Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms: Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high
Every child deserves books that turn new letter sounds into real reading. Four spellings of /ie/ come together in Jolly Phonics Step 2, Unit 9: ie as in pie, i_e as in ride, igh as in night and y as in cry and dry. These ie and igh decodable books mix the spellings so children learn to recognize each one. Some titles are free to read online.
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Monkey Spies By Midnight
Monkey wakes up hungry, and his bananas have vanished without a trace! A trail of clues leads him straight to a surprising suspect, but is this sneaky spy really the thief? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘spy’, ‘cries’, ’night’, ‘sight’, ’tight’.
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The Sly Book
Ned finally has a home on a high hill, with sunlight bright on the grass and flowers all around. But his magic book says he needs to dig, and his hands are much better at punching trees than making tools. Can Ned build his very first shovel and figure out which end goes in the ground? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘high’, ‘sky’, ’try’, and ‘mighty’.
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Nib's Big Fright
Nib never locks the door, no matter how many times her brothers ask. So when something big, shaggy, and hungry has been watching the little house from the woods, nothing stops it from creeping right inside. What will Nib do when she’s snatched up and carried off into the dark? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘sly’, ’tight’, ‘fright’, ‘hides’, ’line’.
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Time to Try, Pip
Pip finds an old photo of Mom with short, bright hair and wants the same look. With her craft scissors in hand, she snips away, sure she’s about to become a whole new person. But when she lifts the mirror up high for the big reveal, what she sees makes her gasp instead of grin. Can Pip fix the mess she’s made before anyone spots it? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘sight’, ‘high’, ‘cry’, ’try’, ‘bright’.
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Jim's Sly Night Plan
Jim races home, sure he can beat his friend’s shiny new boat with something better. But when he peeks in his toy box, all he sees is old junk. Could his family’s things save the day? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘sly’, ’tight’, ‘sighs’ and ‘by’.
Can the Mighty Dr. Can Do?
Dr. Can Do fixes everything in Canville, from wobbly steps to broken lanterns, so nothing should be too tricky for him. But when a quick little cat darts out by the hay and refuses to listen, even his best doctor voice gets nowhere. Can he ever get the shy creature to trust him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’try’, ‘bright’, ‘sunlight’, ‘shy’, ’tries’.
A Mighty Fright Tonight
Ned’s fort has thick walls and a mighty moat, but The Book warns that monsters could still get in at night. Now Ned must build something stronger: a giant iron golem to guard his home. There’s just one problem: golems need a head, and heads don’t come from a shop. What will Ned use instead? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘fright’, ‘mighty’, ‘sigh’, ‘upright’.
Try My Mighty Net
Web the globe loves showing off the internet’s speed and endless links, but he forgets to mention the tricky parts. A girl at her desk clicks the very first link she finds and something doesn’t look right. Can she figure out what to trust before her school project goes wrong? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ’try’, ‘high’, ‘sighs’, ’night’.
Is the Sea in Sight?
May has never once seen the sea, but her teacher Jack promises today is finally the day. She climbs a hill, scrambles up a rock, and even swings into a tall tree, sure that getting higher will let her spot it at last. Will May ever see the sea for herself? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘high’, ‘bright’, ‘sighs’, ’tight’, ’try’.
Zombie Flies With My Diamond!
Ned finally finds his diamond deep in a dark cave, its shine catching the light after days of digging. But a sly zombie shoves him into a hot pool and grabs it, sprinting off through winding tunnels. Ned chases through creeper blasts and bone-mob fights, spotting the zombie’s flash of green up ahead. Will he ever catch it? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘diamond’, ’light’, ‘sly’, ‘fight’, ‘bright’.
Fig Pig Has No Boat
Fig Pig builds himself a boat and sets off to find a brave crew, but every creature he meets along the way seems to have other plans. Will he ever find a teammate willing to join his adventure? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘sky’, ’tight’, ‘cry’, ’night’.
Fly High, Yellow Rabbit Balloon!
Yellow Rabbit Balloon just wants to fly high in the bright sky, far away from anyone telling him to hold still. But when his string slips from a girl’s hand, he shoots up past kites and birds into a sky that isn’t as friendly as he hoped. Fireballs, angry birds, and thick smog send him drifting through the night, all alone. Will he ever find someone to hold his string tight again? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘fly’, ‘high’, ’tight’, ‘sky’, ’night’.
