Bookbot Decodable Books: Suffix
Our mission is making literacy accessible to all children, because reading opens doors to endless possibilities. These suffix decodable books show children how an ending can change a word they already know. Stories at this level use common suffixes such as -ness, -ment, -er, -ful and -ship, in words like happiness, teacher, careful and friendship.
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I Want THAT House!
What would YOU do with a house on tall wooden stilts, or one that floats peacefully on the waves? Follow a child with a basket of mangoes as they wander past shops, gardens, and garages, meeting families who live in the most surprising homes. Could there really be a perfect house - and which one would you pick? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘proudly,’ ‘brightens,’ ‘cheerful,’ and ‘worker.’
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Not That Colour!
Ned the farmer has a problem - his new leather armour is plain, boring brown, and he wants to look AMAZING. Can red flowers help? What about yellow ones? When Ned crushes petals into dye, something surprising happens on his workbench, and soon The Book is helping him cook up a whole rainbow of colours for his fashion show. This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘farmer,’ ‘handful,’ ’lovely,’ and ‘brightly.’
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Watch Out, Ted!
Ted is heading to Ava’s birthday party, and he knows every step of the way - even though he cannot see. But when his neighbour Kim follows closely behind, worrying about every puddle and barking dog, can Ted show her that smells, sounds, and a trusty cane are all he needs? How does he find his way so boldly? Step along and find out! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘boldly,’ ‘calmly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘friendship,’ and ‘roughness.’
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Don't Open That Door!
Pa tells the best bedtime stories in the world, and tonight’s tale is about a girl made of air - faceless, nameless, and almost impossible to spot. Could someone really sit quietly beside you without being seen? When a brave boy offers to paint her so the world can finally notice her, something wonderful begins. But when Pa turns off the lamp and the door creaks open… who is there? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ’truly,’ ‘brightness,’ ‘carefully,’ and ‘happiness.’
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Don't Chop the Bees!
Ned has spotted a bee buzzing across his farm, and now he simply must find out where it lives - and whether it might share some of that sweet golden honey. But bees don’t love being chopped at with axes, and a hungry bear is eyeing the same prize. Can Ned and The Book find a cleverer way to get their treat? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘boldly,’ ‘softly,’ ‘kindly,’ and ‘swiftly.’
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Wait! Don't Go!
Today is Sen’s birthday, and the giant boy has crawled up from his underground cave with one enormous wish: to find a friend. But when three village children spot him patting a shiny little bike, everything goes CRUNCH! Can a boy with banana-sized fingers and a thunder-loud voice ever show the kids he only wants to play? Will anyone be brave enough to come back? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘boldly,’ ‘gently,’ ‘friendly,’ ‘sadly,’ and ‘slowly.’
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Wait for Me, Dad!
Dad rides off to work every morning - but what if a little girl decided to chase him all the way across the world? Could a scooter be fast enough? A bus? A digger? From zooming roads to splashing waves, one determined girl refuses to give up until she spots something huge on the horizon. Which ride would YOU pick first? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘faster,’ ‘proudly,’ ’tightly,’ and ‘fearless.’
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Grab My Hand!
Jojo spots a boy juggling a football on the other side of the fence, and his feet are a total blur. Can Jojo keep up with this lightning-quick player? And why won’t the boy stop when Jojo calls for a break, no matter how loudly he shouts? When the ball rolls into the road, Jojo has to act fast. This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘bravely,’ ‘quickly,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘friendship.’
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Bigger Blossoms!
Ladybug has found a teeny, tiny vine in the yard, and she is certain she can grow it into the most magnificent garden anyone has ever seen. But have you ever watched a vine climb a little too quickly? What happens when golden blossoms, fat pumpkins, and curling tendrils start wrapping around everything in sight? Snail tries to warn her, but Ladybug has big plans! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘brightly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘quickly,’ ‘growers,’ and ’lovely.’
My Biome Is Broken!
