Children's Books for 1st Graders

Brat Cat has a List, and Brat Cat always finishes her List - chickens to feed, sheep to brush, fences to mend. But what happens when an arrow comes flying out of nowhere and thunks right into her shoulder? Who would dare attack a busy cat on a perfectly good Tuesday? Can she grab her bow and save the day? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘sun,’ ‘struck,’ ’trunk,’ and ‘yes.’

One huge elephant, one tiny red cart, and it will NOT budge - can you help push? As the day unfolds, there are eggs to count, bubbles to blow, a giant ant to ride, and a sparkly spider waiting in its web. Will Child ever reach ten? And what about that stubborn elephant back at the start? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘just,’ ’tug,’ and ‘fun.’

Ned is lost in a spooky swamp with only his floating Book for company - and something slimy is bouncing his way! Can Ned battle the splitting slimes, make it home before dark, and figure out why a mysterious pink pig keeps staring at him? And what happens when he straps a saddle onto its back? Giggles, oinks, and carrot-powered chaos await! This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘shade,’ ‘splash,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘shock,’ and ‘shrug.’

Ned thinks he’s the greatest miner ever - but his pockets are tiny and his gold pile is HUGE! What happens when he spots a white, four-legged creature on the plains and decides it MUST be a horse? And when The Book tells him to wrap gold around carrots, could something truly magical be about to hatch? Saddle up for a silly, sparkly adventure! This decodable reader practises the ch phonogram with words like ‘chomps,’ ‘catch,’ ‘bunch,’ ‘chase,’ and ‘ranch.’

Ned is brave and bold, rowing across the waves to find the perfect spot for a new home. But when he lands on a strange shore, he finds a talking book, a giant pine tree, and a blobby thing hanging from a branch. What happens when Ned punches it in haste? Can he outrun what comes buzzing after him? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘froze,’ ‘hive,’ ‘chase,’ and ‘pride.’

Ned’s shed looks dull and boring, but The Book has a secret plan to fix it up! Why does Ned need to dig up squishy blue blobs at the beach? What will happen when he grabs a big fistful of flowers right in front of a buzzing swarm of bees? Join Ned on a wild adventure of digging, baking, and running for his life! This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bakes,’ ‘brave,’ ‘chase,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘home.’

Jack is stuck in the grumpiest funk ever, and nothing - not the sun, not the flowers, not even a perfectly nice butterfly - can pull him out of it. But what happens when his friends Skel and Zom drag him into a bamboo forest and spot something huge in the grass? Could a baby panda, a sneaky cake, and one enormous sneeze be the cure? This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘funk,’ ‘blink,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘honk.’

In a village between two green hills lives Nomvula, a clever girl who can read a footprint the way others read a face. When a tall, unhurried stranger arrives to ask for her hand, she notices the odd little things nobody else does. Who is he really, and can she outwit him before it is too late? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ck’ sound with words like ’track’, ‘stick’, ‘quick’, ’lock’, and ‘black’.

Iron Golem has a speech ready, a friendly wave, and a very big heart - but has anyone in the village actually noticed him? He tries the cats. He tries the pigs. He even builds a wall tall enough to stop a sneaky skeleton. So why won’t anyone stop to listen, and could a lonely golem ever find someone who truly sees him? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words including ‘bold,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ ’next,’ and ‘rest.’

Meet Internet Mascot - a bouncy little globe with googly eyes who zips around the world on silvery web strands! Have you ever wondered how a silly cat video can travel across the planet in just one second? From dancing to music videos to cheering on a climber at the top of a snowy mountain, the internet connects us all. But how do we use it safely and kindly? This decodable reader focuses on the ’th’ sound in words like ‘both,’ ’these,’ ’through,’ and ’truth.’