Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/
Every child deserves stories that spark curiosity and build a foundation for lifelong learning. Discover decodable books for UFLI Lesson 46, which focus on voiced th, the buzzing sound at the start of the, this, than and then. Children learn to feel the buzz in their throat and read voiced th words in short, simple stories.
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What Is That Smell?
Tip’s nose wakes her before the sun is up, and something in the air smells wild and new. Snow is falling, and she can’t wait to tell Brat Cat and Fig Pig. But halfway through building a snowman, Tip’s nose twitches at another smell entirely, sweet and warm and impossible to ignore. What could be hiding out there in the snow? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’them’, ’that’, ‘with’, ’then’.
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That Was Not the Wind
Bam’s flute music is so soothing, it lulls his whole beach town to sleep. But when he plays just a little louder to show off, something enormous stirs beneath the waves. Will Bam’s music wake more trouble than anyone can handle? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’that’, ’them’, ’then'.
The Swamp Hut
Skel and Bones creep through the swamp on a treasure hunt, tiptoeing toward a shack on stilts where a witch is said to guard piles of gold. Bones is supposed to stay quiet, but a rustle in the brush has his nose twitching and his tail wagging. Will he manage to stay sneaky, or will he give the whole plan away? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’that’, ’then’, ‘with’, ’they’.
That's Not a Horse!
Ned is the only miner around, and his pockets are already stuffed with gold and redstone. He needs a helper big enough to carry the load, so when he spots something white and four-legged in the distance, he’s sure he’s found the perfect one. Could that really be a horse? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ‘with’, ’that’, ’them’, ’this’.
Kobe and the Big Bet
Kobe the tortoise is small, slow, and utterly unafraid of Tembo the elephant’s booming claim that all the water belongs to him. When Kobe bets that he can find water before the mighty elephant does, the other animals think he has lost his mind. Will the tiny tortoise really beat the elephant to the last water on the savanna? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ‘with’, ’that’, ’them’.
Ayo and the List
Ayo has just passed his hunter’s test when a hidden path leads him to a grove no one dares to enter. At its center waits a strange gift and a warning carved in stone: take only what you need, and leave something in return. Will Ayo follow the old rule, or take a shortcut that could cost him more than he expects? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ‘with’, ’then’, ’this’, ’that’.
The Mosquito Has a Lot
A tiny mosquito loves to buzz big stories, and one morning she tells the iguana a wild tale that he just can’t believe. He blocks his ears with sticks so he won’t have to listen anymore, but what happens when he can’t hear the python calling out to him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’them’, ’then’, ‘with’, ’that’.
Shark Asks Monkey
Monkey lives happily at the top of his tall palm tree by the sea, until a friendly shark invites him for a ride to see wonders beyond the shore. Monkey is curious but careful, for his tree is the place he loves most. Then the shark makes a strange request, and asks Monkey to leave his tree behind. Will Monkey trust the shark and go with him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ‘with’, ’then’, ’this’, ’they’.
Nzou and the Grass Land
Nzou the Elephant is the loudest, proudest animal by the river, and now he has chased every creature from the last green meadow for himself. A clever little hare named Kalulu has a plan, and challenges Nzou to a contest of memory that could win the meadow back for everyone. Can a small hare outwit the biggest animal in the land? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ‘with’, ’that’, ’them’.
What Is the Plan?
Sam has no plan for the best project ever, and even a rabbit idea just isn’t good enough. Dad, Mom, Gran, and Pop each lend a hand with paint, cuts, leaves, and words, but nothing feels finished. Then someone pops up with a grin and a big idea. Could that be the answer Sam has been looking for? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’them’, ’that’, ’then’, ‘within’.
Get Lost, Big Bad!
Red loves his peaceful pond, his loops, and especially his lunch of the tastiest weeds. But when his pals spot something huge hiding in the reeds, calm turns to chaos - could Red really be somebody’s next meal? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’that’, ’then’, ‘with’, ’them’.
Back in the Box
Shawn’s brand new pencils have a big job ahead: filling every page of a plain black-and-white drawing book with color first thing in the morning. But when a spooky shadow sends them scrambling, will they be brave enough to come back out and finish the job? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ’them’, ’that’, ‘with’.
That Rock Has Legs
Dash swims with Big Fish, and today is the day he learns to hunt on his own. He hides behind a big rock and waits for small fish to zip by, but when the rock suddenly stands up on four legs, Dash gets a shock! What is really hiding behind that rock? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ’that’, ‘with’, ’them’.
Not One Cup!
A girl is desperately thirsty, and there isn’t a drop of water anywhere in town. She checks the pump, the tank, and the creek, but each one is bone dry. When she finally spots the ocean, will she find a way to get a single sip? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ’that’, ‘with’.
It Won't Fit!
A tire is bored of sitting in the mud while the car gets fixed, but soon he’s spinning down a hot, rocky road and bouncing right off. Rolling free, he searches for somewhere new to belong, trying out a truck, a bike, and a cart. Will a tire that keeps rolling away ever find a place where he truly fits? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’then’, ’that’, ‘with’, ’they’.
Let's Bee Friends
Zom the zombie is tired of neighbors who only shuffle, groan, and talk about brains. When he hears a strange buzzing sound near a hilltop hive, he thinks he might have found something far more interesting. Could this hum within the tree be the start of a whole new friendship? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’this’, ’that’, ‘with’, ‘within’.
Up, Up, Bub!
Bub’s family loves the park, but nobody in it can sit still except Bub, who can’t sit still at all. When a bright kite dances overhead, Bub reaches up and grabs the string, and suddenly she isn’t on the bench anymore. One by one, her family scrambles to hold on. Will they be able to hold on to Bub before the wind carries her away? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 46: Voiced th /th/), this book practices words like ’the’, ’them’, ‘with’, ’then’, ’that’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some voiced th words?
Voiced th is the sound at the start of the, this, that, than, them and then. Many of these are small, frequent words, so children meet them on almost every page of a book. Learning to decode them early means fewer words have to be memorized by sight, and the stories for UFLI Lesson 46 give children many chances to read them in context.
How can my child hear the difference between voiced and unvoiced th?
Both sounds are made with the tongue between the teeth, but voiced th uses the voice box and unvoiced th does not. Ask your child to rest a hand on their throat and say this, then thin: they should feel a buzz for this and only air for thin. The spelling is the same for both, so reading a word aloud and checking that it sounds right is the best guide.
What words begin with th?
Words that begin with voiced th include the, this, that, them and then, while thin, thick, thud and thump begin with unvoiced th. Young readers often meet the voiced group first, because words like the and this are so common in stories. Reading them smoothly, without stopping to sound them out, is an early step in building reading fluency.
Why is the word the tricky for beginning readers?
The th at the start of the follows the voiced th pattern, but the e does not make its usual short sound, which is why many teachers treat the as a word to learn by heart at first. Once children know voiced th, only the vowel needs extra attention. Stanovich (1986) showed that early gaps in decoding tend to widen over time, so small wins with frequent words like this one matter.
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