Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 103: un-
Our mission is making literacy accessible to all children, because reading opens doors to endless possibilities. The decodable books for UFLI Lesson 103 feature words like unbox, uncap, unlock and unzip, where the prefix un- means not or undoes an action. One title is free to read online, and the full set suits home and classroom reading.
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Find the Lost Pink!
Tess loves her socks more than anything, sorted into neat pairs, with her very best pair kept safe in a secret little box. One morning the box is empty. Who would dare take Tess’s best socks, and why? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘uneasy’, ‘unkind’, ‘unlikely’, ‘unhappy’, ‘unworn’.
Langa and the Storm Bird
Langa has always longed to see the impundulu, the great lightning bird said to live inside storms. When the drought-stricken valley’s rains refuse to come and old Dube offers Langa a single strange feather, undaunted, he sneaks out alone into the wildest storm yet. Will he be brave enough to face the bird when it finally comes? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘undaunted’, ‘unlikely’, ‘unbuttons’, ‘unblinking’, ‘unbolt’.
The Unseen Sea
May has never seen the sea, and her teacher Jack promises to show her, if she can climb high enough. Undaunted, she scrambles up a hill, a rock, and a tree, unblinking cows watching her go, but will she ever spot it from the top? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘undaunted’, ‘uneven’, ‘unblinking’, ‘unfolded’, ‘unhopeful’.
Just One More Shell
Nip is finally at the sea, but shiny shells keep stealing her attention, one after another. Then a crowd of crabs pulls her in for even more distractions, from a huge-clawed waver to a crab who sits so still he might be a rock. Will Nip ever actually reach the water? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unclouded’, ‘unending’, ‘uncommon’, ‘unhurt’, ‘uneasy’.
Fig Pig Sets Sail at Dawn
Fig Pig builds a boat and sets sail from the beach, determined to find brave crewmates for his big adventure. Fish, dolphins, and even polar bears aren’t interested, and each new land he explores leaves him without a single volunteer. Will an undaunted pig ever find a crew willing to join him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘undaunted’, ‘unable’, ‘uncharted’, ‘unhelpful’, ‘uneasy’.
Just a Quick Pinch
Crab promised not to pinch while Turtle napped, but a strange red plant on the seabed looked too tempting to resist. When it turned out to be a very unhappy octopus, Crab found himself squeezed tight and unable to escape. Will Turtle reach him in time? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unwise’, ‘unable’, ‘unblinking’, ‘undaunted’.
The Mage Hunts at Dawn
A zombie is shuffling through the village square, and the mage feels uneasy the moment he spots it: the iron golem that always guards the well has vanished. Every single golem in Canville is gone, and without pumpkins to build new ones, the village stands unsafe once darkness falls. Can the mage find pumpkins before nightfall and save his home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘uneasy’, ‘unsafe’, ‘unlocked’, ‘unfolded’, ‘uncharted’.
Sifiso Must Cross
Deep in a green pool, a great serpent guards the water and has let no one cross for six weeks. On the far side lies Sifiso’s sick grandmother, and the only way to reach her is straight through the pool. Sifiso is nine, small, and not especially brave, but he ties on a bundle of healing herbs and walks to the water’s edge alone. Will he find a way past the watching creature? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unseen’, ‘unwell’, ‘uneasy’, ‘unkind’, ‘unhurt’.
Temi's Unmatched Drum
Temi is the best young drummer in town, able to speak through her dùndún as if it had a human voice. One morning by the north gate, she overhears an uncommon and unblinking plot to rob the Oba’s treasury, and the plan will stay unchecked unless someone acts fast. Can Temi find a way to warn the whole town without saying a single word out loud? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘uncommon’, ‘unblinking’, ‘unchecked’, ‘unmatched’, ‘unseen’.
Hodan Sees Marks
Hodan herds her family’s five camels across the wide desert plains of Somalia, guided by voice and memory alone. One morning she spots lion tracks circling the camp, and by afternoon the lion itself, crouching, unblinking, patient. Can Hodan outwit a hungry lion with nothing but her wits and a stubborn young camel who refuses to budge? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘uneasy’, ‘unblinking’, ‘undaunted’, ‘unstuck’, ‘unhurt’.
Be Brave, Ned!
Ned has made one rule in his strange new blocky world: never go outside. But it’s freezing in the little wooden shed, and The Book says the only way to get warm means breaking that rule. With monsters lurking in the dark trees, is Ned brave enough to step outside? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unlocked’, ‘unsafe’, ‘unhappy’, ‘unlit’, ‘uneasy’.
Not My Home!
Bee is hopelessly lost and has no idea how to get home. When Elephant, who claims to be excellent at finding things, scoops him up and swings him into a nest in the treetops, things go wrong fast. Will Bee ever find his way home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unhappy’, ‘unlucky’, ‘unhurt’, ‘unlit’, ‘uneasy’.
Not One More Bite!
Ned has built a house, planted a farm, and made friends with a magical talking book, but he is sick of eating bread for every single meal. When the Book reveals a strange plan involving string and a stick, Ned’s unhappy mood turns to excitement. Could this odd little invention finally solve his bread problem? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unhappy’, ‘unsteady’, ‘unlucky’, ‘uneasy’.
The Quest
Snap is tired of everyone climbing over Pop’s bumpy back while she just watches the stars. So she sets off alone on a quest, swimming past the rocks and sandy bank she’s always known and into uncharted water beyond the river. Out in the wide sea, could the best thing in the whole world be waiting for a small, determined crocodile like her? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unblinking’, ‘uncharted’, ‘unlike’, ‘unending’.
Will It Come?
Cuckoo can fly higher than any hawk, catch beetles mid-air, and balance on the thinnest twig. But there’s one thing she can’t do, and it’s the one thing every cuckoo must: make her own call. Without it she can’t warn her friends, sing at sunrise, or even find a mate. Will Cuckoo’s voice ever come back? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘uneasy’, ‘unchecked’, ‘unclaimed’, ‘unhappy’, ‘undaunted’.
The Thing in the Corn
A girl has a mountain of chores and not a bite of breakfast yet. Singing her way through them, she meets something unseen perched in the cornfield: a tiny elf who sings her silly song right back. Could an elf’s magic really make every chore disappear? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 103: un-), this book practices words like ‘unhappy’, ‘unending’, ‘untold’, ‘unreal’, ‘unkind’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What words start with the prefix un-?
Common un- words include unbox, uncap, unlock, unzip, unpack, undo, unfair and unkind. Each one is a base word the child may already know, with un- added to the front. That makes UFLI Lesson 103 a good point to show children how much one small prefix can add to the words they can read.
What does the prefix un- mean?
The prefix un- has two main jobs. It can mean not, as in unkind and unfair, or it can reverse an action, as in unlock, unzip and unpack. Asking your child to act out pack and then unpack is a quick, memorable way to make the second meaning clear, and Stanovich (1986) showed that children who read more keep adding to their word knowledge.
Is every word that starts with un a prefix word?
In some words, un is simply part of the base word, as in under, uncle and until. A quick check is to cover the un and see whether a real word is left: unlock leaves lock, but uncle leaves nothing useful. This habit helps children decide when to read un as a prefix and when to read the word as a whole.
How can I help my child read words with un-?
Start by covering the prefix so your child reads the base word, then uncover un- and read the whole word together. Talk about how the meaning changed, and use the new word in a sentence. Short, regular practice with decodable text gives children many chances to use this routine in real sentences.
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