Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms: Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city

A cat sits frozen, still as stone, while a hungry boy grips a strange green emerald that seems to stop time itself. Villagers flinch and back away the moment he pulls it from his pocket. What is this cursed gem really doing to the world around him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glance’, ‘fence’, ’trance’, ‘wince’, ‘cinch’.

Bam’s flute music is so soothing it puts everyone around him to sleep, so he plays one loud note just to see how powerful it really is. The ground shakes, dust rains down, and something enormous begins to stir beneath the bay. When a huge sea beast bursts from the waves, could Bam’s own music be the reason it woke up? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘circles’, ‘glances’, ‘bounces’, ’excited’, ’notices’.

Anansi the spider has the nicest, roundest belly in the forest, and he plans to keep it that way. But when a once-in-seven-years feast comes to all seven villages on the very same day, he can’t decide which one to choose. What happens when a clever spider decides he doesn’t have to choose at all? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘decide’, ’excited’, ‘fancies’, ’nicest’, ’notices’.

Sam has lived his whole life underground, and today he’s finally brave enough to crawl into the sunlight to find a friend. When his enormous new footsteps lead him into a village, will the children who spot him see a monster, or a boy who just wants to play? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘dance’, ’nice’, ‘face’, ‘prances’.

Bug has a fizzy, buzzy feeling and wants to sing more than anything, but she has never sung a single note in her life. She tries out songs from Duck, Frog, Big Bird and Sad Bird, but none of them feel right. Can Bug find a song that is truly her own? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dance’, ’excited’, ‘racing’, ‘prances’ and ‘scene’.

A girl swears her wobbly, bouncy duck is the fastest in town, but her friends just laugh at the little bird that can barely stay off the ground. Can Duck really win the big flock race on Saturday? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘bouncy’, ’excited’, ‘racing’, ’nice’.

Dr Can Do never does things the easy way. When his best friend’s supplies run dangerously low, he decides a quick trip for cactus is the answer, packing no food, no water and total confidence. But the cactus turns out far bigger and spikier than he imagined, so how will he ever get it home without a single ouch? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘pencil’, ’tracing’, ‘winces’, ‘chance’.

A girl wakes up on her birthday and races to The Book, hoping for a fancy present. But The Book says she must make it herself, sending her slicing grain and racing after chickens with a determined voice. What could she possibly be building with grain, sugar, eggs, and milk? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘fancy’, ‘races’, ‘voice’, ‘dancing’, ‘icing’.

Skel and his dog Bones sneak toward a swamp witch’s hut, sure that grabbing her treasure will be an easy job. But Bones spots a black cat and can’t resist chasing it, so much for staying quiet. Can Bones keep his eyes on the loot instead of every cat and chick in the swamp? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘fancy’, ‘pounces’, ‘bounces’, ‘cinch’.

Tip has a brilliant plan: she’s going to write a blog about every job in the village. Notebook in hand, she rushes off to interview the workers, sure this will be her big chance to shine. But will she actually get any of it written down? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ’nicely’, ‘glances’, ‘pencil’, ‘winces’, ‘chance’.

Zom finds a strange rainbow rabbit that makes the sweetest milk he has ever tasted. He dreams up a big plan to turn that milk into something amazing to sell in the village. Will his exciting idea turn out to be the treat everyone hopes for? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘fancy’, ’nice’, ‘bounce’, ’excited’, ‘dances’.

In a town between green hills lives a girl who can read a footprint like a face. When a smooth-talking stranger arrives leaving no dust behind him, she alone notices something is wrong. What is he hiding, and can she outsmart him before it’s too late? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘chance’, ’notices’, ‘voice’, ’trance’.

Hop ducks as arrows thud into the tree right above his head, and he is sure only the king could shoot like that. Racing off to find him, Hop gathers his friends one by one, each glancing about nervously as the trail leads deeper into the woods. What will they find when they finally catch up with the king? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ’excited’, ‘racing’, ‘since’, ‘winces’.

A baby joey has found the cosiest spot in Mum’s pouch, and it quickly becomes a hiding place for treasures: a shimmering feather, a juicy berry, soft falling petals. But when Big Brother reaches for the pouch that used to be his, will there be room for him too? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘fancy’, ‘bounce’, ‘chance’, ‘dancing’, ‘glance’.

A yoyo has vanished, and no amount of searching the toy box, the backpack, or behind the couch turns it up. The house is a mess and there’s still no sign of it anywhere. Then, out on the hill, someone else seems to be having a lot of fun with a certain yellow toy. Could Gus really have the missing yoyo? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dances’, ‘glance’, ‘pace’, ‘racing’, ‘wince’.

A mouse has moved into the house, and no one is happy about it! Nan yells, Mum drops the dishes, and even the family cat hides under the bed. Can anyone catch this cheeky little visitor before it causes more chaos? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘racing’, ‘peaceful’, ‘chance’, ‘prince’.

That big bird up there is such a show-off, and the dragonflies and butterflies can do amazing tricks too. May and her pals decide they want to fly like that, so May comes up with a plan involving a fluffy cloud. Will it actually get them up in the sky? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dance’, ‘fancy’, ’notice’, ‘face’, ‘glance’.

High above the clouds, a huge race is about to begin, with every raindrop pushing to be first. When the clouds finally burst, thousands of raindrops go tumbling, bouncing, and racing down through hills, streams, and rivers toward the sea. But down below, the sun is watching and smiling to himself. What does he know that the excited raindrops don’t? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ’excited’, ‘racing’, ‘bounce’, ’exciting’, ‘dance’.

