Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 61: _ge /j/
We’re committed to helping every child discover the joy of reading through stories they love. The decodable books on this page were written for UFLI Lesson 61 and focus on _ge, where g says /j/ at the end of words like age, cage, page and huge. Children read soft g words alongside the soft c words they know, and learn why so few words end in j.
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Anansi Shakes
Python is huge, and he is in a rage at Anansi’s door. He wants a big bite, but Anansi has a bold plan: convince the mighty snake that only a true king can tie the perfect knot. Python’s face changes at the sight of a bright red rope. Will his pride lead him into a trap he cannot escape? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘rage’, ‘strange’, ’lunges’, ‘sage’.
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Can That Duck Win?
A girl is sure her wobbly, waddling duck can win the Big Flock Race, even when a boy lunges into giggles at the idea. Every morning she and her duck race the hills, and something strange starts to change as fast as she’d hoped. Can her huge-hearted duck really beat the whole flock on Saturday? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ’lunges’, ‘strange’, ‘change’, ‘changes’.
The Book Has A Plan
Ned needs fuel for his furnace, but the caves are dark and dangerous. The Book has a plan involving fire, trees, and a strange trick with bones. What could bone dust possibly have to do with growing a forest fast? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘changes’, ‘cringes’, ’lunges’, ‘singe’.
Nomvula Spots a Strange Man
Nomvula has turned away suitor after suitor at the village gate, waiting for the right one. When a strange man appears on the hilltop path and leaves no dust behind him as he walks, she is the only one who notices. Soon she is living in his stone home deep in the hills, listening to a huge shape pad past her window at night. What is Bhekani really hiding? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘strange’, ‘huge’, ‘change’, ‘cringes’, ‘plunges’.
Zom and the Big Haul
Zom finds a strange rainbow rabbit with the most delicious milk he’s ever tasted. He builds a huge cage, fills it with rabbits, and hatches a rainbow plan involving buckets of milk and a mountain of cake pops. What could possibly go wrong when he opens his stall to the whole village? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘cage’, ‘strange’, ‘wage’.
Not One Did Look
Iron Golem is huge, and all he wants is a friend. He tries every villager, cat, and pig in the strange place he calls home, but not one of them will even look up. Then a mob rages, an arrow singes his nose, and his hopes cringe a little more. Will he ever find someone willing to talk? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘strange’, ‘cringes’, ‘singes’, ‘plunges’.
Jackal Hides
Jackal spots hyena hiding a huge lump of golden honey in a tree, but she is too big and strong to simply ask for a share. So jackal cooks up a clever trick to send hyena racing off across the range chasing a snack that does not exist. Will his plan work before hyena figures out what he is really after? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘binge’, ‘range’, ‘plunges’, ‘rage’.
Where Did Pluto Go?
Pluto has gone missing, and the Sun sends the planets racing to find him. Mercury’s too hot, Venus can’t see past her clouds, and Earth’s too distracted with her humans to notice anything strange. As the huge, worried planets range across the cold dark to search for their lost friend, will anyone find out where he went? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘strange’, ‘change’, ‘range’, ‘plunge’.
Owino Acts Big
Owino is sure he can call the rain his own way, with his phone and his speaker, while his sister Adhis just watches the sky. When his loud plan brings nothing but sun, Adhis starts reading signs of her own, and asks the village to get ready anyway. Will anyone trust a quiet girl over her brother’s big show? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘rages’, ‘stage’, ‘cringes’, ‘huge’, ‘strange’.
Do Not Take That Shot
Ned just wants a good meal, but The Book keeps warning him to leave the rabbits alone. When Ned ignores every warning and fires an arrow anyway, something huge and furious stomps out of the grass to hunt him down. Can Ned outrun the one rabbit he should never have shot? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘rage’, ‘strange’, ‘page’, ‘plunges’.
One Strange Calf
Sam’s dad hands him one job: walk the calf home before dark. Easy, right? But when his friends call him over for a game, Sam drops the rope without a second thought, and the huge, clumsy calf is left to wander the range alone. Will Sam get the calf home before dusk? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘range’, ‘strange’, ‘change’, ‘rage’.
In the Blue
Jade stands frozen at the edge of the huge ocean, too scared to step in. With Mum’s encouragement, she dips into the waves and cringes at the salty splash, but she doesn’t give up. Soon she’s swimming alongside tiny reptiles, watching a fish lunge from the water, and diving toward a reef lit up like a stage - then a strange rock nearby starts to move. Could that huge rock actually be something else? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘cringes’, ’lunges’, ‘stage’, ‘strange’.
Bouki and the Millet
Leuk the Hare is small, but his wit outmatches every animal on the savanna, especially his greedy neighbour Bouki, who always grabs half of what Leuk earns. When the King loses his prized bracelet in a storm and promises land to whoever finds it, Bouki charges off to search, certain he’ll win, but can quiet thinking beat a huge head start? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘strange’, ‘sage’, ‘cringes’, ‘plunges’.
A Huge Strange Thing
Jack has a huge wish: catch a fish. But something strange lurks in the kelp below, and when his line yanks tight, he’s pulled into a mystery he never expected. Mer needs help getting home, but she can’t walk on land. Can Jack find a way to bring his new friend all the way to the farm? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘strange’, ‘change’, ‘cringes’, ‘plunges’.
That's My Bell!
Dibs has the most jingly, gorgeous bell in the world, tied right to his tail. But when a huge dragon zips past, Dibs takes a leap that goes very wrong, sending his precious bell bouncing off toward the Dragon School. Can Dibs get his bell back before it disappears for good? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ’lunges’, ‘cringes’, ‘plunges’, ‘singes’.
Make Me a Mage!
Ned has a tall stone home and one huge wish: to become a mage. There’s just one problem. He has no wand, no hat, and definitely no spells, only a talking Book and a pile of diamonds. Can Ned really turn a pile of blocks into real magic? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 61: _ge /j/), this book practises words like ‘huge’, ‘mage’, ‘stage’, ‘change’, ‘rages’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some soft g words that end in ge?
Early soft g words usually end in ge, such as age, cage, page, rage, sage, stage, wage and huge. In each, the g says /j/ and the final e also makes the vowel long. Soft g also appears at the start of words like gem, giant and gym, which children meet later on. The National Reading Panel (2000) found that teaching patterns like these systematically helps children learn to read.
When does g say /j/?
The soft g rule says that g often says /j/ before e, i or y, and /g/ before a, o, u or a consonant. It is less reliable than the soft c rule, so children should treat it as a first guess. At the end of a word, though, it works well: English words almost never end in j, so the /j/ sound at the end of age or huge is spelled ge.
Which common words break the soft g rule?
Many common words have a hard g even though g comes before e or i, including get, give, girl, gift, begin and tiger. That is why teachers describe g before e, i or y as usually soft rather than always soft. When a child reads get as jet, it is a good moment to try the other sound and check which one makes sense.
How do you tell hard g and soft g apart?
Hard g is the sound at the start of go and gum, made at the back of the mouth, while soft g sounds like j, as in page and gem. Children can check the letter after the g: before a, o or u it is hard, and before e, i or y it may be soft. The books for UFLI Lesson 61 focus on the ge ending, where soft g is most predictable, and our guide to what phonics is explains the wider picture.
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