Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms: Group 5, z /z/

A girl smells something stinky in the park and finds a muddy pig hiding behind a bush. She races down the hill and into puddles with her new friend, dabbing red on its lips and dressing it up like a movie star, but Mum is waiting at the front door. Can she sneak the messiest pig in the world past Mum without getting caught? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zigzags’, ‘zip’, ‘blitz’, ‘zag’, ‘zen’.

Tip’s nose wakes her before the rest of her does, and the air smells strange and wild. When snow falls thick over the cabin, she charges out with Brat Cat and Fig Pig to explore it, leaving a wobbly snowman behind her. Then a sweet, spicy smell drifts by, and Tip’s nose starts twitching. Could something this delicious really be hiding out there in the snow? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zig’, ‘zag’, ‘blitz’, ‘zest’, ‘zips’.

Pup just wants one tiny nap, but a mysterious chirp keeps interrupting his snooze. He sniffs, zigzags through the bushes, and zips up a tree, checking every pal he finds, but none of them seems to be the noisy culprit. Could a grumpy pal, a quiet friend, or even a row of birds be the chirper Pup is hunting for? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zigzags’, ‘zips’, ‘zen’, ‘jeez’, ‘for’.

Ned finally stops hiding under the blankets and grabs his magic sword to face the monsters outside. A huge zombie lurches out of the dark, groaning and smelling like old socks in a swamp. Can Ned really stop being a potato and fight back? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zips’, ‘jeez’, ‘blitz’, ‘zombie’.

Gus has waited all week for the rain to stop, and now the sun is finally back. Kites zip and zigzag up and down the street, but Gus has one big idea: a troll queen kite that has to fly higher than any other. Will Gus’s plan work? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zigzags’, ‘grins’, ‘runs’, ‘cord’.

Zom steps outside to find his farm covered in cake, planted in neat rows like crops. He didn’t plant it, so who did? Skel grumbles about the mess, but Jack can’t stop laughing, and Zom starts to wonder if his pumpkin-faced friend is hiding something behind that grin. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘jeez’, ‘zigzags’, ‘blitz’, ‘zest’.

Anansi cooks a huge feast and plans to eat it all alone, but a hungry friend turns up at the door. Jeez, will Turtle get any of that grub before it’s gone? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zest’, ‘zip’, ‘zigzag’, ‘fez’, ‘zen’.

A girl sits in her window, playing her flute, and every note is sad because she is sad. Her music drifts out across the garden until raindrops start to fall from a clear sky. Down below, a rabbit’s ears perk up, a bee zips into the air, and a bird zigzags through the drizzle. Can this little band of friends zigzag their way to whoever is playing that heartbroken song? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zigzags’, ‘for’, ‘zags’, ‘zest’.

Zig is having a terrible morning. A flood sweeps him into a dark drain, and he crawls on and on until he zips out into the sunshine, right in front of a school full of kids. They think he’s a crocodile! Can Zig prove he’s really something else entirely? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zig’, ‘jeez’, ‘zip’, ‘blitz’, ‘zen’.

Sal’s dad is the best dad in the world, and Sal has a fishing rod all ready to go with him. There’s just one small problem: Dad works so hard that he falls asleep the moment he sits down, rod forgotten beside him. Can Sal find a way to wake him up and get him outside at last? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zip’, ‘zest’, ‘zigzag’, ‘jeez’.

A strange house appears overnight with a teal door and a smoky purple chimney, and a mysterious Mage moves right in. When he flips a chicken upside down and it lays an egg into the clouds, a girl who works the mines knows one thing for sure: this Mage means trouble. Will her sheep, her pickaxe, and her patience survive his magic? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zips’, ‘zen’, ‘blitz’, ‘jeez’.

Jack is stuck in the biggest, grumpiest funk ever, and not even his friends’ silly plans seem to help. Then a snack, a sneeze, and one very messy baby panda change everything. Could a giant sneeze really be enough to fix a funk this big? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zigzag’, ‘sneeze’, ‘zap’, ‘jeez’.

Iron Golem has practised his speech, and he zips into the village with zest, ready to make a friend at last. But villagers pass by, cats just nap and lick, and even the pigs snort without a glance. Will anyone ever notice him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zest’, ‘snort’, ‘fends’, ‘grins’.

Elephant thinks no one can take his waterhole, and he zaps any animal that comes near for a sip. But a calm tortoise has a plan, and challenges the giant to a strange bet: crack his shell by sundown, or share the water with everyone. Will a small, steady shell really be able to withstand an elephant’s full strength? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zaps’, ‘zest’, ‘zen’, ‘zigzags’, ‘jeez’.

Dr. Can Do’s furnaces are starving for coal, and the mine is far away across bumpy roads. Walking will take forever, so he starts hammering together something wild in his workshop. Could this new invention really get him there in a flash? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zig’, ‘zag’, ‘zip’, ‘jeez’.

Jackal knows Hyena has found the best honeycomb on the whole dry veld, dripping golden inside a hollow tree. Jeez, it looks delicious, but Hyena is big and guards it fiercely. Jackal has an idea, but can a small, hungry jackal ever outsmart a hyena? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zest’, ‘zips’, ‘zigzags’.

Jan can’t wait to pick a book at her grandmother’s house, and she loves how her grandmother’s stories always drift into wild made-up bits. This time Jan makes her promise to read only what’s really on the page, but will the story stay that way? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zigzag’, ‘zip’, ‘grabs’, ‘zest’, ’nods’.