Kaggen Sighs at Night
Kaggen the Mantis has watched the Ostrich hide something wonderful under his left wing for as long as anyone can remember, and he’s sure it’s fire. The clan shivers through cold, dark nights, eating their food raw, and Kaggen has decided enough is enough. But the Ostrich guards his secret fiercely, and flattery alone won’t make those wings budge. Could a clever trick by a sour-plum tree finally coax the truth into the open? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ’night’, ‘sighs’, ‘sly’, ’tight’.
Kele and the Cold Night
Kele is small, but he has a plan: sneak into Old Chimpanzee’s camp on the hillside and win a bit of fire with nothing but a hidden ember and a sweet tune from his flute. Night after night, the camp shivers in the cold and dark, waiting for warmth only he might bring home. Will his quiet trick be enough to outwit the selfish old chimp who guards the only flame for miles? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ‘firelight’, ‘hikes’, ’tight’.
A Cold Dark Night
In a cold camp on the Karoo, Old Tortoise is the only one with fire, hiding it under a flat rock while everyone else shivers all night. When his baby sister turns pale with cold, Kato begs Tortoise for just one coal, but Tortoise only hides inside his shell. Alone in the dust, Kato picks up two stones and knocks them together, and a bright spark flies. Could this be the answer? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ’try’, ‘sighs’, ‘fire’.
My Big Spy Plan
I hop on my bike as the sky turns bright, zooming past the hills on a top-secret mission before Jan’s birthday party. Everyone has a job: Mom bakes the cake, Dad blows up balloons, Bob ties them tight, and Gran and Gramps hide their own big surprises. But when it’s time to carry everything into the party, will it all get there in one piece? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘high’, ’try’, ’tight’, ‘sky’.
Bright Lights, Big Fright
A big plan for the best yard on the street turns into total chaos when the sky lights up with strange swirls and fish start raining down. Can he finish digging before things get even stranger? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘sky’, ‘fright’, ‘sight’, ‘dry’.
Snap Spies the Sky
Snap perches high on Pop’s back one night, watching the stars, and decides she must find the best thing in the whole world. She leaves home and swims far down the river to the wide sea, past bright fish and a shining snail, chasing wonders that keep surprising her. But as the nights grow lonely and she starts to miss home, could the best thing in all the world be somewhere she’s already been? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ‘sky’, ’try’, ’light’.
Just One Rabbit, Ned?
Ned is hungry, and the fields are full of rabbits, so what could possibly go wrong? The Book keeps warning him to be careful, but Ned has already pulled back his bow, and something in the grass is about to make him wish he’d listened. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘spy’, ‘bright’, ‘fright’, ‘sighs’, ‘high’.
Little Fish Sighs Then Dives
Fin loves swimming the same shallow path with Mom, until one day he dares to dive deep, where the reef sparkles with color and strange new creatures. But something big and dark is resting on the sandy floor, and it isn’t a rock at all, so what will Fin do when it wakes up? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘fright’, ‘sigh’, ‘sky’, ’tonight’.
Kipkemoi and the Sly Lion
Kipkemoi is ten, alone with thirty cattle, and a sly lion has decided his herd is easier than hunting. The lion circles tighter and tighter, and nothing Kipkemoi tries seems to scare it off. Can a clever boy outwit a lion twice his size? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘fright’, ‘sly’, ’tight’, ‘sights’, ’try’.
Hippo and the Dry Land
Hippo is enormous, hungry, and burning up on the dry land, longing for the cool river he isn’t allowed to enter. When he offers the Creator a daily promise and proof, will it be enough to earn his place in the water? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ‘sky’, ’try’, ‘dry’.
Fisi and the High Bone
Fisi the Hyena loves bones more than anything, and when he finds a whole hillside of them scattered among the rocks, he cannot stop himself from grabbing more. But a strange echo in a dark, narrow crack starts answering back, and Fisi is sure it is a spirit giving him advice. Should he trust the voice in the rocks? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘high’, ‘sly’, ’tight’, ‘cries’, ‘dry’.
Bright Cave Fright
A boy named Karĩuki knows the talking cave on the rocky hill better than anyone, and he has learned which echoes are useful and which are not. But when a leopard slips between him and his family’s goats, he needs the cave’s echo for something far more urgent. Can a clever shout in the bright daylight save the whole herd? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘flight’, ‘sky’, ’try’, ‘mighty’.
Did the Hen Fly In?
Fig Pig is digging by the fence when a hen wanders into the pen out of nowhere. More hens follow, and soon everyone dreams of fresh eggs every morning. But a hungry fox is watching from outside the fence, and she is fast. Can anyone stop her before she gets away with a hen? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘cries’, ‘flight’, ‘might’, ‘sunlight’.