A bed on the roof? A pig in a cave? A fish stuck inside a tree? Something has gone very wrong in this Minecraft world, and every block our hero checks turns up weirder than the last. Will anything be normal today, or has the whole game truly glitched out for good? Join the hunt for answers - if you dare peek behind that trading house door! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘oddly,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘sadly,’ ‘pointless,’ and ‘speechless.’
Don't Burn The Book!
Ned the maker is running low on coal, and the caves are far too dangerous to explore. Luckily, his friendly book-shaped helper has a clever idea: why not grow a whole forest of your very own? But can Ned really turn trees into fuel, and will bone meal truly make saplings shoot up in seconds? Join Ned as he digs, plants, and chops his way to a brilliant plan! This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘boldly,’ ‘farmer,’ ’taller,’ and ‘hopeful.’
Pat Ate All the Cake!
Pat the cat has no home, but he naps in a lovely tree and the Jones family leaves food out for him daily. So when they pack their suitcases and drive away, what will a hungry cat do? That night, Pat sneaks softly through an open window and finds a fridge full of treats - but can one small cat really eat everything? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘quickly,’ ‘blissful,’ ‘fatter,’ and ‘friendship.’
I Grew That!
Meet a young farmer with big dreams and even bigger baskets! He digs straight lines, scatters seeds, and shoos away hungry birds, all so his family can share a special meal. But can one boy really grow an entire dinner by himself? And what happens when surprise visitors sneak into his garden? This decodable reader practises suffix words such as ‘proudly,’ ‘kindly,’ ‘hopeful,’ ’thankful,’ and ’lovely.’
Hare and a Far Moon
The Hare and the Moon were the very best of friends, calling out the day’s news across a great dark distance every night. But what happens when Hare wishes he could sit right beside the Moon, just once? Watch him leap ‘higher’ than any hare before, build a wobbly tower, and stumble on a wiser, gentler way to be close to the friend he loves. This gentle Bookbot story practises two-syllable words with suffixes, like ‘brighter’, ‘foolish’, ‘gladness’, and ’lovely’.
Hyena and Two Smells
Why does Hyena laugh across the African veld at night? When his greedy nose catches two feasts at once, Hyena races back and forth, unable to choose, until one bad decision leaves him stuck in a ditch with a wasps’ nest at nose level. What happens next changes his face, and his voice, forever. Can he ever go back to the way he was? This Bookbot level practises two syllable words with suffixes, like ‘anxiously’, ‘helpless’, ‘swollen’, ‘stranger’, and ‘hopelessly’.
Kofi Hunts Nkosi
Kofi is the finest young tracker in his village, and he sets off deep into the forest after Nkosi, the great silverback no one dares to hunt. But when a rotten vine snaps and leaves him trapped and hurt, who will come to the rim of the ravine? And what happens when the hunter meets the great one’s quiet eyes? This Bookbot book practises two-syllable words with suffixes, like ‘hunter’, ‘deeper’, ‘slowly’, ‘famous’, and ‘careful’.
Zintle and the Turtle
The river runs deep and green, and the people say a king lives at the bottom, watching all that passes above. When Zintle stops to help a stranded turtle, a thorn-stuck heron, and a catfish going dry, she never asks for thanks. So why does the river rise in the dead of the dry season and sweep away her family’s seeds? And what could a young weaver possibly offer the King of the Waters in return? This Bookbot level builds two-syllable words with suffixes, like ’lonely’, ‘kindly’, ‘swollen’, and ‘payment’.
Siyanda and the Old Cow
High in the green hills of KwaZulu-Natal, a boy named Siyanda tends the family’s cattle alone. His father is sick, his sisters are hungry, and there are never quite enough cows to feed them all. So when a grieving act of kindness brings a mysterious old woman with two magical horns, could a boy with a clean heart change everything? And what happens when a greedy neighbour steals one away? This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words with suffixes, like ‘softly’, ‘gently’, ‘healer’, and ‘proudly’.
