Children's Books for 1st Graders

Hank has one enormous dream - he wants to fly! But his wings are small, his body is big, and his feet just won’t leave the ground. When the other birds laugh and say birds like Hank don’t fly, will he give up on his dream? Or could a plank, some tape, and a very big idea change everything? Grab your goggles and find out! This decodable reader practises the nk sound in words like ‘bank,’ ‘clank,’ ‘shrink,’ and ’think.’

Lisa has been waiting a whole year for her birthday surprise - a real, living pet! But what kind will it be? A stompy elephant that blasts lunches into the sky? A snappy croc with forty shiny teeth? A stinky skunk, a squeezy snake, or a giraffe too tall for the house? Every creature seems wrong in its own wild way. Could the perfect pet really exist? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends through lively words like ‘blast,’ ‘scrub,’ ‘stomp,’ ‘skunk,’ and ‘grins.’

Bones is the bravest dog in the valley - until a terrible storm sends him bolting into the dark woods. Lost and hungry, he meets a wolf pack with pale, watching eyes, and soon he’s running wild beside them, leaving his red bandana behind. But what happens when Zom finds him in the forest clearing? Can Skel bring his best friend home again? This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram through words like ‘crash,’ ‘dash,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘shook.’

Dr. Can Do has fixed the fountain, the lanterns, and Mrs. Bloom’s wobbly step - so how hard can catching one speedy ginger cat be? Very hard, it turns out! When the little cat zooms away and refuses to listen, Jill shares a clever tip involving a fish and a whole lot of sitting still. Can a busy doctor really learn to wait? This decodable reader practises the nk sound in words like ‘blink,’ ’think,’ ‘funk,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘pink.’

Have you ever tried to catch the fastest bug in the playground? When the teacher sets a bug-catching task, two friends pick the trickiest target of all - a dazzling dragonfly that zips, darts, and dodges every grab. Can leaves, a spider’s web, and a whole lot of teamwork outsmart a bug that seems to read minds? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch,’ ‘chase,’ ‘branch,’ and ‘snatch.’

Crow has a big plan - he’s going to WOW the animals with his amazing singing voice! But when he opens his beak, Hank, Pink, and Frank bolt away in a blink. Was his song really that bad? Can Crow find a way to win his chums back, or will he sing alone forever? Hop onto the stage and find out what happens when Crow hands over the microphone! This decodable reader practises the nk sound in words like ‘blink,’ ’thank,’ ‘clunk,’ and ’trunk.’

Meet Alex, a brave digger with a diamond shovel, lucky boots, and a feeling in her toes that something amazing is hidden deep below the hillside. What will she find as she tunnels down into the dark? And while she’s busy chasing treasure underground, who might sneak up to her crispy lunch by the campfire? Grab your pickaxe and find out! This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘shaft,’ ‘she,’ and ‘wish.’

When Dad lugs home two huge bags of groceries, Girl grabs her sketchpad quick - can she draw every tomato, lime, and cucumber before dinner? But when Cat slinks by and refuses to sit still, her pencil lines tangle into a spaghetti mess. How do you draw a wriggly cat that won’t stay put? Girl spots her scissors, and a wild idea pops into her head. This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ ’thin,’ and ‘with.’

Deep in the dark cave, Steve’s torch has fizzled out, his pockets are stuffed with gems, and something with tiny beating wings is swooping right at his head. Can he duck fast enough? Can he jump the ridge? And when a sneaky bat follows him through the shadows, will his trusty sword be enough to save the day? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y through words like ‘jump,’ ‘duck,’ ‘jab,’ ‘vest,’ and ‘pup.’

Deep beneath the village, past tunnels of dirt and stone, a cavern glows with rivers of lava and towers of shimmering rock. Jill has brought Tom and the Mischievous Mage here for their very first mining lesson - but can they follow her most important rule? What happens when water meets lava, and why does everyone need a diamond pickaxe? This decodable reader practises the ck phonogram in words such as ‘stack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘block,’ ‘crack,’ and ‘snack.’