Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 70: dge /j/
Every child deserves stories that spark curiosity and build a foundation for lifelong learning. Each book here matches UFLI Lesson 70, where dge spells the /j/ sound at the end of a word after a short vowel. Children read dge words like edge, badge, bridge, fudge and lodge, meeting the pattern often enough to read it at a glance.
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Dog Will Not Budge
Coach Vic has a big surprise, and Dog is not impressed at first. But when Vic pulls out a ball for a brand-new game, the kids fidget with excitement, and Dog spots something even better: sand, jumping, and a ball to chase! Tim worries he won’t be any good, but Dog nudges him on anyway. Will Dog learn to share, or will he keep that ball all to himself? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ‘fidget’, ’nudge’, ’trudges’, ‘pledge’.
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Do Not Go In
Fig Pig marches into a dark mine, sure he’ll find the finest coal ever seen. He trudges past old tracks, grabs a shiny blade from a chest for safety, and dodges a huge sleeping bug guarding a sticky web. But at the edge of a narrow track over bubbling lava, will he keep his nerve, or will fright send him running for daylight? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ’trudges’, ‘dodge’, ‘budge’, ’ledge’.
Hands Off The Pen!
Meg loves that Ben’s shiny ink pen makes perfect letters with no smudges, so his sign warns her away. But when Ben steps out, Meg can’t resist sneaking a peek in his desk drawer. What is that strange little black block stuck to the pen? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ‘fridge’, ‘gadget’, ’ledge’, ’nudge’.
That's MY Pouch!
Pip is snug in Mum’s pouch, the cosiest spot in the whole rainforest, watching a shiny feather and a fat red berry go into their growing treasure stash. But when Big Brother reaches for the pouch that used to be his, Mum blocks him every time, and he runs off looking small and sad in a tall tree. Will Pip figure out why Big Brother is really so upset? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ’edge’, ‘fidget’, ‘wedges’, ‘smudge’.
Ekun Has a Grudge
Ekun the leopard has watched fat, slow-moving Agbe the Ram for days, and he is sure this grass-muncher knows nothing of fear. But every time Ekun creeps close, Agbe just stares back, calm as ever, and stamps the ground so hard the ground shakes. Can Ekun ever get past those big curved horns? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ’edge’, ‘budge’, ‘grudge’, ‘fidget’, ‘hedge’.
No One Will Budge!
My towel is mine, and I want it back! A gust of wind sends it sailing away, and a girl grabs it first, rubbing her hands dry and refusing to budge. Then a man splashes water everywhere before scooping it up, and another man sits at the edge of the porch playing a slow tune. Will the towel ever come home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ’edge’, ’trudge’, ‘pledge’, ’nudges’.
Ned on the Edge
Ned is on a quest for treasure, dressed all wrong for the desert heat, when a huge stone ruin rises ahead. His book warns of traps, but Ned never listens. What happens when he leaps first and looks later? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ’edge’, ‘budge’, ‘dodge’, ‘ridge’, ’trudge’.
Sludge in the Well
Nuru trudges up the red ridge to ask the wise old Baobab tree why the village well has run dry. The tree tells her where the water went, but when she rushes to share the news, the village’s richest man refuses to budge. Will anyone believe a girl who says a tree spoke to her? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ’trudges’, ’ledge’, ‘budge’, ‘pledge’, ‘grudge’.
Where Is My Fire?
A young dragon is sure he’ll ace his big fire test without any practice, munching cheese puffs while everyone else prepares. But when test day comes, will he even budge from his spot, or will his big talk send him into a smoky panic in front of the whole class? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ’trudges’, ’ledge’, ‘dodge’.
Eggs on the Edge!
Pip has sat on her nest for weeks, waiting for her eggs to hatch. When a hungry moment pulls her away for worms, she comes back to find a big dog sniffing right at the edge of her hidden nest. Will Pip’s chicks be safe? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ’edge’, ’nudge’, ‘ridge’, ‘fidgets’.
Come Back, Thief!
Jill has twelve bones and one plan: tame the sneaky white wolf in the glade before her supplies run out. Every time she offers a bone, the wolf snatches it and bolts into the trees. Will Jill’s patience outlast the wolf’s cheeky game? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ‘hedges’, ’ledge’, ’nudges’.
Just One Prank!
A mage’s magic won’t stay quiet, and one night he lets it loose in secret pranks all over Canville, promising himself each time that it’s the very last one. But between a wolf blocking the door and chickens flapping everywhere, will he ever really stop? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 70: dge /j/), this book practises words like ‘budge’, ’edge’, ‘dodge’, ’ledge’, ‘pledges’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dge rule in phonics?
When a one-syllable word ends in the /j/ sound straight after a short vowel, it is usually spelled dge, as in badge, hedge and judge. After a long vowel or a consonant, the ending is ge instead, as in page, huge and hinge. This mirrors the tch pattern, where a short vowel also gets an extra helper letter.
Is the d silent in dge?
The d does not add a separate /d/ sound, so in that sense it is silent. The three letters work as a team to spell /j/, with the d marking the short vowel and the e keeping the g soft. Children read badge as three sounds, /b/ /a/ /j/, even though it has five letters, which is a good moment to talk about sounds versus letters.
Why do words end in dge instead of j?
English words almost never end in the letter j, so the /j/ sound at the end of a word needs another spelling. After a short vowel that spelling is dge, and after other sounds it is ge. Snow, Burns & Griffin (1998) recommended explicit teaching of spelling conventions like this, alongside plenty of practice reading real text.
How can I help my child with dge words?
Read one of the dge decodable books for UFLI Lesson 70 together, then ask your child to find and reread each dge word. Next, have them write two or three of the words from memory and check them against the book, which links reading and spelling. Some titles are free to read online, and our guide to what phonics is explains how sound and spelling patterns fit together.
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