Family Books for 1st Graders

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.’

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.’

Dora the duckling goes EVERYWHERE with her big red umbrella - to breakfast, to the park, even to the bath! But one rainy morning, it’s vanished. Can a squirrel’s bushy tail, a frog’s lily pad, or a mouse’s tin can help a very soggy duck find what she’s lost? Will Dora ever track down her favourite polka-dot treasure? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘junk,’ ‘just,’ ‘up,’ and ‘yup.’

Mum Otter has a big day planned for her wiggly pack of pups - swimming, hiding, and finally, FISHING! But can four bouncy little otters stay still long enough to learn? What happens when they spot a net in the river, a snapping trap in the grass, and a crocodile with its jaws wide open? And will anyone actually catch a fish before lunch? This decodable reader practises the ck phonogram in words like ‘pack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘snack,’ ‘rock,’ and ’tricks.’

From the cosiest spot in the whole rainforest - Mum’s pouch - one little joey spies butterflies, berries, and blue feathers floating by. But what happens when Mum suddenly won’t let him climb back in? Could there be a secret tucked inside her pouch? Follow along as a curious kangaroo discovers that the best treasures sometimes come in very tiny packages. This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘she,’ ‘shy,’ and ‘fly.’

Naru’s grandmother calls her “the girl of the stars.” So when the drought comes hard and the pans dry up, who will remember the old star that leads to hidden water? While the elders argue about which way to trek, can one small girl trust what her grandmother taught her, and watch the night sky alone? This warm Kalahari story practises the WH sound with words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘which’, ‘while’, and ‘who’.

Don has found the perfect soft blue cap at the market - and he loves it more than anything! But what happens when a sudden gust of wind whisks it high into an elm tree? Don tries everything to get it back, but that night something magical catches his eye in the sky. Could the moon itself be the cap thief? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘held,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘wind.’

When Pip and Tom spot a pile of paint pots in the garden, they just know today is going to be the best day ever. But what happens when a helpful brush turns into a wall full of stripes? Can two very messy kids scrub away their colourful mistake before Mum finds out - or will their painting adventure end in trouble? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘grab,’ ‘slap,’ ‘scrub,’ ‘strips,’ and ‘spot.’

Tim just wants to shoot hoops, but Dad says homework comes first - and today’s homework is letters! Can Dad help Tim tame those tricky, sneaky letters that never seem to sit still? With an old wooden board, a piece of chalk, and a little patience, will Tim finally crack the code? And what happens when two curious cats decide they want to learn too? This decodable reader practises CCVC and CCVCC blends in words like ‘grips,’ ‘grabs,’ ‘prints,’ and ‘grins.’

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.’