Animal Books for 3rd Graders
I Thought You Were a Cat!
Hantu is the biggest, boldest ghost in all of Indonesia, and scaring villagers is his favorite job. Lions whimper! Strongmen squeal! Guards drop their guns and flee! But when Hantu creeps into a tiny house to frighten one small, sleeping mouse, will the terror of the night finally meet someone too brave to shake? This decodable reader practices the ‘gh’ phonogram in words like ‘ghost,’ ’night,’ ‘fight,’ and ’thought.’
It's All the Cat's Fault!
What happens when one curious cat climbs the tallest tree in the yard and flatly refuses to come down? A simple rescue soon turns into a broken ladder, a screaming baby, a kitchen-raiding monkey, and a very hungry dog with a nose for trouble. Can anyone possibly convince the teacher that every single wild word of this story is true? This decodable reader practises si making /zh/ in words such as ‘occasion,’ ‘confusion,’ ‘pleasure,’ and ‘unusual.’
It's Butter's Birthday!
Summer holidays are finally here, and Bon has BIG plans - water balloons, games, and no homework! But when Mum is busy, Dad rushes off to work, and Su ignores him completely, is this going to be the most boring summer ever? Just when Bon’s about to give up, a wild idea sparks involving the family parrot, a polka-dot hat, and a very special party. This decodable reader practises the ‘gn’ sound in words like ‘sign,’ ‘gnaws,’ ‘assigned,’ and ‘designing.’
Just a Haircut!
Ned’s shiny new shed has everything a hero could want - stone walls, flaming torches, a crafting table - but no bed! Can he track down three fluffy sheep, snip enough wool, and finally get a proper night’s sleep? With his magic book guiding the way and a brand new pair of shears in hand, Ned sets off on a woolly adventure. But sheep are faster than they look - and a lot less keen on free haircuts! This decodable reader practises the ui phonogram in words like ‘bruise,’ ‘cruise,’ ‘fruit,’ and ‘pursuit.’
Kip Jumps
Kip has somewhere very important to be today - but can one little hero make it across his neighborhood when a mob of eight snapping crocs is blocking the path? With jaws wide open and hungry bellies rumbling, these crocs are ready for a Kip-sized snack! Can Kip leap, bound, and fly his way to safety before those teeth catch up? This decodable reader practises the ’eigh’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ’eighth,’ ‘heavyweight,’ and ‘weightless.’
Let's Bee Friends
Zom the zombie is tired of shuffling neighbours who only groan about brains. Can he find a friend who talks about literally anything else? When a golden hive buzzes in a nearby tree, Zom is sure he’s struck gold - a whole neighbourhood of new pals! But bees are busy little workers, and shaking their home turns out to be a very bad hello. How can Zom make things right? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘weight,’ ‘freight,’ and ’neighbour.’
Llama Drama
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. What is shaking the walls of Skel’s farmhouse in the middle of the night? When he stomps outside, he finds three llamas prancing on the grass - and by morning, there are forty-seven more! They are gnawing the crops, gnashing their teeth, and spitting sticky green goo. Can Skel and Zom ever get rid of this woolly, wobbling herd? This decodable reader practices the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnashing,’ ‘gnawed,’ ‘resigned,’ and ‘designed.’
Meow and the Ocelot
Meow is the boss of her whole neighborhood - nothing gets past her, not a moth, not a mouse, not even a funny-looking leaf. But what happens when a real, actual, wild ocelot shows up by the wheat rows, staring right at her chickens? He’s a heavyweight who outweighs her by a mile, so fighting is out. Can one small cat come up with a smart plan in time? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘weight,’ ‘freight,’ and ’neighborhood.’
Minecraft Ecology: Plains
Welcome to the wide, green plains of Minecraft, where the grass stretches out as far as you can see! Can you hear a horse neigh near the fence, or spot a cow grazing in the shade? Which peaceful mobs live in this sunny neighborhood, and why does a farmer need to balance the herd? This decodable reader practices the ’eigh’ phonogram with words like ’eighty,’ ’neigh,’ ‘weighs,’ and ‘outweigh.’
My Comb
What do you do when every bird on the farm has a crown except you? On a sunny holiday visit, one determined child admires Rooster’s bright red comb, Peacock’s feathery fan, and Heron’s elegant plume - but none of them will share! Could there be another way to wear a crown that is just right? This decodable reader practises the ‘ui’ phonogram in words such as ‘suits,’ ’nuisance,’ ‘fluid,’ ‘pursuit,’ and ‘suitable.’