Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms: Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube

Alex has her diamond shovel, her lucky boots, and a feeling in her belly: something special is buried in the hill. She digs deeper and deeper, past sparkling walls, sure that a big prize is waiting below. But what could possibly be hiding at the bottom of her tunnel? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘few’, ’new’, ‘chew’, ‘blue’, ‘anew’.

Jade spots a house on tall stilts, high in the sky, and can’t stop staring. Then she smells sizzling food at a shop that’s also someone’s home, and hears a crowd of kids racing and laughing under another. Could a home really hold games, food, and family all at once? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘chew’, ‘crew’, ‘stew’, ‘screws’.

Zom loves his pumpkin patch more than anything, and this year the pumpkins have grown enormous. But one morning a pumpkin is simply gone, with no footprint, no fur, and not one clue left behind. Who could be stealing pumpkins from right under his nose? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘crew’, ‘dew’, ‘clue’, ‘fewer’, ’news’.

Leopard has caught Anansi at last, dragging him into a rocky den with only one narrow way out, and now he sits right across it like a big spotted door. Anansi spots a bundle of selim pepper in a crack and gets a shrewd new plan brewing. Can a clever spider talk his way past a hungry leopard guarding the only exit? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘stew’, ‘chewy’, ‘dew’, ‘shrewd’.

Kip zips past a boy at the fence, tapping the ball with feet too fast to follow. Kip never once looks up, no matter how loud the boy shouts. Why won’t Kip stop, even when a bike comes speeding straight at him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘askew’, ‘shrewd’, ‘curfew’, ’newfound’.

Ada’s mother never came back from the well, just an empty jug and one enormous footprint in the sand. Everyone fears Dhegdheer’s giant ear, which hears every sound for miles. Can a quick-thinking girl outwit an ogress who never misses a footstep? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’news’, ‘few’, ‘shrewd’, ‘askew’, ‘dewy’.

Brat Cat has a list, and Brat Cat always finishes her list: feed the chickens, brush the sheep, fix the fences. But when an arrow thunks into her shoulder out of nowhere, farm chores are the last thing on her mind. Up on the hill stands a shrewd pillager with a bow, and he’s not leaving without a fight. Can Brat Cat defend her farm before her whole crew ends up in trouble? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ‘dew’, ‘few’, ‘mew’.

Ned has rowed for days, hungry and sore, chasing one goal: find the perfect spot to build a new home. When he finally spashes ashore, a strange talking book appears with an offer of help, but its first instruction sends Ned straight toward a giant yew tree and something buzzing inside it. Will Ned’s home ever get built? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘few’, ‘askew’, ‘yew’.

Ned’s talking book insists he’s no wizard yet, not until he can craft books of his own. First he must gather leather, grow sugar cane, and survive whatever creeps out when darkness falls. Will Ned’s new blade be enough to protect his hard work before the monsters strike? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘few’, ‘dew’, ‘strewn’, ‘blue’.

Dew never goes anywhere without her big red umbrella, even into the bath. One rainy morning it’s gone, and she has to splash outside without it to search. Her pal up the oak tree, a frog by the pond, and a small friend with a tin can all have ideas, but none of them have seen her umbrella. Will Dew find it before she’s soaked through? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘dew’, ‘few’, ’news’, ‘chews’, ’new’.

A girl peeks outside where the tree above her house is full of singing birds, but she must keep the door shut tight, because somewhere behind her a mischievous black cat has plans of its own. Out in the garden, Grandad tends new seedlings while a curious cat watches from just inside, itching for its chance to dart free. Will she catch it before it bolts across the yard? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘chew’, ‘crew’, ‘blue’, ‘dew’.

Opiyo has not seen his father look this scared before. Night after night, something enormous stirs beneath the lake, chasing every fish away and leaving the nets empty. When the men row out with torches to face it, Opiyo sneaks aboard, and soon he and his father are alone on the water as a strange glow rises from the deep. Can a boy with an old, wobbly tune find the courage to sing to whatever lies below? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘crew’, ’new’, ‘blue’, ’true’, ‘dew’.

Chui the Leopard has a plain gold coat, and every animal sees him coming long before he gets close. Hungry and frustrated, he watches a painter marking rings and patterns onto stone with clay and ash. Could her paint give Chui the cover he needs to finally catch his dinner? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘dew’, ‘few’, ‘chew’.

Kalulu the Hare is small, and Ngombe the Buffalo never lets him forget it. When the mighty buffalo blocks the gate to the best millet field, calling it his by right of size, the little hare offers a wager instead: a race to the big tree and back. Can quick wits outrun brute strength before the whole crew of animals wakes to watch? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘crew’, ‘chews’, ‘dew’, ’news’, ‘few’.

Rabbit thinks his farm is the best place in the world, until he sneaks into a basket and tumbles out into a whole new land. New sights, new smells, and one very unfriendly dog later, will he ever find his way back home? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘chew’, ‘chews’, ’new’, ‘few’, ’news’.

Deep in the woods, a boy named Cam keeps the dark away with his good little lamp, until a bright new road light makes him forget it, night after night. When a storm knocks out every electric light for miles, will Cam remember the little lamp that never once let him down? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ‘dew’, ’news’, ‘anew’.

Ned finally has a place for his heavy fight kit, and he’s ready for a life of peace and cake baking. But cakes need milk, and milk means cows, so Ned sets off to bring a few home before dusk. Can he finish their pen before something scary comes out in the dark? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘chew’, ‘few’, ’new’, ‘dewy’, ‘screws’.

Dot’s new cat won’t eat anything. Bread? No. Apples? No. Eggs and beef get the cold shoulder too. What in the world will Cat chew? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘chew’, ’new’, ‘mews’, ’news’, ‘chewy’.

