Children's Books for 1st Graders

Alex has a cursed gem that keeps zapping him far from the Nether fire that could destroy it! Can he find a way to get rid of it before he turns into stone for good? When even a cloth bundle freezes Jake solid at the village square, Alex gets one wild, last-chance idea. Will a potion of strength and a good throw finally break the curse? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words like ‘got,’ ‘hot,’ ‘ran,’ ‘sat,’ and ‘rid.’

Alex has a wild, almost-too-scary plan to finally get rid of the cursed emerald - and it involves a mine cart, a river of lava, and poor brave Jake. But what happens when the fire resistance potion tastes a little… off? Can two best friends pull off the most ridiculous rescue mission ever, or will the whispering gem win? Hold your breath and turn the page! This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words such as ‘hit,’ ‘got,’ ‘sat,’ ’lit,’ and ’nod.’

The waterhole was cool and clear, shared by every animal on the plain, until huge Tembo the Elephant stomped up and claimed it all for himself. How could clever little Sungura the Hare stand up to someone so enormous? When the biggest animal refuses to share, what plan could a tiny hare possibly hatch? Read on to find out how brains can beat brawn! This Bookbot book practises the /k/ sound, with lesson words like ‘back’, ‘quick’, ‘rock’, ‘sticks’, and ’trick’.

Meg is the best vet in the whole forest, and today her bag is packed with precious medicine for the animals who need her most. But what happens when a cheeky little fawn finds her bag first? Can Meg help a sore monkey, a hurt bird, and a tangled fawn when her jug of medicine is almost gone? A warm woodland adventure about kindness, stubbornness, and unexpected friends. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘vet,’ ‘yuck,’ and ’tug.’

Amahle keeps the finest garden in her village, and one morning she finds a green-and-gold snake resting on a warm stone at its edge. Is it a danger to her crops and the chickens, or something far more mysterious? When her brother grabs a rake and the village elders come knocking, will Amahle be brave enough to protect her strange visitor? This Bookbot book practises the /k/ sound with words like ‘rock’, ‘black’, ‘blocks’, ‘kicks’, and ’luck’.

The giant izim has terrorised the valley for three seasons, stealing cattle and laughing at every grown man who tried to stop it. So when eight year old Thandi says, “Let me try,” everyone laughs too. But what if being small and clever beats big and certain? How could one brave girl, a shiny bottle, and a narrow gap in the rocks succeed where the strongest warriors failed? This Bookbot NG level practises the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘strong’, ’long’, ‘clings’, ‘springs’, and ’things’.

Out past the last road, in a little cabin in the woods, Cam has a good little lamp that helps him chase frogs and read stories after dark. But what happens when bright electric lights arrive and Cam forgets all about his faithful flame? Will the lonely little lamp ever shine again? Snuggle in and find out why some friends glow brightest when you need them most. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘flame,’ ‘home,’ ‘safe,’ and ‘while.’

The children of Nnewi share their yams fairly, but wily Mbe the tortoise thinks he needs more than the rest. When yams start vanishing from the locked barn, who will notice the dry leaves shifting where no wind blows? Can a clever nine year old girl outwit a creature who always sounds so convincing? A tale about fairness and getting caught. This Bookbot level practises the /tʃ/ sound with words like ’each’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chase’, and ‘chores’.

On one riverbank, sweet wild berries wait just out of reach, and between Hare and that whole hillside lies a river ruled by Old Crocodile, who lets no one cross. How can a small, clever hare outsmart the biggest, meanest crocodile of them all, and finally taste those berries? Read on to find out! This Bookbot story practises the /wh/ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘which’, ‘whole’ and ‘why’.

The Hare and the Hyena stumble on a marula tree so sweet its fruit smells like a party. But Hyena has the loudest laugh, the strongest jaws, and a habit of gobbling every last bite. So how can clever Hare outwit a greedy neighbour twice his size? And what happens the night he leads her to a mysterious hollow log? Buzzing with mischief, this tale keeps you guessing to the last page. This Bookbot book practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘whole’, ‘which’, ‘when’, and ‘whack’.