Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 105: dis-
Every child deserves the chance to read real stories with the skills they have just learned. The decodable books for UFLI Lesson 105 focus on the prefix dis-, in words like disarm, dislike, disagree and disobey, where dis- means not or the opposite of. Several titles are free to read online, for home or classroom practice.
Free
Ned's Sad Box of a Shed
Ned wants his plain little shed to look amazing, and The Book has a plan: beach, clay, and bricks. But when Ned reaches for flowers to finish the job, will he disturb something he really shouldn’t? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘disappointed’, ‘disclose’, ‘discard’, ‘disgusted’, ‘dismayed’.
Free
What Are You?
Steve has explored every cave, hill, and sea, so nothing ever surprises him anymore. Then he finds a distant pool with two grinning little creatures staring up at him. What could these strange, smiling animals possibly be? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘distinct’, ‘disappointed’, ‘distract’, ‘disrupt’.
Free
The Song That Broke the Sky
A girl plays her flute, and every note comes out sad because she is sad. Her song drifts into the sky, turns to rain, and soon a curious rabbit, a bird, and a bee set off to find who could feel so much sorrow. Can they track down the source of the saddest song and let her know she is not alone? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘distant’, ‘dismayed’, ‘disturb’, ‘distress’, ‘discussed’.
Free
The Vines Will Not Stop!
Vines can stretch, twist, and climb almost anywhere, wrapping tree trunks, fences, and sheds with their curling tendrils. Left alone, they grow fast and cover everything in sight, choking trees and stealing the sunlight and water they need. Can these wild, twisty vines be kept from taking over everything in their path? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘display’, ‘distant’, ‘disarray’, ‘dismay’, ‘distress’.
Anansi and Four Tasks
Anansi the spider longs for all the stories in the world, locked in a golden chest high in the sky. To win them, he must bring the mighty Sky-God four impossible captives, alive and unharmed. Using nothing but clever tricks, a proud python, an angry cat, and a stubborn fairy fall one by one into his traps. Can one small, clever spider really outwit them all? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘disagree’, ‘dismay’, ‘disgraceful’, ‘distressed’.
Can Ajapa Find Food?
Ajapa the tortoise finds a golden fruit tree deep in the forest, one that can feed the whole hungry town, but only if he follows its strict rule. When a hunter grows suspicious of his daily trips, Ajapa starts dreaming of taking more than his share. Will his greed cost him the one thing that was saving everyone? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘dismay’, ‘distress’, ‘distrust’, ‘disregards’, ‘disgust’.
Can the lad get the dog?
Ben doesn’t want to walk Rex again, but the moment the leash goes slack, Rex bursts out the door like a furry rocket, chasing a woman’s striped umbrella straight into the wind. Over hills, through gardens, and past a scratchy bush, Ben chases his runaway dog, arms pumping, sure he’ll never catch him. Will Ben ever get Rex back home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘dismay’, ‘disregarded’, ‘disgusted’, ‘distressed’, ‘disappointed’.
Siti and a Round Coconut
Siti lives alone with her strict uncle among the coconut palms, doing all the cooking and climbing, until one morning she finds a coconut unlike any other: perfectly round, glowing gold, and silent when shaken. She sits with it all through the night, and it finally cracks open on its own. What is hiding inside? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘distinct’, ‘disturb’, ‘disregards’, ‘dismayed’, ‘disgraceful’.
Njoki and the Round Gourd
Njoki treks to a dry riverbed each morning to find water for her sick mother and hungry brothers, and one day she finds a strange, round gourd half-buried in the sand. It pours out far more water than it should ever hold, but when a curious neighbor learns its secret, will the gourd’s gift survive being shared? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘distress’, ‘dismay’, ‘distrusts’, ‘disturb’.
Hare Has a Plan
Hare has had enough of Elephant stamping through the small animals’ gardens and bragging that he’s the greatest creature on the veld. When the rains flood the river drift and the harvest is stuck on the far bank, Hare weaves a plan out of grass and bark, but can a clever hare really outwit the biggest animal around? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘discuss’, ‘dismay’, ‘disregards’, ‘distrust’, ‘disturb’.
