Animal Books for 1st Graders
Will They Get It?
When Gran spots a cheeky little mouse zipping across the floor, the whole family panics! Ma grabs a broom, Pa hides behind the curtain, and even the cat refuses to help. But what happens when the baby sees the mouse too? Will anyone in this house be brave enough to catch the naughty creature - or might they all end up laughing instead? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘both,’ ’then,’ ’there,’ and ‘with.’
Cod
Deep in the cold sea lives the fastest, sneakiest cod on the whole coast - and nobody has ever caught it. Then along comes Steve, who has no rod, no net, no boat, and absolutely no plan. Just confidence! Can Steve outsmart a fish that’s slipped through every fisherman’s fingers? And what happens when he spots a bucket washed up on the sand? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels with words like ‘cod,’ ‘sat,’ ‘ran,’ ‘hid,’ and ‘got.’
Come Back, Rex!
Rex is the wiggliest, waggiest dog on the block - and the second Benny opens the door, WHOOSH, off he goes! Can Benny catch his runaway pup before Rex chases a flying umbrella over the hills, dives into a scratchy bush, and sniffs out Uncle Bruce’s yummy rice? It’s a wild, barky, breathless dash across town with one very determined boy and one very bouncy dog. This decodable reader practises the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ ‘song,’ ‘cling,’ and ‘zing.’
Dad, Get Up!
All this kid wants is one day of fishing with Dad - but Dad works so hard he keeps falling asleep on the couch! Can a tiny folded note tucked beside Dad’s morning mug wake him up and get those fishing rods moving? And when they finally head out together, why do all the woodland animals keep showing up? A heartwarming decodable reader practising short u with j, v, y in words like “jump,” “tuck,” “trust,” “yum,” and “yep.”
That Cat Won't Sit Still!
When Dad lugs home two huge bags of groceries, Girl grabs her sketchpad quick - can she draw every tomato, lime, and cucumber before dinner? But when Cat slinks by and refuses to sit still, her pencil lines tangle into a spaghetti mess. How do you draw a wriggly cat that won’t stay put? Girl spots her scissors, and a wild idea pops into her head. This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ ’thin,’ and ‘with.’
Lost at Dusk
Jen’s mum and dad must set off to hunt for food, leaving her alone at the little leaf-roofed hut with only Piglet for company. But what happens when a white deer tiptoes out of the trees and beckons her into the shadows? Can Jen find her way home before dusk falls, and who might she meet along the way? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘just,’ ‘yum,’ ‘hunt,’ and ‘dusk.’
Can We Fly?
Birds zoom, dragonflies zip, and butterflies drift past like leaves on the breeze - but what about us? Could three brave kids with big ideas and bigger dreams really make it up into the sky? When a fluffy cloud and a soaring kite both fail to lift them, will they ever find a way to fly? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words such as ‘fly,’ ‘sky,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ and ‘we.’
Sam Sits!
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.’
Don't Wake the Herd!
Ned is DONE with fighting monsters - from now on, he’s a peaceful baker! But to bake cakes, he needs milk, and to get milk, he needs cows. Can Ned lead a herd home with just a handful of wheat? And what happens when dusk falls before his pen is finished and something groans in the shadows? Will Ned keep his cows safe through the night? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words such as ’this,’ ’thump,’ ’thud,’ and ’thanks.'
The Thing in the Cave!
Deep in a dark cave, Steve spots something pink with a huge, goofy grin swimming up through the water. What is this strange little creature, and why won’t it leave his side? As Steve takes his new friend home, could there be another glowing pet waiting back in the cave? Will two be better than one? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words such as ’that,’ ’then,’ ’there,’ ’thick,’ and ’thanks.'