Free Books for 1st Graders

Mara has one big rule: curly is ALWAYS better than straight! Her bouncy curls boing back every time, and even her cat’s tail agrees. But what happens when she meets a lion with a perfectly straight tail? Or tries to draw a straight line and ends up with a question mark? From spiral staircases to swirly buns, Mara is on a mission to prove curly wins - but will snack time change her mind? This decodable reader practises the th sound in words like ’think,’ ’those,’ ’three,’ and ‘smooth.’

Bam thinks his flute music is the sweetest sound on the beach - so sweet it could calm the whole ocean. But what happens when he plays a little louder, just to see? Something huge is sleeping deep beneath the bay, and one wrong note might wake it up. Can a boy with a flute hush a furious sea beast before the waves swallow the shore? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘hush,’ ‘shade,’ ‘shook,’ ‘shore,’ and ‘splash.’

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.’

Five kids, one dog, and zero chance of losing - at least, that’s what the squad promised before the championship match. But when the other team’s bus rolls up and out steps the biggest, most serious squad anyone has ever seen, can teamwork really beat pure power? Will one brave gang of friends find a way to score? Lace up your boots and find out! This decodable reader practises the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘strong,’ ‘sprang,’ ‘flings,’ and ‘rings.’

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.’

Steve has a fresh catch straight from the sea, but ouch - it is cold and raw! Can he build a fire hot enough to cook his cod without burning his fingers? And when a raw chick turns up the next day with no logs in sight, what will our hungry hero try next? Join Steve for a sizzling, smoky adventure full of bright ideas and big mistakes. This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch,’ ‘chick,’ ‘much,’ and ’touch.’

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.'

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.’

Tom the Baker makes the best pumpkin pies in Canville - but when sneaky creepers start creeping in at night, his cosy little bakery might not be safe for long! Can a huge stone wall keep the village safe? Will Tom pack up his pies and leave, or will his friends find a way to save the day? Full of brave heroes, big booms, and bigger hearts. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bake,’ ‘brave,’ ‘flames,’ ‘hope,’ and ‘smile.’

Ned has a cosy house, a farm of carrots, and a sword he’s finally ready to use. But when the sun dips low and shadows stretch across the field, the monsters come creeping. Can one brave little hero stand up to zombies, rattling skeletons, and a giant spider all in one night? And what shiny surprise might be waiting inside? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’thanks,’ ’thin,’ ’thump,’ and ’thwack.'