Children's Books for 1st Graders

Bub’s family loves the park bench, but Bub has her eye on something far more exciting - a bright kite dancing in the sky! What happens when Bub grabs the string and a big gust of wind lifts her feet right off the ground? Can Pup hold on tight enough to save her, or will the whole family end up dangling in the clouds? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chomps,’ ‘fetch,’ ‘watch,’ and ‘chain.’

Meg is marching all the way to Gran’s house by herself - no running, no skipping, just slow and sensible steps past the brick wall. But what is that sharp YAP coming from around the corner? Is a huge dog with a mean chomp waiting to pounce? Meg’s feet are already running the wrong way - can she be brave enough to peek and see what is really there? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chase,’ ‘chomp,’ ‘march,’ and ’lunch.’

Beth has one blank spot in her cosy nest, and it needs the perfect flower to fill it. But every time she spots a bloom she likes, somebody shouts, “Don’t pick that flower!” A fussy butterfly, grumpy bees, a spider guarding its web - will Beth ever find a flower nobody tells her to leave alone? Can she trust her own wink of an idea? This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram in words like ‘blink,’ ‘honk,’ ‘plank,’ and ’think.’

Every night, Frog gazes up at the glowing stars and dreams of holding just one in his tiny hands. But stars are awfully high, and Frog is awfully small - so how will he ever reach them? Will climbing the tallest palm tree do the trick, or could the real magic be hiding somewhere much closer to home? Join Frog on a brave, starry-eyed adventure! This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram with words like ‘pink,’ ‘blink,’ ‘yank,’ ’trunk,’ and ’thank.’

Jojo spots a boy juggling a football on the other side of the fence - clink, clunk, tap! Can Jojo keep up with this speedy new friend? And when trouble suddenly rolls into the road, will Jojo be quick enough to help? A warm playground tale of football, friendship, and finding your own way to say hello. This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘blinks,’ ‘clunk,’ ‘honk,’ and ‘pink.’

Today is the big day! Can you show Mum every single thing you can do? From stirring spice in the kitchen to watering a rose, from scrubbing suds to clipping clothes on the line, there’s so much to share. But when Mum brings out the bike, will a wobbly tummy win, or will it be time to glide with pride? A warm, cheerful story about growing up and showing off. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bike,’ ‘glide,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘pride.’

Jack has never caught a fish - not once! But when he casts his wobbly branch-rod off the dock, what on earth tugs back? Something green, something grumpy, something that is definitely NOT a fish. Could a pumpkin boy and a mermaid really become friends? And what happens when the sun starts sinking on their silly, splashy adventure? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ phonogram in words like ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whines,’ and ‘whale.’

Have you ever wandered across the wide, flat plains of Minecraft? A pink pig sniffs the dirt, a hen pecks by a tall birch trunk, and horses gallop under a bright blue sky. Could this be the perfect spot to build a ranch? But when too many cows munch the grass, what happens to the land? This decodable reader practises the nk phonogram in words like ‘pink,’ ’trunk,’ ’think,’ ‘dunk,’ and ’thank.’

Have you ever waited and waited for someone special to arrive? Today is finally the day! My cousin Bo is here, and I have the best plan ever - we’ll race to the farm, lift heavy grain, try to catch a slippery fish with our bare hands, and find Nan at the market for a snack that tastes like magic. But what makes this day truly the best of all? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘sky,’ ’try,’ and ‘we.’

Tig loves her quiet pond - no noisy pals, no fuss, just sunshine and snacks… or so she thinks. But when she tries to grab a mouse, a fawn, and a whole herd of deer, every creature bolts before she can blink. Why does everyone run from Tig? And when the forest goes silent, will she still want to be all alone? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ‘path,’ and ’through.’