Animal Books for 1st Graders

Jack loves his farm, but something is missing - where are all the bees, birds, and bats? When Jack hauls up a hive and flings seeds across the grass, the buzzing and chirping begins. But bats are tricky critters whose homes are hard to find. What can a clever scarecrow build to bring them in, and which spot will feel just right for a sleepy bat? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ phonogram in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘while,’ and ‘whose.’

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.’

Meet Cuckoo, a clever bird who can fly higher than hawks and balance on the thinnest twig - but there’s one thing she simply cannot do. Her call has vanished! Where could it have gone? Has she lost it in the meadow, the farm, or the forest? Will Cuckoo ever find her voice again? This decodable reader practises the th sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ’there,’ and ’thump.'

Mum said don’t follow that butterfly - but how can Nell resist when a flash of blue flits down the path ahead? What will she find in the deep, wild jungle: pink snakes, chimps in the trunk, or something far more dangerous? And when trouble slinks closer, can she make it back home? This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound with words like ‘pink,’ ‘sank,’ ‘shrank,’ ‘slunk,’ and ’think.’

Little Fish longs to leave the same old sandy floor behind. What’s hiding deeper in the sea, just past the quiet rocks? One peek turns into a dash for safety, with jagged teeth closer than he’d like! Will he reach help before it’s too late? This story practises the ‘sh’ sound, with words like ‘shark’, ‘splash’, ‘rush’, ‘shock’ and ‘wish’.

Ned is hungry, and rabbit stew sounds just right - but what happens when the cutest little bunnies in the field turn out to have a very big, very angry protector? Can Ned outrun a sword-swinging giant rabbit, and will The Book ever convince him that kindness works better than arrows? Hop along for a wild chase, a clever plan, and a surprise in the moonlight. This decodable reader practises the ng phonogram in words like ‘bang,’ ‘sing,’ ‘strong,’ and ’thing.’

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.’

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.'

Dr. Can Do’s stove gobbles logs faster than he can chop them, and his pile is nearly gone! Can a clever twig of bamboo save the day? He builds a huge, shiny machine with polished stone and gleaming parts - but why does one curious hen keep pecking at his invention? Will Doc ever figure out how she sneaks in? Join the chase in this funny farmyard flap. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘made,’ ‘fine,’ ‘hide,’ ‘place,’ and ’time.’

Fred has a secret talent and a sneaky little game. He picks up his pencil, draws a circle, then another, then a big black shape - and dares you to guess what it is. Is it a frog? A duck? A drone with legs? Every time you shout an answer, Fred just grins and keeps going. Can you work out what Fred is drawing before he finishes? This decodable reader practises the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘quick,’ ‘click,’ ‘stack,’ and ’trick.’