,’ ’try,’ ‘why,’ and ‘me.’
The Big Drop Race
High up in the sky, thousands of tiny raindrops are jostling at the edge of a grumpy cloud, ready for the wildest race ever. Who will splash down first? Who will reach the sea? And what happens when the hot sun starts to shine on the winners? Tumble down hills, rush through rivers, and discover a surprise twist that turns the whole race upside down! This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’thick,’ ’thin,’ ’thud,’ and ’through.'
SOS in the Sand
What happens when a little sailor spots a huge pipe spilling dark muck into the sparkling sea? With waves to save and brave words to shout, can one small voice really make the whole sky listen? Grab your boat, feel the breeze, and find out what a stick in the sand can do when somebody, anybody, needs to pay attention. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘plane,’ ‘save,’ and ‘white.’
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.’
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.’
My Mum Has a Bub!
From the cosiest spot in the whole rainforest - Mum’s pouch - one little joey spies butterflies, berries, and blue feathers floating by. But what happens when Mum suddenly won’t let him climb back in? Could there be a secret tucked inside her pouch? Follow along as a curious kangaroo discovers that the best treasures sometimes come in very tiny packages. This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘she,’ ‘shy,’ and ‘fly.’
She Tells Her Tale
Diya knows more about butterflies than anyone in her school - but she’s far too shy to say a word. Then, on a class trip to the park, a fat striped caterpillar inches right past her feet, and fourteen facts bubble up to the tip of her tongue. Could one tiny creature help Diya finally find her voice? This decodable reader practises silent e words like ‘smile,’ ‘glide,’ ‘gaze,’ and ’tale.’
The Girl and the Whales
Sara loves to float in her cool, clear stream, dreaming of faraway seas. But what happens when a tiny, bossy fish bursts out of the weeds and begs her to follow? Where will the current carry her - and whose sparkling kingdom waits in the deepest, darkest part of the ocean? Could a girl from a little creek really become queen of the whole sea? This decodable reader practises the wh phonogram through words like ‘whales,’ ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whose,’ and ‘whole.’
There Are Ants!
A thin path of ants is winding right across Seth’s yard - hundreds of them, maybe thousands! Where are they all marching to, and what on earth are they hunting for? Seth and his dog follow the tiny army as it climbs his things, storms the kitchen, and sniffs out every crumb it can find. But can Seth stop them before they reach his favourite snack? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’thanks,’ ’through,’ and ’things.’