Life Books for Kids
The Good Lamp
Far from the city, in a cabin where fireflies dance in the darkness, a boy named Cam has a good little lamp that glows beside him as he reads in peace. But what happens when bright electric lights arrive at his fence? Will Cam forget the quiet flame that once lit up his face? And when a fierce storm strikes, who will break the silence of the dark? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘city,’ ‘circle,’ ‘place,’ and ‘peaceful.’
The Monkey on My Back
Lily woke up with a pain so big it felt like a giant monkey clinging to her back, heavy and squeezing and impossible to shake off. Everywhere she went, the monkey came too - even when she tried picking tomatoes in the garden or practising her dance for the village art festival. But what happens when the festival is only three days away and the monkey just won’t let go? This decodable reader practises the soft g sound in words like ‘gentle,’ ‘huge,’ ‘village,’ and ‘magic.’
The Monster
Sam and his sister are the greatest monster slayers in the whole entire world - no question! But what happens when a new kind of monster creeps in, one that hides inside Sam’s head like a fog and won’t budge, no matter how loudly you shout? Can a broom, a bucket, and a whole lot of love help bring the real Sam back? This decodable reader practises es plurals in words like ‘crushes,’ ‘wishes,’ ‘pushes,’ ‘searches,’ and ‘inches.’
The Secret Prima Ballerina
Miss B walks with a cane and taps her way around the dance studio, calling out to her three giggling girls. But what if their sweet old teacher used to leap past gnarled bridges and float under starlight? What if she once danced on every stage in the world, from Paris to Rio? Could Miss B be hiding a dazzling secret behind that quiet tap, tap, tap? This decodable reader practices the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnarled,’ ‘reigned,’ ‘foreign,’ and ‘sign.’
Too Loud for Red!
Red made himself a big promise: walk through the whole noisy town without covering his ears, not even once. But with honking cars, zooming scooters, and drills rattling the road, can one small guy really keep his cool? And will he ever spot his friend’s bright red cap bobbing through the crowd? Join Red on a brave, bumpy, ear-splitting adventure! This decodable reader practises the augh phonogram in words such as ‘caught,’ ’taught,’ ’laughter,’ and ‘onslaught.’
Too Many Noodles!
The street fair’s noodle-eating contest is finally here, and there’s no way anyone can out-slurp our hero - right? But when sneaky Tim shows up cracking his knuckles, the race is on to practice harder, faster, and slurpier than ever. Can a mountain of rice noodles and a secret training plan be enough to beat him? Or has our champ bitten off more than they can chew? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘city,’ ‘race,’ ‘pencil,’ ‘bounce,’ and ‘place.’
We Painted It Wrong!
When Pip and Tom spot a pile of paint pots sitting in the garden, they beg the painters to let them help. Can two excited children really be trusted with brushes, buckets, and a whole garden gate? What happens when Pip decides one gate just isn’t enough, and bold stripes start marching across the wall? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words such as “summer,” “bucket,” “garden,” “problem,” and “mistake.”
What a Mess
Tomorrow is Mum’s birthday, and Heidi has a secret plan - a handmade bracelet from her very best beads! But first she has to find three bead boxes hidden in the weirdest spots around her room. Can she dig through toy chests, tumbling drawers, and a wobbly laundry mountain without turning her bedroom upside down? And what will Mum say when she sees her gift? This decodable reader practises the ei phonogram in words like ‘beige,’ ‘heights,’ ’neither,’ and ‘weighed.’
Where Did Everyone Go?
In the noisiest, most squished-up house in the world, there is absolutely nowhere to go! With Grandma, Pa, Mum, Dad, baby, aunt, uncle, and a very innocent-looking cat underfoot, could one little wish for peace and quiet really change everything? And when the house finally falls silent, will it feel as wonderful as our hero hoped? This decodable reader practises compound words such as ‘household,’ ‘driveway,’ ‘stairway,’ ‘doorway,’ and ‘daydream.’
Who Lost the Buffalo?
Kobi the white buffalo calf has the biggest job of his life: leading the New Year parade through the glowing city. Abi has promised to stay by his side every single second - but what happens when the crowds get loud, the lanterns get bright, and the scent of hot rice and spices drifts from the food stalls? Can one small boy keep one nervous calf calm? This decodable reader practises soft c words such as ‘celebration,’ ‘city,’ ‘crescent,’ ‘scent,’ and ‘voice.’