Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 45: sh /sh/
Literacy changes lives, and we’re dedicated to making quality books accessible to every young reader. Explore decodable books for UFLI Lesson 45, where s and h join to make the quiet sh sound. The stories give children practice with the sh digraph at the start and end of words, in sh words such as ship, shed, ash and fish.
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Not My Best Socks!
Alana treasures her socks more than anything, keeping her very best pair tucked safely in a small box. So when she opens the box one Monday and finds it empty, she grabs her looking glass and marches off to investigate. Who could have taken her precious best socks? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘gosh’, ‘shock’, ‘wish’, ‘hush’, ‘rush’.
Langa and the Gust
Langa has always dreamed of seeing the great storm bird, and tonight, as the sky turns purple and the cattle bolt for shelter, he does not run. The rains have failed, the corn is thin, and old Dube has a wish for a lush, wet land again. Can a boy with nothing but courage and a strange gift in his hands bring the rain home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘flash’, ‘crash’, ‘hush’, ‘wish’.
The Big Rush
Nip finally makes it to the beach, but the sea keeps waiting. Along the way there are shells to collect, a crab with one giant claw, and a whole crowd of crabs following a mysterious tip about a “top spot” everyone visits. Will Nip ever stop looking and reach the water? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘dash’, ‘shell’, ‘rush’, ‘splash’, ‘wish’.
Can Kim See Ships?
Meg has a big wish: she wants to see the sea, and her friend Jack says he knows the way. They dash up the hill and rush along the track, but the sea is nowhere in sight. Will Meg ever find the sea she has dreamed of, or is it too far away? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘wish’, ‘dash’, ‘rush’, ‘gosh’, ‘splash’.
Get It! Get It!
Crab is not supposed to pinch things, but old habits are hard to break. When he spots something strange curled around a rock, he just can’t resist giving it one tiny pinch. Will Crab finally learn to leave things alone? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘fish’, ‘splash’, ‘dash’, ‘fresh’, ‘gosh’.
The Mage Hunts at Dawn
The Mischievous Mage is up before dawn when every golem in the village turns up broken, and skeletons will swarm in after dark unless he finds pumpkins fast. He and his friends split up to search caves, hills, and a hidden patch, but will they gather enough in time? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘gosh’, ‘dash’, ‘fresh’, ‘rush’, ‘wish’.
Fig Pig Sets Sail at Dawn
Fig Pig has a big wish: sail off and find a brave crew for his grand quest. He meets fish that swish and dash away, spots a lush island, and gets a shock on a frosty shore. Will he ever find a pal to join him? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘wish’, ‘dash’, ’lush’, ‘shock’, ‘splash’.
Sifiso Has Meds
A great serpent guards a deep pool, and it has stopped anyone from crossing for six weeks. On the far side, Sifiso’s grandmother is sick, and only he can reach her with the meds his mother has made. Will Sifiso find a way past the serpent before it’s too late? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘hush’, ‘dash’, ‘splash’, ‘crash’, ‘shock’.
Temi's Hush Tap
Temi has a talking drum that can rush and swish, and her grandfather Kunle taught her to tap its skin until it could almost speak. But when she hears bad men plotting near the shed, she cannot just shout for help, so what can one small girl with a drum really do? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘hush’, ‘rush’, ‘shrill’, ‘gosh’, ‘posh’.
Hodan Spots Big Prints
Hodan tends her family’s camels across the red-sand plains, but fresh lion tracks circle the camp at dawn. When the big cat begins to stalk from the shrubs, will she find a way to keep her herd safe? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘rush’, ‘flash’, ‘dash’, ‘shift’, ‘gosh’.
Be Brave, Ned!
Ned’s tiny wooden shed keeps out the monsters, but not the cold. With only The Book for company and zombies lurking outside, Ned must brave the world beyond his door to gather stone and wood before dark falls again. Can Ned build a fire hot enough to save him before night comes creeping back? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘shed’, ‘gosh’, ‘bash’, ‘dash’, ‘flash’.
Gosh, Buzz Is Lost!
Bee is lost, and no one can find his home. Gosh, will Elephant’s big ideas ever lead them somewhere safe? A bird’s nest gives them a scare, and bats send them into a dash through the trees, but Elephant refuses to give up the search. Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘rush’, ‘hush’, ‘dash’, ‘wish’.
The Quest
Snap is done climbing on Pop’s bumpy back with her brothers and sisters. She has a big wish: to dash off and find the most amazing thing in the whole world. Swimming past rocks and fish with a splash and a swish, will Snap find it out there, or somewhere she never expected? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘splash’, ‘fish’, ‘swish’, ‘dash’, ‘wish’.
A Thud on the Line!
Ned has finally built a house, a farm, and a life from nothing, but there’s one problem: he’s eaten bread for every single meal for weeks and he cannot take one more bite. When his magical talking book spots a strange strand of string and hatches a plan involving a homemade fishing rod, Ned rushes to the beach ready for anything, but will his very first cast bring up a fish, or something else? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘fish’, ‘splash’, ‘shock’, ‘rush’, ‘gosh’.
Will It Come?
Zig can not call yet, and every hunt through the grass, the shrubs and the sheds turns up nothing. Rain falls, the sun comes back, and something new starts to stir. Will Zig’s call ever come? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘gosh’, ‘shrubs’, ‘sheds’, ‘rush’ and ‘shrill’.
Did the Hum Call the Elf?
Sef has chores piled sky-high, and sneaking off to sing silly songs in the garden feels a lot more fun. But someone else is humming along too, hiding in the corn with pointy ears and a grin that takes up half her face. Could a new friend make even scrubbing dishes a blast? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 45: sh /sh/), this book practises words like ‘swish’, ‘gosh’, ‘brush’, ‘dash’, ‘wish’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the sh digraph sound like?
A digraph is two letters that spell one sound, and sh is one of the first that children learn. When s and h sit together, they no longer make their own sounds and instead say /sh/, the quiet sound you make when asking someone to hush. That is why children are taught to spot sh as a unit before they try to blend a word such as shop.
What words start with sh?
Plenty of simple words start with sh, including ship, shop, shed, shut, shin and shell. Once children can read these, you can show them the same sound at the end of a word, as in wish and rush, so they learn that sh can appear in either place. Reading the books for UFLI Lesson 45 together is a good way to hunt for sh in both positions.
What are some common words that end in sh?
Short words ending in sh include ash, bash, cash, dash, dish, fish, wish, gush and rush. They follow the short vowel pattern children already know, with the sh digraph taking the place of a single final consonant. Snow, Burns & Griffin (1998) recommended plenty of practice reading real text, so that children move beyond single words and build fluency.
How can I teach the sh sound at home?
Start by saying pairs of words that differ only by s and sh, such as sip and ship, sell and shell, or sack and shack, and ask your child which one has the quiet /sh/ sound. Then write the words and show how the letter h changes the sound of s. Hearing small differences like this is part of phonemic awareness, which supports early decoding.
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