Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 90: oo /ū/
We believe every child deserves access to quality reading materials that nurture a lifelong love of learning. The books on this page follow UFLI Lesson 90, where oo says the long sound heard in moon and zoo. Children read long oo words such as boo, coo, food, cool and spoon, and learn to tell them apart from the short oo in book.
Free
Python on the Step
When the river takes his yam garden, Anansi owes Python a debt, and this afternoon Python has come to collect: the meal he wants is Anansi himself. Thinking fast, Anansi spins a tale about a royal vine-rope with a perfect knot fit for a king, one only the longest, most flexible creature could ever tie. Can Anansi talk his way out of becoming Python’s afternoon meal? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ’loop’, ‘smooth’, ‘afternoon’, ‘boom’, ‘soon’.
Free
That Duck Cannot Fly
A girl is sure her wobbly, goofy duck can win the Big Flock Race, no matter how much the other kids laugh. Every morning she and Duck race up and down the hills to get faster and faster, and soon Saturday arrives. Will Duck really be fast enough to beat the whole flock? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ’too’, ‘soon’, ‘balloon’, ‘zooming’, ‘whooped’.
Too Cool for Coal
Ned’s furnace is almost out of coal, and the caves are too dark and gloomy to search for more. Luckily, The Book knows a way to make fuel without ever going underground. Can Ned grow a whole forest fast enough to keep the flames burning? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘cool’, ‘gloomy’, ‘soon’, ‘zooms’, ‘hooray’.
The Man With No Dust
Nomvula can read footprints better than anyone, so when a smooth, golden-eyed stranger arrives asking for her hand, she notices what her friends miss: he leaves no dust on the path. She marries him anyway, but soon a paw print in the mud tells her the truth. Can she escape before he catches her? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘moonlight’, ‘proof’, ‘scoops’, ‘boom’.
He Tried, No One Heard
Iron Golem has the perfect speech ready, but the village square is empty, the cats won’t look up, and even the pigs seem unimpressed. Will anyone ever notice him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘room’, ‘soon’, ‘gloomy’, ‘hooray’, ‘zoomed’.
Zom and the Big Haul
Zom the ogre loves adventure walks, poking his blade into bushes to find things nobody has ever found. One day he finds something truly cool: a tiny rabbit that gives rainbow milk! Zom hatches a whole zoo of rainbow rabbits and dreams up a plan to make gold from their milk. But will his big, bold plan work out the way he hopes? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ’loot’, ‘scooped’, ‘soon’, ‘cool’, ‘droopy’.
Jackal Needs Food
Jackal is hungry, and Hyena has just found the biggest, gooiest honeycomb on the whole dry veld. Jackal drools at the sight but knows Hyena’s teeth could crack an ox bone, so a clever trick might work better than asking. Could a smooth-talking jackal outsmart a greedy hyena before noon? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘food’, ‘drools’, ‘smooth’, ‘scoops’, ‘zooms’.
It Hid!
It hid at the edge of everything, tiny and alone. One by one, the planets gather and cheer, their voices booming through the gloomy dark. Will they find a way to bring it home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘zoom’, ‘hooray’, ‘boom’, ‘gloomy’, ‘soon’.
Owino's Third Day
Owino is sure his loud, fast rain-calling will beat his sick father’s old ways, but by the third day the sky stays clear and gloomy looks settle over the village. His sister Adhis has been quietly reading the ants, the birds, and the wind instead. Will anyone listen to her before it’s too late? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘soon’, ‘gloomy’, ‘hoots’, ‘roost’, ‘proof’.
The Evil Bunny
Ned just wants dinner, but the rabbits in the flower fields are too cool to cook without trouble. When he aims his tool at the cutest bunny around, The Book begs him to stop, but Ned fires anyway. What could possibly go wrong when he tries to sneak one more shooting past the fluffy rabbits by the pool? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘food’, ‘cool’, ’tool’, ‘shoot’, ‘pool’.
What Lurks in the Deep
Meg is terrified of the ocean, but she pulls on her goggles and steps into the cool surf anyway. Glowing sea creatures, brave baby turtles, and a flying fish soon chase away her fears, and a snooty striped fish and a shy octopus wait in the reef below. Will Meg stay brave enough to swim all the way home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘cool’, ‘soon’, ‘spooky’, ‘smooth’, ‘whoop’.
Get Home Before Dark!
A boy named Gus is tasked with one simple job: walk the calf home before dark. He loops the rope, gives it a tug, and sets off down the winding hill path. But when his friends call him over for a game, will Gus keep his eyes on the calf, or will he get swept up in the fun? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ’loop’, ‘soon’, ‘cool’, ‘droopy’, ‘zoom’.
Bouki Comes to Snoop
Bouki the Hyena always shows up just as Leuk the Hare finishes his work, ready to snoop, scoop, and split the reward. So when Bour the Lion offers land to whoever finds his lost gold loop by sunset, Bouki zooms off first with no plan at all, but will a quick mind or a big rush win the day? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ’loop’, ‘scoop’, ‘moonlit’, ‘gloomy’, ’noon’.
Something With A Tail
Jack has never caught a fish, not once, but today feels different as he marches down the stone path with his cat, Meow, to try his homemade rod. When he finally gets a bite, it pulls so hard he can barely stay on his feet. Who could be down there, tangled in his line? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘soon’, ‘boots’, ‘gloomy’, ‘smooth’, ‘zoom’.
That's My Bell!
Dibs has the shiniest, jingliest bell in dragon land, tied right to the tip of his tail. But when he tries to fly like the big dragons, he crashes, and his precious bell goes bouncing straight into the Dragon School. Can he get it back before class starts? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘swooped’, ‘zooming’, ‘bloom’, ‘scooped’, ‘smooth’.
The Brave Boy and the Pail
Ned has a tall stone tower, and he’s sure that’s all it takes to be a wizard. There’s just one problem: he doesn’t know any spells yet. With The Book fluttering beside him full of odd advice about tools and buckets of water, can Ned figure out what he really needs to make his tower magic? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 90: oo /ū/), this book practices words like ‘room’, ’tools’, ‘scoop’, ‘soon’, ‘boots’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the phonics rule for oo?
The oo team has no single rule, because it spells two sounds: a long sound in moon and food, and a short sound in book and foot. Many teachers suggest trying the long sound first and switching to the short sound if the word does not sound right. That quick check works for most oo words children meet in early books.
Which spellings make the long oo sound?
The long oo sound in moon is often spelled oo, which is the focus of this lesson. Children will also meet it spelled ew in grew, ue in blue, u_e in flute and ui in fruit. Learning oo first gives them a strong anchor for those other spellings, and our guide to orthographic mapping explains how new spellings attach to words children already know.
What are some long oo words for kids?
Fun long oo words include moon, zoo, boo, moo, food, cool, pool, spoon, broom and boot. Many sound playful, which makes them good for reading aloud and rhyming games. Ehri et al. (2001) found that systematic phonics instruction helps children learn to read, and a rhyming set like moon, spoon and soon is a small, systematic step.
How do the books for UFLI Lesson 90 build on the short oo sound?
UFLI Lesson 90 follows the short oo sound with the long oo sound, so the long oo decodable books on this page may include both kinds of oo words. Children get used to deciding whether a word like boot or book uses the long or short sound, which keeps them reading carefully. A few titles are free to read online, depending on the book.
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