I Wish It Was Mine
A boy spots Rooster’s fine red comb gleaming like a crown and wants one for himself. Peacock and Heron have crowns too, but each one says no. Will the boy ever find a crown of his own, or will he have to make one himself? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘high’, ‘my’, ‘cries’, ‘fine’.
Otieno Tries for Fish
Otieno needs his family’s spot on the lake, but old, sly Musa never loses a fishing contest. When Otieno falls behind, he notices a strange tap Musa makes with his paddle against the boat side, a sound that seems to guide him to where the fish gather. Can Otieno figure out the trick in time? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’try’, ‘sly’, ‘sky’, ‘sight’, ‘bright’.
Aisha at Night
Aisha is eight, and tonight it’s her turn to guard the family’s cattle in the dark. When a sneaky hyena named Olkiama tries a loud trick to lure her from her post, will she fall for it, or is she too clever to move? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ‘sly’, ‘cry’, ’tight’.
Bright Fright at Night
Bones sighs by the old chest, and no pet will sleep on the empty mat tonight. Skel sets off in the moonlight while Zom starts a secret plan to fix up the dim, spooky home. Can Zom finish before Skel gets back? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’night’, ‘bright’, ‘sighs’, ‘moonlight’, ’tonight’.
My Butterfly Might Fly
May has a secret: she knows more about butterflies than anyone in her class. But she’s too shy to ever raise her hand, even when Miss gets the facts wrong in front of everyone. Then one bright day in the park, a caterpillar on a leaf changes everything. Will May finally find the courage to speak up? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘fly’, ‘sky’, ‘bright’, ‘shy’, ‘sunlight’.
Can Frog Reach a Star?
Every night, a frog gazes up at the sky, longing to hold just one glowing star of his own. He climbs a rock, a hill, and finally a towering tree, stretching as high as he can reach. But even at the very top, the stars still seem impossibly far away, so what will he do when he looks down and realizes he might be stuck? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘high’, ’night’, ‘sky’, ‘bright’, ‘flight’.
Sly Tiger, Mighty Tiger
Tiger just wants peace and quiet by the pond, no friends, no fuss. But every creature she tries to catch keeps getting away, and soon the woods around her fall completely silent. Sitting alone at twilight with an empty belly, she starts to wonder if being alone is really so fine after all. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘sigh’, ‘fright’, ‘sky’, ’tighter’, and ‘smile’.
No Room for Nine
In a house bursting with nine noisy people (and one clever cat), there’s simply nowhere left to squeeze in. So when a big wish is whispered by the doorway, the whole house suddenly goes silent, and the quiet feels stranger than expected. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ’tight’, ‘sigh’, ‘bright’, ‘fly’, ‘sky’.
The Rock Fights Back
Ned’s tower is tall, stony, and completely wizard-free, at least until he finds the right gear. When The Book sends him deep into a dark cave at night, Ned grips his pick tight and grins at the glowing rocks around him. But something hot and dangerous is waiting in the shadows ahead. Will Ned dare to try, or will fright get the better of him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ’tight’, ’night’, ‘shine’, ‘might’.
Too Hot to Hide
Pip is having the worst day ever. The sun is so hot and bright, and no matter where she looks, nothing seems cool enough for a goat her size. Could there be shade out there just right for her? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 9: y and igh as in fly & high), this book practices words like ‘bright’, ‘sky’, ‘dry’, ’tight’ and ‘sighs’.
Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ways can you spell the /ie/ sound?
In Jolly Phonics Step 2, Unit 9, children learn four ways to write the /ie/ sound: ie as in pie, i_e as in ride, igh as in night and y as in cry. Each spelling tends to appear in a particular place, which makes them easier to sort. Reading all four in stories helps children recognize them quickly, even before they know which one to choose for spelling.
What words end with ie?
Short words such as pie, tie, lie and die end in ie, where the two letters make the /ie/ sound. Adding s or d keeps the same spelling, as in pies, tied and cried, which gives children longer ie words to read. In longer words a final ie is less common, and words like cookie and movie use it for a different sound, /ee/.
Which igh words should children read first?
Useful igh words include high, sigh, light, night, bright, fight, tight and might. The three letters make one sound, so children need to read igh as a single unit instead of trying to sound out the g and h. The spelling often comes before t, as in the -ight words, and our guide to reading fluency explains why quick, accurate word reading matters more than speed alone.
When does y say /ie/?
At the end of a one-syllable word, y usually says /ie/, as in my, by, fly, sky, cry and dry. In longer words the same letter usually says /ee/, as in windy and body, which children met earlier in Step 2. Counting the beats is a quick check: one beat suggests /ie/, and two or more suggest /ee/.
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