Jack is a scarecrow with a big problem: the farm is far too quiet, with no bees, no birds, and not one bug in sight. He leans on the fence and glances at the empty crop rows, determined to fix things. Can a scarecrow who’s bad at his job bring the whole farm buzzing back to life? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘fence’, ‘glances’, ‘circling’, ‘race’ and ’nicely’.

Fig Pig has the perfect birthday surprise for Brat Cat: wings! There’s just one problem. Brat Cat has never flown before in her life. Racing up a tall cliff with Fig Pig bouncing ahead, can she really trust him when he says flying is such a cinch? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘cinch’, ‘racing’, ‘glances’, ‘chance’, ’nicest’.

Kalulu the Hare arrives to find Simba the Lion ruling the river with roars and stolen suppers. When the clever hare spots a chance to teach the greedy king a lesson, he offers to scout ahead and find an even fancier feast. Will his plan land the proud king exactly where he deserves to be? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘decided’, ‘fancier’, ‘glance’, ‘racing’.

Elephant thinks he’s the greatest creature on the veld, and he doesn’t care whose garden he tramples to prove it. When the river floods too deep for the small animals to cross, Hare hatches a bold plan involving a grass blanket and a clever trick, but will Elephant ever agree to help the very creatures he’s ignored? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘glances’, ’nicely’, ‘prance’, ‘voice’.

Ajapa the tortoise cannot fly, but sky-food smells too good to miss. He talks the birds into lending him feathers, a new sky name, and a seat at the feast, since one small favour never hurts. But once he’s airborne, will Ajapa share the food fairly, or take every chance for himself? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘since’, ‘chance’, ‘glances’, ’nicely’, ‘dance’.

The Moon knows a secret: her light always returns, even when it fades away. She sends Hare racing across the sand to tell the men, but his excited voice mixes up her words before he even reaches the fires. Can he fix the mistake before the men stop believing him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘race’, ‘bouncing’, ’excited’, ‘chance’, ‘peaceful’.

Dragon has one job: breathe fire in front of the whole class on Friday. He’s convinced he doesn’t even need to practise, so he spends the week lounging on a hillside, stuffing his face with cheese puffs instead. When test day comes and he steps up to try, what will happen? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dunce’, ‘chance’, ‘wince’, ‘ace’, ’nice’.

Lacy is turning ten, and ten means big presents. But when Dad hands her a clay donkey money bank instead of a phone, she can’t help wondering what kind of birthday gift that is. Will saving every last coin actually get her what she wants? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dance’, ‘chance’, ’nicest’, ‘since’, ‘face’.

My name is Lacy, and one of my shoes is missing! With so many feet, walking on the cold ground feels all wrong, and I need to find that shoe before bedtime. Frog, Grasshopper, and Crab each offer to help, but will any of their strange shoes actually fit? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘glance’, ’nicely’, ‘peaceful’, ’excited’.

A thirsty jackal arrives at the waterhole to find a huge elephant blocking every drop, refusing to budge for anyone. Too small to fight and too slow to outrace him, the jackal decides he’ll need a cleverer plan, one that uses the ground itself. But will a trick be enough to outsmart a creature so much bigger? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘glance’, ’nicely’, ‘racing’, ‘decides’.

Opio is ten and fancies himself the best paddler on the lake, gliding out alone to check the family fish trap while his parents watch from shore. But when thick mist rolls in and swallows every landmark, the reeds, the shore, even the sound of home, he finds himself drifting on open water with no way to tell which direction leads back. Can he find his way home before the fog wins? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘circling’, ‘chance’, ‘glances’, ‘winces’, ‘peaceful’.

Ned wants treasure, and a chest deep in a cave might finally give him something better than a potato. But when a strange dark box keeps summoning monster after monster, will Ned’s pickaxe be enough? Then comes an even bigger surprise waiting past the fight, one that could change everything. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘chance’, ‘glance’, ’nicely’, ‘bounces’, ‘face’.

Cheetah brags to every animal on the veld about being the fastest, running show-off laps each morning. When Tortoise calmly challenges him to a race to the waterhole, the whole veld falls silent, then bursts into laughter, except Tortoise, who has already noticed something interesting about the dusty path ahead. Could a plodding tortoise really have a chance against the fastest runner around? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘bounces’, ‘since’, ‘chance’, ‘races’.

Bub’s family loves the park, but they love sitting still even more. Mum reads with her eyes shut, and Pup naps in the grass, peaceful as can be. Then a kite dances into view overhead, and excited Bub leans off the bench with her hands stretched high. What happens when Bub finally grabs hold of that string? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘dance’, ‘chance’, ’excited’, ‘glance’, ‘peaceful’.

Fish loves her lake more than any place in the world, and every morning she tells the other fish so. But one day something strange floats on the surface: a big round ring, half sunk in a little green boat. Fish glances at it, looks twice, and her mouth drops open, because that is definitely not a cloud. Who could be dumping rubbish in her home? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘chance’, ‘winces’, ‘pounces’, ’twice’.

A mage’s magic just will not sit still, and one night it bounces right out of him. He decides to let out “just one little spell,” sure that no one will notice. But each prank leads straight to another, and the noise keeps getting louder. What happens when the whole house wakes up? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘decides’, ‘bounces’, ’notice’, ‘races’, ’exciting’.

When the flood water rises fast, Mel escapes with only her toy giraffe, Gus, tucked under her arm. A stranger named Jen pulls her to safety, but Mel just wants her mum and dad back. Will Jen keep her promise to help Mel find them? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 2: soft c as in city), this book practises words like ‘glances’, ‘bounces’, ‘chance’, ‘voice’, ‘racing’.