Children's Books for 1st Graders

Have you ever stood beneath a tall birch tree and felt the cool shade on your face? Step into the forests of Minecraft, where each patch of trees holds charm, chill, and surprise! Why do players chop so much wood in their very first minutes? What hides behind the trunks of a dark oak forest, waiting to make you flinch? Grab your axe and reach for adventure! This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘birch,’ ‘chop,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘patch.’

Poor Pokey just wants a snug spot to sleep, but everywhere he goes, the other cats shout “No room!” Can one soggy little cat find somewhere warm before the storm rolls in? And when lightning cracks the sky and those same grumpy cats come running for help, what will Pokey do? A cosy, rainy-night tale about kindness when it matters most. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘hut,’ ‘snug,’ ‘yelps,’ and ‘us.’

Ned’s tiny green seedlings are finally poking through the dirt, and his very first wheat field is almost ready. But what happens when a hissing creeper sneaks in after dark? Can Ned and The Book save the farm before the whole field goes BOOM? And if everything blows up, will Ned have the courage to start again and thwart those sneaky creepers for good? This decodable reader practises the th sound in words like ’thick,’ ’thumps,’ ’thwart,’ ’thrill,’ and ’thanks.'

Clank! The school bell rings and every mum and dad in Animal Town starts to run - but poor Mama Bear is always, always last. Can she really learn to ride a wobbly red bike without tumbling into the river? Will Baby Bear ever be picked up on time? Hop on, hold tight, and find out how fast a brave bear can pedal! This decodable reader practises the nk sound in words like ‘bank,’ ‘blink,’ ‘honk,’ ‘pink,’ and ‘clunk.’

Dan the monkey is on a mission to find the perfect leaf - green, crunchy, and definitely not foot-flavoured! But when a daring jump ends in a crash, something enormous is waiting below with jaws full of teeth. Will Dan’s mum reach him in time? And once he’s safe, why on earth would he go back for more? Swing into this thrilling jungle adventure! This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram with words like ‘crash,’ ‘fish,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘swish.’

What happens when a sunny day at the market turns into the stickiest adventure ever? Jen has an orange ice pop, a little brother to cheer up, music to dance to, and SO many wonderful things to touch - but those fingers of hers are getting gloopier by the minute! Can she keep her hands to herself, or will the whole market end up covered in orange? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘fun,’ ‘jig,’ ‘yum,’ and ‘hush.’

When a monster comes down from the hills and swallows the village whole, brave young Kwezi knows that outside attacks do nothing. So what does a boy do when the only way to fight the darkness is from the inside? Armed with a breathing tube, a lighter, and a daring plan, Kwezi walks straight toward the beast. Can one small boy save everyone? This Bookbot level practises the ‘wh’ sound with lesson words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘whole’, and ‘who’.

What happens when a house bursts at the seams with nine squished-up people, a mischievous cat, and not one quiet corner to call your own? Could one tiny wish really send everyone away - and would you truly want it to? When the rooms go silent and a storm rolls in, our little hero learns that a full, noisy house might just be the best kind of all. This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘stuck,’ ‘flip,’ ‘stomp,’ ‘snug,’ and ‘blasts.’

Why is the rain so sad today? High in the sky, Beck’s flute is playing the loneliest song, and even the clouds can’t help crying along. Down in the garden, Bee, Bird, and two curious rabbits feel the drops on their noses and know something is wrong. Can a tiny team follow the music and find the girl behind the tears? This decodable reader practises the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘back,’ ‘check,’ ‘flick,’ ’neck,’ and ’track.’

Meet Sam, a puppy who loves one thing more than anything else in the whole wide world: sitting. He sits on paths, on hilltops, even on the edge of cliffs! But what happens when Sam’s favourite trick lands him somewhere he really, really shouldn’t be? Will Sam ever learn the right place to plonk down? Grab your lead and find out why everyone keeps shouting, “Don’t sit there, Sam!” This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words like ‘sat,’ ‘sit,’ ‘dog,’ ‘dig,’ and ‘can.’