Decodable Books for Jolly Phonics Classrooms: Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed

The elephant won’t budge from its little red cart, no matter how hard it’s pushed. But out in the yard, warm eggs in the dirt spark a fun new game: counting! Soon bubbles swirl from a spinning fan, a toy car zooms on twirling wheels, and a star balloon lifts higher and higher into the sky. How high will the count go before it’s time to turn back and push that elephant again? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘dirt’, ‘swirl’, ’twirl’, ‘fingers’, ’turn’.

Pat loves a drawing game nobody can win. He starts with a big black circle and two smaller shapes, and grins as guesses fly in from frogs to robots to cats. Every time, he just shakes his head and says keep looking. What creature is he really drawing? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘perfect’, ‘smirk’, ‘fur’, ‘dinner’, ‘first’.

Deep in a mining cave, a sudden glowing emerald sends the miner spinning somewhere new: grassy fields, strange sounds, and monsters closing in fast. Fleeing across open ground with danger on every side, the miner spots a river ahead and dives in, but will it really be safe? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘river’, ’turn’, ‘bursts’, ‘ferns’, ‘under’.

Miss Fern taps a cane across the studio floor as her three young dancers leap and spin, never guessing their teacher was once something else entirely. Long ago, Fern twirled through empty city streets at night, floating past lamp posts and the old clock tower before finding a partner who could finally keep up with her. Now, when a girl stops mid-twirl and asks if she ever danced on a real stage, what will Miss Fern say? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘girl’, ‘first’, ’turn’, ’twirl’, ‘hurts’.

Dr Can Do has the best Christmas joke ever, but nobody’s heard it. He practises his timing all summer, saving it for Christmas dinner, sure nobody can steal it this time. Will his punchline finally land? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’ever’, ‘dinner’, ‘first’, ‘burst’, ’never’.

Jill’s yard is buried under stacks and stacks of stone, and the town bin has a line stretching around the corner. Tired of waiting, she decides to build her own bin from scratch, but every piece has to be just right. Will Jill’s homemade machine actually work? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘hurry’, ‘corner’, ‘peer’, ‘villagers’, ’turns’.

A girl’s dad rides off on his bike every morning, and tonight feels a hundred days away. Her tiny toy bike is too slow to follow, so she grabs a scooter and zooms faster than ever, chasing anything with more power. But a car, a bus, even a digger might not be enough. Which ride would you pick first? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘faster’, ‘harder’, ‘power’, ’never’, ‘perfect’.

Pip just wants one small, dry spot to sleep. When a cosy box is packed with cats and a trash bin already has an owner, every place seems taken, leaving the streets colder and darker by the minute. Will Pip ever find a place to rest? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘curl’, ‘darker’, ‘fur’, ‘under’, ‘better’.

Jack is checking the crops when a huge boom shakes the farm. Down the hill he finds an iron golem, tall as a house, holding a tiny flower and walking the same sad loop, worn into the dirt. Jack knows a real town nearby needs a golem like this one. Can he find a way to make it turn and follow him there? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’turns’, ‘dirt’, ‘flower’, ‘burning’, ‘hurts’.

Jill walks into town with only a cow and a frown, her pockets empty after raiders took every last bit of gold. A kind stranger named Dr. Can Do promises to build her a hiding place so deep and sneaky no raider will ever find it again. Can he really pull it off? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘her’, ’never’, ‘hurt’, ‘firm’, ‘sir’.

A girl’s class must catch and study a real insect, and she and her partner pick the trickiest target of all: a dragonfly nobody has ever caught. It darts, dives, and vanishes into the tall grass every time they get close, so the pair dream up a wild plan involving leaves and a spider’s web. Will their homemade net finally work? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘ferns’, ‘stern’, ’expert’, ‘firm’, ‘curve’.

Otter pups are ready to learn how to fish, but first their mum has other plans: swimming, hiding, and even a nap. Along the riverbank they dodge nets, traps, and a lurking crocodile before they ever reach the water. Will the pups survive their lessons long enough to finally dive in and catch dinner? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘river’, ‘hurry’, ‘clever’, ‘murky’, ‘riverbank’.

