SEL Books for Kids
Not That Kind of Fan!
Fish has decided he is done being a fish. Swimming is boring, bubbles are boring, and being wet all the time feels deeply unfair! So when a grinning cat by the shore claims to be his biggest fan, Fish can hardly believe his luck. But is this cat really the friend he’s been hoping for, or is something fishy going on? This decodable reader practises words with prefixes, including “dislike,” “misfit,” “pretend,” “return,” and “unsure.”
Pedal, Mama, Pedal!
When the school bell rings in Animal Town, every mum and dad zooms off to pick up their kids - every single one except poor Mama Bear, who always arrives last. Can a bear who has never ridden before really learn to pedal? And what happens when wobbly wheels meet a brave heart and a cheering cub? Hop on and find out! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ’loudly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘happiness,’ and ‘hopeless.’
That's MY Pouch!
Mum’s pouch is the cosiest, warmest spot in the whole rainforest - and it belongs to ME. So why, after a day of collecting feathers, berries, and kapok flowers for my special collection, won’t Mum let me climb in for my nap? What could possibly be more important than me? A joyful rainforest tale about family, change, and a very big surprise. This decodable reader practises ci/si/ti making /sh/ in words like ‘special,’ ‘ancient,’ ‘precious,’ and ‘collection.’
That's Not My Face!
Three naughty children cannot wait to peek at their father’s magic mirror - but what happens when the glass shows ugly, weird monsters instead of their own faces? Is the mirror broken, or is something stranger going on? Can a feisty brother outsmart it with a fancy hat, or will his sister outrun it? Join the farm children as they try to lift the veil on a very peculiar reflection. This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ‘being,’ ’either,’ ‘weird,’ and ‘veil.’
Diya and the Bug
Diya knows more about butterflies than anyone in her whole school - but she’s far too shy to say a word in class. What happens when her teacher takes the class to the park, and Diya spots a fat striped caterpillar wriggling along a leaf? Could this be the day she finally finds her voice? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il endings in words like ‘gentle,’ ‘sparkle,’ ‘giggle,’ ‘crumpled,’ and ‘medal.’
The Dump
Leo and Mia live at the quiet edge of town, in a yard that looks like a giant ruin of broken toys. Then a kind lady named Nia arrives with a box of books and a black cat called Riot. But what happens when Nia doesn’t show up one week? Can two kids find her in all the chaos of the big town? This decodable reader practises vowel team syllables in words like ‘giant,’ ’lion,’ ‘quiet,’ and ‘riot.’
The Golem Nobody Heard
Iron Golem has a speech ready, a friendly wave, and absolutely no one to talk to. The villagers ignore him, the cats yawn, and the pigs just burp. Could building the tallest wall in the neighbourhood finally get someone to notice him? And when the sun goes down and the skeletons creep close, who will stand watch beside a lonely golem? This decodable reader practises the ’eigh’ sound in words like ’eight,’ ‘weigh,’ ‘heavyweight,’ and ’neighbour.’
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 Lotl Gang
The sea is warm, the sun is pink, and everything feels perfect - until the fish all vanish and something HUGE stares up from the deep. Who is hiding on the ocean floor? Can Jack, Zom, and Skel find someone brave enough to face a gang of honking, snapping axolotls? And is anyone truly never, ever scared? This decodable reader practises the ‘ph’ phonogram in words like ‘atmosphere,’ ‘phantom,’ ‘catastrophe,’ ‘phew,’ and ‘morphed.’
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.’