Owino Calls the Rain
When Adhis’s father falls ill, the village turns to her loud, boastful older brother to call the rains. But can a rainmaker command the sky, or must she learn to listen to it? As storm clouds gather over the wrong village, Adhis reads the ants, the birds, and the east wind, racing to ready her home before the water comes. Will she save the seeds in time? This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words with suffixes, including ‘speaker’, ‘older’, ‘boldly’, ‘bravely’, and ‘swiftly’.
The Sky Meal
Why the Sky Is Far Away is a retelling of a beloved African folktale. Long ago, the sky hung so low that children could press their hands against it and feel the thunder move through their fingers. Igwe the Sky gave his flesh as food, asking only one thing: take what you need. But what happens when one woman takes far too much? Will the sky ever come close again? This Bookbot level practises two-syllable words with suffixes like ‘softly’, ‘sadness’, ‘kindly’, ‘reminder’, and ‘punishment’.
Fox in the Night
Zom the farmer is losing chickens, and a sneaky fox is to blame! He hammers planks, builds a mighty gate, and even practises his scariest growl - but nothing seems to stop her. Why does this clever fox keep slipping past every trap? Can Zom outwit her before his whole flock disappears? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘bravely,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘farmer,’ ‘harder,’ and ‘smarter.’
The Quest
What if the most amazing thing in the whole world was waiting just past your own front door? Little Snap the croc is ready to find out. She kisses her family goodbye and swims swiftly into the big blue sea, meeting a bookish otter, a leaping dolphin, and wonders she never imagined. But will her grand quest end where it began? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘kindly,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘friendships,’ ‘homeward,’ and ’lovely.’
Surprise, Kara!
Pip’s first birthday is tomorrow, and Kara has the most exciting plan ever - a surprise party with cake, balloons, and every single one of his favourite things! But what happens when a clever little puppy peeks around the doorway and hears every word? Can Kara still pull off a surprise when Pip has plans of his own? This decodable reader practises suffixes through words such as ‘boldly,’ ‘brightly,’ ‘cheerful,’ ‘proudly,’ and ‘softly.’
Don't Touch My Cows!
Ned is DONE with fighting monsters - from now on, he’s a man of peace who bakes magnificent cakes! But cakes need milk, and milk needs cows, and cows need a pen… so what happens when darkness falls before the fence is finished? Can Ned bravely protect his new herd through a long, sleepless night? This decodable reader practises words with suffixes such as ‘bravely,’ ’tightly,’ ‘hopeful,’ ‘golden,’ and ’thankful.’
My Cat Won't Eat!
Dot has a brand new cat, and he looks so sad she’s sure he must be starving! But what does a fussy little cat actually want to eat? Dot boldly tries bread, then juicy apples, then a freshly cooked egg - and nothing works! Will Dot ever figure out the secret to her clever cat’s tummy before the day is done? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ’lovely,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘brightly,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘cheerful.’
Don't Go Deeper!
Little Fish is tired of the same sandy floor, the same boring rocks, the same shallow sea every single day. What wonders might be hiding in the deeper water below? When he sneaks off while his mother’s back is turned, he finds glittering coral, curious crabs - and something far, far scarier resting on the ocean floor. Can Little Fish find his way back to safety? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘kindly,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘deeper,’ ‘faster,’ and ‘bravely.’
That Pig Wants My Carrot!
Ned the farmer wants to grow something new on his farm, and what he finds are funny little orange things called carrots! But carrots smell amazing to pigs - and one sneaky pink pig is following him home. Can Ned keep his carrot safe? Can he build a pen strong enough to protect his new piggy friends when the monsters come out at night? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘farmer,’ ‘kindly,’ ’loudly,’ and ‘stronger.’
Wanjikũ and the Stranger
Wanjikũ is the cleverest girl in her village, so why does the handsome stranger she marries only ever visit at dusk, always eating with his back turned? When the path to his home grows darker and the trees grow thicker, what will she find waiting inside? Can her little brother’s warning save her before it’s too late? This Bookbot Level S2 story practises two-syllable words with suffixes, like ‘stranger’, ‘monster’, ‘firmly’, and ‘bravely’.
Stand Still, Cows!