When the sky was still one black, empty bowl and no light followed the sun down, a girl hears her little brother crying, lost somewhere past the firelight. Her flashlight fails, the dark swallows every step, and her grandmother warns that it is too wide to cross. Can she find a way to reach him before his voice fades into silence? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’ember’, ‘burst’, ‘river’, ‘brother’, ‘silver’.

Red loves swimming, looping, and lunch in his cool pond, but something huge lurks in the reeds behind the tall weeds. When Big Bad Fish bursts out with jaws snapping, Red and his pals must dart, dive, and dodge to escape. Can Red outswim the hungry fish chasing him through the murky corners of the pond? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’lurks’, ‘murk’, ‘faster’, ‘corner’, and ’never’.

Ned has made one rule in his strange new blocky world: never go outside. But his tiny wooden hut is bitter cold, and staying warm means braving the dark trees where monsters lurk. With only his clever talking Book to guide him, can Ned gather what he needs before nightfall? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘better’, ‘furnace’, ‘hurry’, ‘chirp’, ’expert’.

Boy in Red bets he can race to the river and back before dinner, and his friends chase after him just to keep up. But when mist rolls in and the amber sky turns dark, will they find their way home before something in the ferns finds them first? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘river’, ‘faster’, ‘fingers’, ‘dinner’, ‘perfect’.

Boy just wants a rainy day with hot chocolate and a good book. But Bull and Cat never sit still, and soon muddy puddles, splashing games, and a downpour turn quiet plans upside down. Can Boy keep his hot chocolate safe from his hungry, mud-soaked friends? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’never’, ‘stir’, ‘hurry’, ‘under’, ‘better’.

Hyena has a nose that can’t ever choose. When the wind carries two feasts at once, he chases both and wins nothing. But after a run-in with a wise dung beetle and a night of following his snout in every direction, will Hyena finally learn to pick just one? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’never’, ’turns’, ‘first’, ‘stir’, ’lurch’.

Monkey lives happily at the top of his tall palm tree by the sea, until a shark invites him on a ride to see what lies beyond the shore. He climbs on, but the shark’s smooth words soon turn strange. Will Monkey ever make it back to the tree he loves best? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘clever’, ’turn’, ’never’, ‘better’.

Mbe the tortoise notices a hidden gap in the village barn wall, just his size. With the dry season stretching thin and everyone rationing yams, he starts slipping through at night with a cloth on his shell. But a sharp-eyed girl next door hears the scrape of a stone that shouldn’t move. Will she tell her grandmother what she’s seen? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘stern’, ‘murky’, ‘clever’, ‘river’, ‘hurry’.

In the town of Ede, the talking drum speaks for everyone, calling the market and warning of storms. Temi is the best young drummer around, small for her age but faster than anyone expects. One dry morning by the north gate, she overhears two strangers planning something they shouldn’t. Should she run for help, or use her drum to warn someone first? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘her’, ‘girl’, ’never’, ’turns’, ‘under’.

A stern judge in Gondar is sure no one is cleverer than he is, until he drives past a girl sorting grain into perfectly equal piles with nothing but her hands. Determined to prove she got lucky, he sets three tricky tasks and threatens her family with a fine if she fails even one. Will Tigist outwit him? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘clever’, ‘smirk’, ‘firm’, ‘dirt’ and ‘stern’.

Juma is the worst fisherman on the whole waterfront: unlucky, never lazy, and his nets keep coming up empty while his family’s rice runs out. One deep-sea cast pulls up something strange, and Juma has to decide how many wishes are too many. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’never’, ‘first’, ’expert’, ’turn’, ‘better’.

Brat Cat’s tail puffs up like a bottle brush in the noisy, hotter and hotter town, and one more sneeze might just do her in. She hurries off to a quiet wood, where birch trees stand tall and birds chirp overhead. Could this glade be the perfect spot for her to build a hut all her own? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘hurry’, ‘chirp’, ‘clever’, ‘perfect’, ‘corner’.

