Children's Books for 1st Graders

Long ago, all the world’s stories sat locked in a carved chest high in the sky, guarded by Nyame the Sky God. When clever Anansi the spider decides they should be his, the god names an impossible price: capture four dangerous creatures. Can one small spider outwit a python, a swarm, a leopard, and a fairy? Will his web hold enough clever schemes to win? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ck’ sound with words like ‘stuck’, ‘quick’, ’trick’, ‘back’, and ’luck’.

The forest people have lost every fire to the cold rains, and only greedy Old Ape guards a flame on his hill. When brave little Kele sets off with just his pipe and a clever plan, can a song win what a whole village cannot? Will the boy outsmart a beast who guards fire with all his might? This Bookbot SH level practises the /ʃ/ sound with lesson words like ‘shift’, ‘hush’, ‘dash’, ‘shy’, and ‘wish’.

Ned is picking flowers on a sunny day when - HISS! - a sneaky green Creeper pops up right behind him. KA-BOOM! Now Ned is grumpy, dented, and stuck in a smoking hole. Will his clanky iron armour help him win the next round? Or does he need a cleverer plan to outsmart these bouncy, booming pests? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’thanks,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ and ’three.'

Today is Min’s very first day of school, and her shiny new uniform is laid out on the bed - but has Min ever done up a button in her life? She dashes from Mummy to Daddy to Grandpa, Grandma, and big brother Tim, but everyone is far too busy to stop. Can one small girl tackle a tricky shirt all by herself? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘help,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘went.’

Kalulu the Hare is the smallest animal in the village, and everyone says he’s too small to matter. So when the mighty buffalo Ngombe seizes the finest field and refuses to share, what can one tiny hare possibly do? Could clever feet and a sharp mind outrun a beast ten times his size? Find out how one little hare stands up to a very big bully. This Bookbot level practises the ‘ch’ sound with lesson words like ‘champ’, ‘chant’, ‘check’, ‘cheer’, and ‘much’.

When Crab spots a strange red “plant” clinging to a rock, can he resist just one tiny pinch? And when things go terribly wrong down in the deep, who will swim to the rescue before the shadows close in? Dive into a bubbly reef adventure full of darting fish, curled seahorses, and one very pinchy little friend who just won’t learn! This decodable reader practises the ck sound in words like ‘pick,’ ‘snack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘knock,’ and ‘stuck.’

Rabbit has a big, brilliant plan - he’s going to be FIRST at EVERYTHING on his very first day of school! First through the door, first across the finish line, first to finish his painting, his story, his maths. But what happens when Bee beats him to class, Turtle beats him in the race, and Dog paints a masterpiece? Could there be something Rabbit is first at after all? This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ ‘share,’ and ‘wish.’

Dr. Can Do’s furnaces are hungry, hungry, HUNGRY - and there isn’t a lump of coal left in town! Can a clever inventor build his way to the faraway mine before his workshop goes cold? With a hammer in hand and a big idea brewing, Dr. Can Do is about to find out that walking is NOT the fastest way to get more coal. What will he invent next? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘so,’ and ’try.’

Bop can’t wait for the big parade, but his feet have other plans! Every time he tries to jig, he bumps into a shrub or gets stuck in the mud. Yuck! Will Bop ever learn to jump and jog along to the beat? Or will his wobbly feet spoil the fun? Big brother Bud has one last trick up his sleeve… A decodable reader practising short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘hugs,’ ‘yuck,’ and ‘just.’

Ned has a pointy hat, a talking book, and big wizard dreams - but why does his next lesson involve chopping cane, crafting stacks of books, and battling mobs at dusk? What happens when the grumpy Book barks orders and Ned just keeps asking questions? Can a boy with a shiny sword and sore fingers really learn to spark real magic? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whose,’ and ‘why.’