Distant Lion
Lekimani has one dream: to become a Maasai warrior. But when a lion begins to circle the camp at night, the old men say only true fighters can face it, and they are a day’s walk away. Someone has to keep watch tonight. Will a boy who is “not yet” a warrior be enough to stand between the herd and harm? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘distant’, ‘disagree’, ‘disturbs’, ‘dismay’, ‘disarm’.
Not My Fan!
Fish is done with being a fish. He’s tired of swimming, tired of bubbles, and sure that some other creature’s life must be better, so he tries standing like a rabbit and flying like a bird. Both go badly. Then a strange, smiling cat says something no one has ever said to him before: could this finally be the fan Fish has been looking for? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘dislike’, ‘disappointed’, ‘dismay’, ‘distinct’, ‘distrust’.
Drop It, Bones!
Skel finally has the hunting dog of his dreams: big eyes, wagging tail, and a nose for bones. But this pup has a strange habit of stealing more than treats, snatching arms, legs, even Skel’s skull! Can a skeleton teach his dog some manners before there’s nothing left of him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘disarming’, ‘dismayed’, ‘disgraceful’, ‘disagreed’, ‘disturb’.
The Cloud Above Diane
Diane is the world’s proudest litterbug, tossing trash without a second thought. But when she wakes to find a stinking, buzzing cloud of garbage hovering over her bed and following her everywhere, even her friends recoil in disgust. Can she ever get rid of it? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘disgust’, ‘dismay’, ‘distress’, ‘disturb’.
Not That Kind of Dog
Every morning, a dog watches from the window until Mom finally leaves for work. The moment the coast is clear, she springs into action, bounding over the fence to join her best pal for wild backyard games. But when a mysterious, musical sound drifts over the neighboring fence, the dog can’t help but wonder: what could possibly be worth chasing next? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘disturb’, ‘disagree’, ‘dismay’, ‘display’, ‘distracted’.
Down on the Farm
Zom the zombie farmer knows chores are boring, so he lures a group of villagers in with promises of fresh air and a big country breakfast. They arrive grinning, eager for a fun farm getaway, but Zom has other plans for their visit. Soon the villagers are collecting eggs, milking bleating sheep, and shoveling muck, all while wondering where their relaxing farm holiday went. Will they ever get that big breakfast Zom promised them? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 105: dis-), this book practices words like ‘dislike’, ‘dismay’, ‘disgusted’, ‘distress’, ‘disturbed’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the prefix dis- mean?
The prefix dis- usually means not or the opposite of, as in dislike, disagree, dishonest and disobey. In some words it means to take away, as in disarm, which means to take weapons away. Children working through UFLI Lesson 105 can use these meanings to make sense of new dis- words in a story.
What are some dis- words for young readers?
Good starter words include dislike, disagree, disarm, distrust, disobey and discount. Most are built on a base word children already know, so reading them is mostly a matter of spotting the prefix first. Reading many words like these in connected text builds vocabulary, and Stanovich (1986) described how children who read more pull ahead in word knowledge over time.
How do you know when to use dis- or un-?
There is no firm rule, but un- is most often added to describing words, as in unkind and unfair, while dis- is common with action words, as in disagree and disobey. There are plenty of exceptions, such as dishonest and unlock, so children learn the right prefix for each word through reading. Talking about meaning helps, because both prefixes can mean not.
Is there an opposite of the prefix dis-?
Taking dis- away usually gives the opposite meaning, so the base word itself acts as the opposite: agree and disagree, like and dislike, obey and disobey. That is why word pairs are such a useful teaching tool for this prefix. Ask your child to read the base word, then the dis- word, and explain how the meaning flipped.
Bookbot is not endorsed by or affiliated with UFLI (the University of Florida Literacy Institute) or Jolly Learning Ltd. UFLI Foundations and Jolly Phonics are trademarks of their respective owners.