Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, as it is essential for a happy, successful life. These decodable books for UFLI Lesson 59 review silent e with all five vowels, from a_e in ape to u_e in cute. Children read VCe words such as ape, ate, these, bike, home and cute, switching between long vowels as each story moves along.
Free
Who Made the Lamps Blink?
A boy loves the festival’s dazzling lights, but a grumpy shadow called The Dark hates them and starts switching them off one by one. Homes go dim, streets go quiet, and soon a kid and his dog are the only ones left watching the dark. Can anyone convince The Dark that the glow is worth keeping? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘shine’, ‘ride’, ‘wave’, ‘smile’, ’time’.
Free
No Shade in the Sand
Out in the desert, the sand stretches on and on with no shade in sight. When the sun blazes overhead, every creature must hide or rest to stay cool and save water. Can a curious explorer find a safe way to survive the scorching heat and make it home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘shade’, ‘hide’, ‘save’, ’time’, ‘dune’.
Free
The Cursed Emerald Part 1
Deep in the mine, a jade flash catches a miner’s eye: an emerald glowing with a strange flame inside it. One touch sends everything spinning, and suddenly the cave is gone, swapped for grass, stars, and a wooden sign in the middle of nowhere. Bones rattle, arrows fly, and something is definitely riding a chicken. What is this glowing emerald really trying to show, and where will it take the miner next? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘shine’, ‘flame’, ‘gaze’, ‘bone’, ‘safe’.
Free
Ned Beats the Beasts!
Ned has a fine home, but at dusk, monsters step from the shade. Tonight Ned grips his blade and decides he is done hiding. As zombies, a skeleton, and worse creep closer, can a brave boy really fight them all off before he makes it home safe? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘blade’, ‘home’, ‘hide’, ‘safe’, ‘shade’.
Kintu Hopes for a Wife
Kintu lives alone on the wide green hills with only his fine cow for company, until Nambi gazes down from the sky and smiles at his kind heart. Her father Ggulu will only let them marry if Kintu can pick out one cow from a vast herd, so a tiny bee becomes his only guide. Can Kintu prove himself brave enough to win Ggulu’s test and take Nambi home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘brave’, ‘chase’, ‘gaze’, ‘hike’, ‘smile’.
The Izim Strides Off
A giant has been stealing cattle from the valley for seasons, and even the bravest men are too scared to stop it. When a girl decides to try instead, everyone just laughs. Can she outsmart something three times her size? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘hike’, ‘stride’, ‘gaze’, ‘shine’, ‘brave’.
The Bull in the Pond
Zinhle watches the crops wilt as the land turns dry and hot, and the Rain Bull dozes deep in his pond. When her father says the path is blocked, Zinhle gazes at the hills and gathers reeds to make pipes that hum a soft tune. Will their gentle sound be enough to wake the sleeping bull? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘home’, ‘gaze’, ‘smile’, ’tune’, ‘wide’.
Snack Time
A girl and her friends pat the low, friendly sky each morning, breaking off just enough to eat. But when one woman grabs a huge chunk for a big feast, and her guests barely touch it, what will she do with all that food she cannot finish? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ’take’, ‘smile’, ‘gaze’, ‘plate’, ‘waste’.
A Bunch of Chums for Pip!
Pip has had the best day ever playing with his best friend, and tomorrow is even bigger: his very first birthday! When Pip overhears a big surprise party is being planned just for him, he decides to help by inviting every friend he can find. But a party needs guests, and Pip is determined not to miss a single one. Who will he ask first? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ’time’, ‘cake’, ‘gaze’, ‘smile’, ‘surprise’.
The Hut Is Small
A player’s cosy hut keeps things safe at first, but it’s only meant to last a few nights. When the time comes to build a real home, what will it take shape into? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘safe’, ‘shape’, ’time’, ‘fine’, ‘stone’.
A Sip for Jackal
Elephant guards the only waterhole on the veld, and no thirsty animal dares come close. When a small, dry-tongued jackal arrives and asks him to move aside, Elephant just laughs, sure that nothing this tiny could ever outmatch him. But the jackal has spotted something rustling near the water’s edge that Elephant, for all his size, has never noticed. Can a clever trick get the jackal past a giant who won’t budge? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘brave’, ‘shake’, ‘hide’, ’tale’, ‘safe’.
The Trader Frowns
Zom and Skel don’t trust the smiling trader who shows up at the farm, and Jack is even more curious about the strange glowing thing hidden behind his cart. When the trader warns that it’s not safe and refuses to make a sale, Jack can’t help but wonder: what could possibly be so dangerous about it? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘smile’, ’trade’, ‘safe’, ‘gaze’, ‘wide’.
Smash the Mule!
Kate is turning ten, and she’s dreaming of a giant cake, big presents, and maybe even a new phone. But Dad’s gift is a stubborn clay donkey bank, and she must save every coin before she can smash it open and get what she really wants. What will she do when her sister begs to borrow the cash meant for her phone? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘save’, ‘smile’, ‘safe’, ‘cake’, ‘phone’.
Run, Ned, Run!
Ned loves a walk in the forest, until three huge wolves step out of the shadows with their eyes fixed on him. He barely makes it home safe, slamming the door just in time. But instead of staying away, Ned starts wondering if those wolves could ever be his friends instead of his enemies. Could a bone and a little courage really turn a hungry pack into a pal? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘bone’, ‘chase’, ‘fine’, ‘home’, ‘safe’.
Dragon Stole My Doll
A dragon plucks a boy’s toy right out of his hands and takes off into the sky, dangling it like bait on a string. When a girl and the boy climb aboard for a wild, windy ride to get it back, they tumble through storms of spinning junk and speed faster than they ever imagined. Will they catch the toy before the dragon’s next surprise? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 59: VCe Review 2 (all)), this book practises words like ‘dive’, ‘gaze’, ‘ride’, ‘safe’, ‘smile’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What does VCe stand for in phonics?
VCe stands for vowel, consonant, e. It describes the end of words like cake, these, bike, home and cube, where a single consonant sits between a vowel and a final silent e. You will also see it written as CVCe when the word starts with a consonant, and many teachers simply call these magic e words.
What is the VCe rule?
The VCe rule says that when a word ends in a vowel, one consonant and a silent e, the first vowel usually says its name. That is why hat becomes hate, kit becomes kite and cub becomes cube. A few common words, such as have and give, break the pattern, and children learn these as exceptions.
How do you teach VCe words?
Begin with pairs that show the change, such as mad and made or hop and hope, and let your child add or cover the e with a finger. Then move on to mixed lists and stories, like the books for UFLI Lesson 59, so children have to decide which vowel sound each word needs. The National Reading Panel (2000) backed systematic phonics instruction, and mixed review is a good way to check that a pattern has stuck.
What are some VCe words?
A useful mixed list includes cake, gate and name for a_e; these and Pete for e_e; bike, time and five for i_e; bone, home and rope for o_e; and cube, cute and flute for u_e. Reading a mix like this is harder than reading one vowel at a time, because children must look at each vowel before deciding its sound. It is the kind of practice decodable text is designed to give.
Bookbot is not endorsed by or affiliated with UFLI (the University of Florida Literacy Institute) or Jolly Learning Ltd. UFLI Foundations and Jolly Phonics are trademarks of their respective owners.