Children's Books for 1st Graders

Blue Train has a secret - every night, when the station is dark, he zooms past cacti and races under stars so bright they look like pinpricks in the sky. But what happens when he flies too far and finds himself lost in a strange forest with scowling trees and a very purple elephant? Can a boy with a flute help him find the way home? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘cry,’ ‘fly,’ and ’try.’

Alex the miner has a big plan: grab her pickaxe, dig deep, and find treasure before dark. But what happens when an enthusiastic miner packs too much stuff and gets a little too close to the edge of a very dark pit? Can she climb back out, or will she lose everything in the shadows below? With grit, grins, and one very big tumble, this adventure proves that tough miners never quit. This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘grab,’ ‘slip,’ ‘cliff,’ and ‘grunt.’

High in her messy workshop, Lila is painting something extraordinary - trees that sway, clouds that doze, and a sprite tucked among the vines. But something is missing! Down in the paint box, little Yellow is trembling. Will he be squeezed flat like the others? Can he be brave enough to share his glow? Peek inside and find out what happens next. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘shine,’ ’lake,’ ‘hide,’ and ‘shapes.’

Whit the Mage has a BIG secret, and keeping it might just make him burst! Jill is planning a surprise bash for the whole village, complete with a shiny new name and sky-high whizz bangs - but only if Whit can zip his lips around Dr Can Do. Can a mischievous mage who loves to chatter actually stay quiet? And what happens when the lanterns glow and the crowd gathers? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whizz,’ and ‘whole.’

Mia spots Lily’s brand new jacket just hanging there - and it looks SO cool. What could go wrong with trying it on for one tiny second? But when art class ends in a splatter of red, green, and orange paint, Mia panics and hides the jacket in the strangest spot ever. Can she fix the mess before Lily finds out? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘hide,’ ‘make,’ ’nice,’ ‘shape,’ and ‘smiles.’

Tina has a mountain of chores and a silly song to sing while she works - but what happens when a tiny elf in the cornfield sings her song right back? With one snap of magical fingers, every job is done! But can Tina keep her new friend, or will the elf vanish as quickly as she appeared? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dish,’ ‘shines,’ ‘shore,’ and ‘wish.’

Gran can juggle ANYTHING - pans, spoons, even an eggplant! But when she runs out of things to toss, what naughty trick will she try next? Will her spinning, flipping fun end in a big, messy splat? Grab a seat and watch Gran grin, grip, and zip her way through a wobbly, juggling adventure you won’t want to miss! This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in fun words like ‘flip,’ ‘splat,’ ‘grins,’ ‘drops,’ and ‘blast.’

Have you ever had a day so noisy, so busy, so sneezy that you just had to escape? Brat Cat has - and she’s had ENOUGH of the shop rush! With her pals Fig Pig and Tip, she tromps off to the cool birch shade to build something small, quiet, and all her own. But will her perfect hideaway stay as peaceful as she hopes? This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram in words like ‘crush,’ ‘rush,’ ‘shade,’ and ‘wish.’

Rain, rain, and more rain - will the sky ever clear? When the sun finally breaks through, it’s time to race outside with a homemade kite and a very special secret weapon painted right on the front: a troll queen with a golden crown and the biggest smile around. Can she soar higher than the monster kite and the fish kite too? Get ready to cheer! This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘kite,’ ‘glide,’ ‘shape,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘pride.’

When Jack and Ben fight over a toy, Mum sends them straight to bed - but what happens when Jack dreams up a giant elephant and zooms off across the plains without his little brother? What if Ben needs him? Can Jack reach his brother before it’s too late? Climb on and hold tight for a wild ride full of heart and hope! This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whizz,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whole.’