Children's Books for 1st Graders
Bat Box
Jack loves his farm, but something is missing - where are all the bees, birds, and bats? When Jack hauls up a hive and flings seeds across the grass, the buzzing and chirping begins. But bats are tricky critters whose homes are hard to find. What can a clever scarecrow build to bring them in, and which spot will feel just right for a sleepy bat? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ phonogram in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘while,’ and ‘whose.’
She Wants a Pet
Lisa has been waiting a whole year for her birthday surprise - a real, living pet! But what kind will it be? A stompy elephant that blasts lunches into the sky? A snappy croc with forty shiny teeth? A stinky skunk, a squeezy snake, or a giraffe too tall for the house? Every creature seems wrong in its own wild way. Could the perfect pet really exist? This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends through lively words like ‘blast,’ ‘scrub,’ ‘stomp,’ ‘skunk,’ and ‘grins.’
Will It Come?
Meet Cuckoo, a clever bird who can fly higher than hawks and balance on the thinnest twig - but there’s one thing she simply cannot do. Her call has vanished! Where could it have gone? Has she lost it in the meadow, the farm, or the forest? Will Cuckoo ever find her voice again? This decodable reader practices the th sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ’there,’ and ’thump.'
Dig!
Meet Alex, a brave digger with a diamond shovel, lucky boots, and a feeling in her toes that something amazing is hidden deep below the hillside. What will she find as she tunnels down into the dark? And while she’s busy chasing treasure underground, who might sneak up to her crispy lunch by the campfire? Grab your pickaxe and find out! This decodable reader practices the sh sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘shaft,’ ‘she,’ and ‘wish.’
Don't Go, Small Fish!
Little Fish is tired of the same old sandy shore - don’t you ever wish you could explore somewhere new? When Mom warns him about the deep water, Little Fish sneaks off anyway. What wonders wait in the colorful coral below? And what happens when a very ugly boulder opens one enormous eye and shows rows of jagged teeth? This decodable reader practices the sh sound in words such as ‘shark,’ ‘dashes,’ ‘splash,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘blush.’
The Big Chomp!
Meg is marching all the way to Gran’s house by herself - no running, no skipping, just slow and sensible steps past the brick wall. But what is that sharp YAP coming from around the corner? Is a huge dog with a mean chomp waiting to pounce? Meg’s feet are already running the wrong way - can she be brave enough to peek and see what is really there? This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chase,’ ‘chomp,’ ‘march,’ and ’lunch.’
Don't Go Through That Door!
Pa tells the best bedtime stories in the world - but tonight’s tale is about a girl made of air. Can you really see someone who isn’t there? When rain falls, when snow lands, when a green crayon starts drawing all by itself in a classroom, something strange is happening. Is it a tall tale, or is it true? And why is that bedroom door creaking open? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ ’things,’ and ’through.'
Don't Press Me!
High in her messy workshop, Lila is painting something extraordinary - trees that sway, clouds that doze, and a sprite tucked among the vines. But something is missing! Down in the paint box, little Yellow is trembling. Will he be squeezed flat like the others? Can he be brave enough to share his glow? Peek inside and find out what happens next. This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘shine,’ ’lake,’ ‘hide,’ and ‘shapes.’
Hush! Don't Wake It!
Bam thinks his flute music is the sweetest sound on the beach - so sweet it could calm the whole ocean. But what happens when he plays a little louder, just to see? Something huge is sleeping deep beneath the bay, and one wrong note might wake it up. Can a boy with a flute hush a furious sea beast before the waves swallow the shore? This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘hush,’ ‘shade,’ ‘shook,’ ‘shore,’ and ‘splash.’
Drip, Drop, Don't Stop!
Drip, drop - can you feel the rain on your nose? When the sky opens up, one girl throws her arms wide and dances in every splash. There’s music on the roof, a peacock on the path, and something warm bubbling in Mom’s pot. What wonderful surprises will the rain leave behind once it finally quiets down? This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘drip,’ ‘plops,’ ‘grin,’ ‘stands,’ and ‘smells.’