Free Friendship Books for 1st Graders

Meet Gad, the friendliest ghost in the forest - green skin, cheeky grin, and absolutely no one to play with! When he spots a group of kids having fun in the park, Gad is sure he’s found his new best friends. But will they run away screaming, or will a silly cat, a clever disguise, and a very bouncy volleyball game change everything? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels through words like ‘Gad,’ ’lad,’ ‘cat,’ ‘ran,’ and ‘hid.’

When Fig Pig spots a tall, glowy-eyed enderman lurking in the damp mist outside the cave, his knees shake - but his curiosity is bigger than his fear. Why is the enderman so sad? Why does it carry off blocks like treasure? Why does it scream into the dark? Join Fig Pig and Sam as they tiptoe closer to find out the truth behind those purple eyes. This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘and,’ ‘damp,’ ‘felt,’ ‘held,’ and ‘fast.’

Tip’s nose wakes her up one snowy morning, and something in the air smells wild and new! But wait - is that a sweeter scent drifting past the snowman? Warm, spicy, and absolutely delicious? Tip simply must find out where it’s coming from! Can her twitchy nose lead her to the mystery treat? And why is Brat Cat grinning like she knows a secret? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words such as ‘by,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ‘my,’ and ‘she.’

Steve is the seeker, and he’s sure he can find Alex in ten seconds flat. But the fields are full of surprises - a fluffy dog, a grumpy cat, and even a hen stuck in a hole! Can Steve spot his sister before she sneaks home? Will the greatest seeker ever lived give up, or is Alex closer than he thinks? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels through playful words like ’tag,’ ‘ran,’ ‘hid,’ ‘hen,’ and ‘dog.’

Alex has a shiny new fishing rod and she’s ready to race Steve to the water - but poor Steve has nothing to fish with! Where have all the sticks and string gone? Who took the whole lot? Steve hunts high and low, finding only cracked, frayed, barely-there rods that couldn’t catch a cold. Can he turn two broken rods into one lucky day? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whole.’

Bones is the bravest dog in the valley - until a terrible storm sends him bolting into the dark woods. Lost and hungry, he meets a wolf pack with pale, watching eyes, and soon he’s running wild beside them, leaving his red bandana behind. But what happens when Zom finds him in the forest clearing? Can Skel bring his best friend home again? This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram through words like ‘crash,’ ‘dash,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘shook.’

Crow has a big plan - he’s going to WOW the animals with his amazing singing voice! But when he opens his beak, Hank, Pink, and Frank bolt away in a blink. Was his song really that bad? Can Crow find a way to win his chums back, or will he sing alone forever? Hop onto the stage and find out what happens when Crow hands over the microphone! This decodable reader practises the nk sound in words like ‘blink,’ ’thank,’ ‘clunk,’ and ’trunk.’

Ted is off to Ava’s party, white cane in hand, and he’s sure he knows the way. But when Kim rushes up worried he’ll get lost, can Ted really find the party using just smells, sounds, and his trusty cane? What happens when a huge puddle blocks the path, or a barking dog leaps out? Follow Ted and Kim on a clever, sniffy, surprising adventure across town. This decodable reader practises the wh sound in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘whiff,’ and ‘whole.’

Pip the squirrel has stashed forty-nine nuts all over Butternut Hill, ready for winter - but when she checks her secret spots, every single nut has vanished! Who would take them? The buzzing bees? A sneaky fly? Her kind friend Liz? Pip is determined to solve the mystery, even if it means tumbling out of a tree or two along the way. Could the answer be hiding somewhere she never thought to look? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘hive,’ ‘chase,’ ‘dome,’ and ‘smile.’

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.’