Family Books for 1st Graders

What do you do when you want to make something truly amazing but your brain is as blank as the paper in front of you? Join one busy young artist who asks Dad, Mum, Gran, Pop, and even a sneaky big brother for help - painting, snipping, pressing leaves, and scribbling stories along the way. Could all these little bits somehow add up to something wonderful? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘grab,’ ‘grin,’ ‘plan,’ ‘press,’ and ‘stands.’

Gran has a big plan, and it starts with the plumpest coconuts you’ve ever seen! But can one kid really crank, crack, and chop a pile of tough nuts into something sweet? What happens when the hard part just keeps getting harder - and Gran refuses to quit? Get ready to huff, puff, and cheer along on a very crunchy adventure. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y through words like ‘jump,’ ‘huff,’ ‘puff,’ ’nuts,’ and ‘yum.’

A bright blue butterfly flutters by, and little Tad just has to follow! But what happens when a curious calf wanders off the path and deep into the jungle? Will Tad spot the spotty wings, the sneaky cat, and find the way back to Mum before it’s too late? A brave, bouncy adventure about listening - and learning - the fun way. This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels through words like ‘cat,’ ‘ran,’ ‘sat,’ ‘dots,’ and ‘had.’

Tim has a SECRET mission, and it’s all for Jan’s big birthday surprise! There’s a cake to taste, balloons to puff up, a shiny new bike, and a pretty red dress - but someone has to carry the whole wobbly pile into the party room without tripping. Can Tim balance every single gift? Will the boxes topple before Jan walks through the door? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bike,’ ‘cake,’ ‘ride,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘prize.’

Drip, drop - can you feel the rain on your nose? When the sky opens up, one girl throws her arms wide and dances in every splash. There’s music on the roof, a peacock on the path, and something warm bubbling in Mum’s pot. What wonderful surprises will the rain leave behind once it finally quiets down? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘drip,’ ‘plops,’ ‘grin,’ ‘stands,’ and ‘smells.’

What happens when one special towel keeps disappearing? First a girl grabs it to dry her hands, then a man scoops it up after a big splash, and then an old man sits on it to play music under the moon! Can the owner ever get their purple-and-gold towel back - and who will use it last of all? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ‘bath,’ ‘cloth,’ ’then,’ ’this,’ and ‘with.’

Ling is delivering figs to Nan, but every house along the way looks more exciting than the last. A stilt house in the sky? A shop that smells like lunch? A garage with a roaring bike? Even a house floating on the waves! Which one will Ling choose for a forever home? This decodable reader practises the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘brings,’ ‘rings,’ and ‘sings.’

Bon’s summer holiday is off to the worst start ever. Mum is busy, Dad is busy, and Su won’t even look up from her paper pinwheels. Will anyone in this house ever play with him? Just when Bon is ready to give up, a brilliant idea pops into his head - and it involves Butter, the family parrot, a polka-dot hat, and a very big secret. This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘wink,’ ‘stink,’ ’think,’ ‘blink,’ and ‘prank.’

What would YOU do with hair big enough to block the sun, wrap you up in winter, or hide a whole dog inside? Every morning, it has a new plan - a puff, a twirl, a giant square for dress-up day! But when one big snip changes everything, will long hair ever come back? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘clips,’ ’twists,’ ‘grins,’ and ‘swirl.’

Where could a favourite yellow yo-yo disappear to? One little detective hunts high and low - dumping the toy box, shoving the armchair, even crawling behind the TV with dust bunnies in her hair! But when she steps outside for some fresh air, she spots something swinging in a big, happy circle on the hill. Could Gran really be the sneaky thief? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘find,’ ‘hand,’ ‘hold,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘park.’