A puppeteer named Max has a grand new show tonight, and his best puppet is the Rich Lady, who never rushes or panics no matter what happens. But when Max grabs the wrong backdrop and she ends up face to face with a beast in the woods, will she finally run? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘few’, ‘askew’, ‘cute’.

Zom adores his chickens, but a sly fox keeps slipping into the pen at night and taking a few more. He builds a fence, then a gate with a heavy lock, yet somehow the fox still gets in. Can Zom outsmart her before there are no hens left? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘few’, ‘fewer’, ’news’, ‘dewy’, ‘mew’.

Pat has one big question: where do the pee and poop actually go when the toilet flushes? Nobody in his family wants to answer, so he jumps into the bowl to find out for himself, swirling down into the dark. What is waiting for him down in the pipes below? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘crew’, ’new’, ‘few’, ‘blue’, ‘brews’.

Taking care of a dog was easy for Jack. But a cat? That was new. Meow just sits and stares, giving nothing away, and food turns into one big mess of stew, cashews, and every odd thing Jack strews across the yard. Will Jack ever find out what Meow wants to eat? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘chews’, ‘stew’, ‘cashews’.

Hare can talk his way out of anything, but Leopard has finally cornered him on a narrow path with thornbush walls on both sides. Leopard has a plan, and he isn’t laughing. Can Hare find one more trick before Leopard carries him home? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘shrewd’, ‘stew’, ’news’, ‘dew’.

Tsuro the Hare is small, but Gudo and his crew of baboons are hogging every scrap of fruit from the big tree on the hill, tossing sticks at anyone who complains. Everyone else has tried to reason, wait, or loom, and nothing works. Can a hare half their size outsmart a dozen greedy baboons? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘crew’, ’news’, ‘few’, ‘chews’, ‘shrewd’.

Obiora loves news, and he’s always first to tell it. One dew-soaked morning on the forest road, he trips over an old skull, and it speaks! His bag flies askew, but the skull just sits there, mute. Could this really be the biggest story he’s ever found? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’news’, ‘dew’, ‘askew’, ‘mute’.

Gĩcere the hyena always eats up all the food, so the other animals stay well back. But a clever rabbit named Mwĩrĩ has a new plan for cooking her stew by the river, and she seals the pot shut before he can get near it. Will her shrewd trick finally stop him stealing every last bite? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘shrewd’, ‘stew’, ‘chews’, ’news’.

Saba saves the tastiest bit of injera for her new stepson every evening, but Yonas won’t take a single bite and just stares off toward the hills. Desperate, she visits a healer for help, only to be told she must pull a whisker from a living lion’s chin. How can a stepmother trying to win over a lonely boy possibly get close enough to a wild lion to touch it? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘chew’, ‘stew’, ‘dew’, ’new’, ‘anew’.

A girl refuses to nap, waters her hair into leaves, and dashes off pretending to be a tree while her dad chases after her, breathless. She hides in bushes, bosses a row of trees around, and shakes leaves everywhere with nobody napping in sight. But when the trees disappear and the path stretches on and on, will she find her way back to Dad? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘chew’, ‘crew’, ‘dew’, ’new’, ‘yew’.

A dragon just swooped off with the new toy, dangling it high above like a fishing lure, and now a girl and boy have to chase it through the sky. Can they catch a ride on Dragon’s back and grab the toy before something goes wrong? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘chew’, ‘few’, ‘strewn’, ‘askew’.

A boy loves sailing his toy boat by the sea, until one morning he and his mom spot something new: a grim factory pumping dark muck straight into the water. Fish that once darted like flames now drift like ghosts. What can one boy with a stick do to save the sea? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ‘dew’, ‘blue’, ’news’.

A girl lives at the edge of a quiet forest with her father, mother, and her pet piglet. One day a strange white deer steps out of the trees and looks right at her, even though her mother has warned her a hundred times never to follow it. Will she follow the deer anyway? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘chews’, ‘dew’, ‘stew’, ’newfound’.

Deep in the Congo forest, a girl named Amara chases a runaway hen and gets lost among towering trees. When she stops to help a small tree that had grown askew, a spirit steps out to ask why she cared. What will he ask her to carry back to the village? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘grew’, ‘blew’, ’new’, ‘askew’, ‘few’.

Zebra was plain white on the sunbaked veld, the only animal with no stripes at all. When the drought dried up every waterhole but one, Baboon claimed it for himself and chased off every thirsty animal who came near. Could Zebra find a way past Baboon’s fire to save them all? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘stew’, ‘brews’, ‘few’, ‘strewn’, ‘askew’.

Deb’s cat, Biscuit, never misses dinnertime, so when he vanishes into the yard without a sound, something is wrong. She finds him crouched over a deep new hole, staring at something moving below. What could possibly be hiding down there? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ‘few’, ‘chews’, ‘mew’, ‘dew’, ‘blue’.

Pep has big plans for the village parade float, and he’s not holding back on paint. But when every bucket crashes at once, will his masterpiece turn into a total disaster, or something even better? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ‘blue’, ’true’, ‘hue’.

Susy has a big dream: become a real magician, capes and all, with her dog Mak as her assistant. She has no cape, no hat, no wand, just an old basket for a crown and a blue star sheet for a gown. But every great show needs a crew, so what will Susy find next to turn her kitchen into a stage? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ’news’, ‘askew’, ‘few’.

Ned wants to build the best gear ever, but the diamonds he needs are hidden deep underground where torches flicker and every footstep echoes. When the tunnel splits in two, he picks a direction with nothing but a hunch, boots skidding as he leads his crew down, down, down into the dark. What is waiting for them below? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 2, Unit 12: ue, ew, u_e as in glue, new, cube), this book practices words like ’new’, ‘crew’, ‘few’, ‘stew’.