A blue butterfly drifts along the path, and a curious calf just has to follow it deeper and deeper into the jungle. Snakes hide in the grass, monkeys watch from the trees, and then the butterfly lands right on a tiger’s nose. Will the calf find her way back to Mum before the tiger finds her first? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zigzag’, ‘zest’, ‘zen’.

Tim’s homework letters keep coming out wrong, and it makes him so mad he wants to give up. Then a pal shows him an old trick with a board and a bit of chalk that turns tricky letters into something fun. Will Tim finally get every single one right? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zest’, ‘zig’, ‘zag’, ‘blitz’.

Kintu lives alone on the green hills with only his cow for company. Jeez, he longs for a friend. When Nambi peeps through a gap in the clouds and zips down the sky road to find him, could she be the pal he’s been waiting for? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘jeez’, ‘zips’, ‘zigzags’, ‘zest’, ‘for’.

Siti climbs high into the coconut trees and brings down one strange, glowing coconut that hums instead of rattling. When it finally cracks open in her lap, something impossible is curled up inside, waiting for her. What has she found? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zap’, ‘zest’, ‘zigzags’.

Hyena eats everything on the veld, fast, loud, and without sharing. When Hare stashes sweet marula fruit in a hollow log, Hyena finds it and licks it clean, but Hare has a bigger plan brewing, one involving a very grumpy bee nest. Will Hyena’s greed finally catch up with her? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘jeez’, ‘zap’, ‘zigzags’, ‘blitz’.

A quiet mountain keeps its secret. Ngai has a plan for old Gran Wanjirũ, and a slow chameleon carries his message toward the village while a sleepy fig tempts him off the path. Will the message reach the clan whole? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zips’, ‘blitz’, ‘jeez’, ‘zags’.

Dr. Can Do arrives in a village lit only by smoky, dripping torches, and he’s sure he has a better idea. He sets up a strange new workshop on the hill, promising lights and machines the villagers have never seen. Will they trust this odd inventor’s glowing plan? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zen’, ‘zigzags’, ‘jeez’.

Jen has a big birthday plan, and she needs to find every bead she owns before Mum wakes up. But when the toy chest, the drawers, and the laundry mountain all spill open at once, Jen’s room turns into an enormous mess. Can she fix it all before the beads even get threaded? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘digs’, ‘grabs’, ‘zigzags’, ‘sorts’, ‘beads’.

Zom and Skel race to the top of the hill, but Zom never shows up at the finish. Instead, he’s found something strange buried under a tree, humming with light. What could be inside a glowing egg that no animal in the valley will claim? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zap’, ‘zigzags’, ‘zest’, ‘jeez’.

Hal the spirit loves nothing more than scaring every creature in the village, and he’s never once failed. But when the streets fall quiet and there’s nobody left to frighten, will one tiny, sleepy mouse finally be the one to end his winning streak? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zigzags’, ‘zaps’, ‘zest’, ‘blitz’.

Tortoise talks and talks, even when he really shouldn’t. When drought hits and the birds fly off to a feast far away, he begs Crane for a ride, on one condition: not a single word the whole way. Can Tortoise really keep his lips zipped all the way there? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zigzag’, ‘jeez’, ‘zen’ and ‘zags’.

Ned thinks the forest is safe until three huge wolves surround him, and he barely escapes with the door slammed shut behind him. Instead of hiding forever, he creeps back out with a bone and a bold plan to turn his scariest enemies into friends. Will his plan actually work? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zag’, ‘zest’, ‘jeez’, ‘zigzags’.

Pat’s leaf orb is too small, so he sneaks into the forest for bigger leaves, but a huge tiger bursts from the trees and gives chase. Lost and panicking, Pat spots a strange trail of fruit leading deeper into the woods. Could this striped stranger actually be trying to help him find his way home? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zap’, ‘zigzag’, ‘orb’, ‘zips’, ‘zen’.

Rooster spots a small mouse hiding near his feet and decides to sneak up for the catch of his life. But the mouse spots him first and dashes off across the farmyard, darting past hens, bushes, and a haystack. Will Rooster catch the clever mouse before it gets away? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zigzags’, ‘digs’, ‘grins’, ’lands’.

Tano digs for clams on a quiet tidal flat and hits something buried in the sand: an old drum with a strange rule scratched into its base. One ask a day, his grandmother warns, and only if the wanting feels clear, not itchy. What will Tano choose to ask for first? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘digs’, ‘grabs’, ‘zigzag’, ‘feels’.

Wanjikũ, the cleverest girl in her village, turns down every suitor with a laugh, until a mysterious stranger arrives and her clever tongue goes quiet. He only visits at dusk and never shows his full face. When her little brother spots something strange about him, will anyone believe her before it’s too late? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zips’, ‘zest’, ‘grins’, ‘hums’, ‘zigzag’.

Ned’s beehive makes the best honey he’s ever tasted, and he can’t stop eating it, even when his tummy starts to hurt and his face turns green. His cat naps close by while he zigs and zags in bed, too sick to rest. Will Ned ever learn to stop before his honey habit catches up with him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zest’, ‘zigzags’, ‘jeez’, ‘zen’.

Sam has a big plan to help Mum with everything today, from watering plants to scrubbing the wash. But when Mum rolls out the bike, Sam’s tummy does a flip. Can Sam zigzag down the street all by herself? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Group 5: z /z/), this book practises words like ‘zip’, ‘zigzags’, ‘grins’, ’lands’, ‘has’.