Ned is a brave fighter, but every monster battle leaves him covered in bumps and bruises! To stay safer, he needs leather armour - and that means catching cows. But have you ever tried sneaking up on a cow? They scatter, they run, and something green and lumpy might be creeping close behind. Can Ned become a quiet enough hunter to finally gather what he needs? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words such as ‘bravely,’ ‘faster,’ ‘hunter,’ ‘proudly,’ and ‘softly.’
Art Day
Dog has found a mysterious tin sitting in the middle of the floor - but what could be inside? A treat? A toy? When Dog tips it over, yellow paint goes everywhere, and soon Cat is splattered too! Can two very messy pets sneak past Pam on Art Day without ruining her beautiful blank canvas, or is disaster about to strike? This decodable reader practises suffixes through words like ‘gladly,’ ‘proudly,’ ‘swiftly,’ ‘breathless,’ and ‘painter.’
No Pals? No Lunch!
Tiger thinks being alone is simply blissful - no noisy pals, no messy friends, just warm sun and peaceful quiet. But when every mouse, fawn, and bird bolts the moment she twitches an ear, her tummy starts to grumble louder and louder. Can a lone hunter really hunt with nobody around? And what happens when the forest goes completely silent? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘blissful,’ ‘proudly,’ ’tightly,’ and ’loudly.’
Too Much Honey, Ned!
Ned has built the most beautiful beehive in the neighbourhood, and the honey is truly the best thing he has ever tasted! But what happens when Ned eats spoonful after spoonful, day after day? Can his wise magic book convince him to slow down before his tummy turns awful - or will it take a very strange dream to teach him a lesson? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘proudly,’ ‘spoonful,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘swiftly.’
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.’
I'll Build It Myself!
Gilly the goat is HOT, HOT, HOT. On the hottest day of summer, can a goat really find shade that fits her whole goaty self? She tries hiding under a leaf and squeezing into shrubs, but nothing works! Then she spots something in town that sparks a big, bold idea. Will Gilly’s plan actually keep her cool? A decodable reader exploring suffixes through words such as ‘builder,’ ‘hopeful,’ ’lovely,’ and ’truly.’
Down on the Farm
Zom the zombie farmer has a brilliant plan - invite the villagers for a lovely farm stay with fresh air, cute animals, and a big country breakfast! The villagers arrive gleeful and hopeful, but when Zom hands them a very long list of chores and vanishes, things start to get messy. Will slimy green eggs and grumpy zombie sheep ruin the trip? This decodable reader practises suffixes in words like ‘farmer,’ ‘gladly,’ ‘hopeful,’ and ‘proudly.’
Bookbot Decodable Books by Level
Frequently Asked Questions
What does suffix mean in reading?
Suffixes are endings attached to a base word that change its meaning or its job in a sentence, as when teach becomes teacher or kind becomes kindness. In reading, spotting a suffix lets a child split a long word into parts they already know. A word like achievement is far less daunting once it is seen as achieve plus -ment, an idea our article on decoding and morphology explores for prefixes and suffixes alike.
How do you explain suffixes to a child?
Try describing a suffix as a tail that clips onto the end of a word and changes it. Build words together with cards or sticky notes: put help next to -ful, then next to -less, and talk about how helpful and helpless mean almost opposite things. The idea is easiest to grasp when the base word is one your child can already read and understand.
What are 10 common suffixes, with examples?
Ten common suffixes children meet early are -s (cats), -ed (jumped), -ing (running), -er (teacher), -ly (quickly), -ful (careful), -less (fearless), -ness (happiness), -ment (enjoyment) and -ship (friendship). Suffixes examples like these appear across everyday books, so they are worth learning as reading chunks. Knowing a handful well opens the door to many longer words.
What makes suffix decodable books useful for practice?
In suffix decodable books, the base words use phonics patterns a child has already learned, so attention can go to the ending instead of the whole word. That mirrors how skilled readers work, since they recognise familiar word parts quickly. Snow, Burns & Griffin (1998) stressed that beginning readers need both explicit teaching of how spellings map to sounds and plenty of practice reading real text.