African Folktales for 1st Graders

The Baobab drops its fruit for everyone who asks politely, and there is always enough to share. But when a greedy hyena named Fisi decides he wants all of it before dawn, will his shouting and scheming get him a single pod? Can a clever girl and a patient tree teach him that you cannot steal what is freely given? Find out what Fisi finally learns. This story practises the /ŋ/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘bring’, ’thing’, ‘fangs’, and ‘springs’.

Whew, what a morning for Tiren! He is the smallest herd boy, and today all the older boys are sick. Can one small kid guide forty cattle across the dry plains to the watering hole? When a storm rolls in and a hungry hyena creeps out of the grass, what will he do with just his rod and a clear head? This story practises the ‘wh’ sound with lesson words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘while’, and ‘whew’.

The Clever Hare has bounced out of Crocodile’s jaws, wriggled free of Elephant’s debts, and fooled three angry geese without blinking. But this dawn, Leopard is waiting on a narrow path, and there is no room to run. When one big spotted paw lands on Hare’s tail, what clever trick could possibly save him now, and why is Hare suddenly begging to be thrown into the prickly thornbush? This Bookbot SH level practises the /ʃ/ sound with words like ‘shook’, ‘shut’, ‘crash’, ‘dash’, and ‘fresh’.

On a small island of swaying palms, Siti finds one strange coconut that hums instead of rattles. Who could be hidden inside, and why does her greedy uncle want to snatch it away? Follow Siti through a moonlit night, a race to an ancient tree, and a secret that could change her life forever. Will her one true wish finally come true? This Bookbot level practises the /ʃ/ sound with words like ‘she’, ‘shell’, ‘shake’, ‘shine’ and ‘wish’.

The waterhole was cool and clear, shared by every animal on the plain, until huge Tembo the Elephant stomped up and claimed it all for himself. How could clever little Sungura the Hare stand up to someone so enormous? When the biggest animal refuses to share, what plan could a tiny hare possibly hatch? Read on to find out how brains can beat brawn! This Bookbot book practises the /k/ sound, with lesson words like ‘back’, ‘quick’, ‘rock’, ‘sticks’, and ’trick’.

Amahle keeps the finest garden in her village, and one morning she finds a green-and-gold snake resting on a warm stone at its edge. Is it a danger to her crops and the chickens, or something far more mysterious? When her brother grabs a rake and the village elders come knocking, will Amahle be brave enough to protect her strange visitor? This Bookbot book practises the /k/ sound with words like ‘rock’, ‘black’, ‘blocks’, ‘kicks’, and ’luck’.

The giant izim has terrorised the valley for three seasons, stealing cattle and laughing at every grown man who tried to stop it. So when eight year old Thandi says, “Let me try,” everyone laughs too. But what if being small and clever beats big and certain? How could one brave girl, a shiny bottle, and a narrow gap in the rocks succeed where the strongest warriors failed? This Bookbot NG level practises the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘strong’, ’long’, ‘clings’, ‘springs’, and ’things’.

The children of Nnewi share their yams fairly, but wily Mbe the tortoise thinks he needs more than the rest. When yams start vanishing from the locked barn, who will notice the dry leaves shifting where no wind blows? Can a clever nine year old girl outwit a creature who always sounds so convincing? A tale about fairness and getting caught. This Bookbot level practises the /tʃ/ sound with words like ’each’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chase’, and ‘chores’.

On one riverbank, sweet wild berries wait just out of reach, and between Hare and that whole hillside lies a river ruled by Old Crocodile, who lets no one cross. How can a small, clever hare outsmart the biggest, meanest crocodile of them all, and finally taste those berries? Read on to find out! This Bookbot story practises the /wh/ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘which’, ‘whole’ and ‘why’.

The Hare and the Hyena stumble on a marula tree so sweet its fruit smells like a party. But Hyena has the loudest laugh, the strongest jaws, and a habit of gobbling every last bite. So how can clever Hare outwit a greedy neighbour twice his size? And what happens the night he leads her to a mysterious hollow log? Buzzing with mischief, this tale keeps you guessing to the last page. This Bookbot book practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘whole’, ‘which’, ‘when’, and ‘whack’.