Zom the zombie has one dream: make friends with the husks camping by the dunes. He tries a hello, then a hand-carved cactus gift, then even shows up riding a fancy camel, but the husks just stare into the dark like he isn’t there. Then, out of nowhere, every husk turns and lurches off across the sand together, fast and jerky, and Zom has to know why. Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘stir’, ’lurch’, ‘murky’, ‘jerky’, ’turtle’.

Fern has a mountain of chores and no breakfast yet, but a silly song he sings while sweeping brings an unexpected reply from the corn patch. There, perched like a bird, sits a tiny elf who knows every word of his tune. What happens when this clever elf offers to help with all his jobs? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘bird’, ‘perched’, ‘clever’, ‘gather’, ‘faster’.

Lion hasn’t eaten in days, and Jackal has been stealing his food. When Lion finally catches him and pins him down, Jackal spots a huge rock teetering on the cliff above them both. Can a clever story about a falling rock save Jackal’s neck? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘hammer’, ‘clever’, ‘firm’, ‘blurts’, ’thunder’.

Kofi is a clever little goat who wanders too far from home, right into the path of Fisi the Hyena, who fancies a goat for supper. Fisi blocks every escape until Kofi spots a shaky rope bridge she’s light enough to cross and he isn’t. Can she outsmart him before her tired legs give out? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘hurt’, ‘firm’, ‘smirk’, ‘supper’, ‘clever’.

Dog finds a mysterious tin sitting on the floor and just has to know what’s inside. When paint spills everywhere, Dog and Cat end up in a wild, colourful chase across the room. Could their messy mix-up somehow turn into something wonderful? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘her’, ‘fur’, ‘hurry’, ‘blur’, ‘perch’.

Skel and Jack finally follow Zom to the dolphin city he’s been bragging about for weeks, with its coral towers and shell streets. But something feels wrong the moment they dive in: one dolphin lies still on the sea bed, worn out and barely moving, while the others gather round clicking urgently. What has happened to the best spot in all the sea? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’turns’, ‘bursts’, ‘first’, ’tower’, ‘murky’.

A tire is tired of the same bumpy old road, and dreams of finding somewhere new to belong. Could a spinning trip on a car, a truck, or even a cart finally be the perfect fit? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’turn’, ‘hurts’, ‘better’, ‘faster’, and ‘perks’.

Ned is bored, so bored he doesn’t know what to do. He climbs the tallest tree, faster and faster, until a branch cracks and sends him tumbling to the dirt. Could a stack of soft honey blocks turn a painful fall into something fun? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘faster’, ‘dirt’, ‘harder’, ’ladder’, ‘bigger’.

Tess has waited weeks for her cousin to visit, and now he’s finally here! She’s got a big plan: show him the best day ever, starting with the farm, then the stream, then whatever Nan has waiting at the market. Will her cousin believe she can really catch a fish with just her bare hands? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’turns’, ‘blur’, ’expert’, ‘harder’, ’lurch’.

Ray thinks his hat, made by Gran from hay and wool, is the best hat in the world, with googly eyes, big horns, and a swishy pink tail. When a mischievous cloud sends a huge gust of wind his way, Ray’s beloved hat rips right off his head and sails into the sky. Will Ray ever get his best hat back? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ‘faster’, ‘harder’, ’never’, ‘shirt’, ‘monster’.

Sam has been sitting since the day he was born, and he’s never once stopped. He plonks down on paths, on hilltops, even beside a hut when he’s meant to be standing firm and proud. Now his family is heading somewhere new, with a wolf who seems just as keen to copy him. Will Sam finally learn when not to sit? Written for Jolly Phonics classrooms (Step 3, Unit 11: /er/ mixed), this book practises words like ’ever’, ‘stir’, ‘firm’, ‘murky’, ‘whisper’.