Children's Books for 1st Graders

Deep in a cool, green pond, Red loves looping, lunch, and his little pals - until something huge and toothy comes snapping out of the reeds! Can one small fish outswim a giant with row after row of sharp teeth? And when hiding isn’t enough, what wild, wonderful plan could possibly scare a Big Bad Fish away? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as “fast,” “help,” “bolt,” and “past.”

Spencer loves sports and staying active! When disaster strikes his community, Spencer springs into action to help. Will Spencer and his friends be able to make a difference when families need them most? Join Spencer on an inspiring journey of community service and teamwork.

Kara has the best idea ever: a surprise birthday party for Pip, her happy little pup! But what happens when Pip overhears the secret and decides he wants to help too? Can a puppy really plan his own surprise? From a finch on a branch to a bunch of bouncy chums marching up the path, this cheerful tale is packed with wagging tails and giggles. This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘branch,’ ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ and ‘march.’

High in a sunny tree, a proud mother crow has three hungry chicks yelling for breakfast - and nothing, not shiny buttons or sparkly beads, will fill their bellies! Can she swoop down and snatch a silvery fish before anyone notices? And when rival crows come screeching from the sky, will she hold on tight to her prize? A lively decodable reader practicing CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘grab,’ ‘snap,’ ‘flap,’ ‘spins,’ and ‘stop.’

Rain is drumming on the roof, and Sam just wants hot coffee and a good book - but have you ever tried to keep one quiet cup away from a muddy bull, a nosy cat, and a whole gang of soggy animals? When the puddles call and the rain won’t stop, what is a boy with a cold coffee supposed to do? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘bang,’ ‘sing,’ ‘song,’ ‘strong,’ and ’thing.’

Ned is sick of bread for breakfast, bread for lunch, and bread for dinner - so Book has a brilliant plan involving a stick, some twine, and a trip to the sandy shore. But what exactly is a fish, and will Ned’s first catch be the tasty dinner he’s dreaming of? Can patience pay off when there’s a THUD on the line? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’think,’ ’thanks,’ ’this,’ ’thud,’ and ‘with.’

Poor Bee is lost! Can Elephant, who once found a peanut under a rock, help him find his way back to his buzzing friends? First she pops him in a bird’s nest - yikes! Then a dark cave full of glowing eyes - eek! Will these two mismatched pals ever track down the cozy golden hive Bee calls home, and what happens when the helper gets lost too? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘chase,’ ‘home,’ ‘hive,’ and ‘smiles.’

The Baobab drops its fruit for everyone who asks politely, and there is always enough to share. But when a greedy hyena named Fisi decides he wants all of it before dawn, will his shouting and scheming get him a single pod? Can a clever girl and a patient tree teach him that you cannot steal what is freely given? Find out what Fisi finally learns. This story practices the /ŋ/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘bring’, ’thing’, ‘fangs’, and ‘springs’.

Whew, what a morning for Tiren! He is the smallest herd boy, and today all the older boys are sick. Can one small kid guide forty cattle across the dry plains to the watering hole? When a storm rolls in and a hungry hyena creeps out of the grass, what will he do with just his rod and a clear head? This story practices the ‘wh’ sound with lesson words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘while’, and ‘whew’.

Rabbit thinks his cozy farm is the best place in the whole world - but what happens when Farmer heads off with a big basket, and a curious bunny hops in for the ride? When Rabbit tumbles out into the wild, he discovers new smells, a big red barn, and one very unfriendly dog! Will being an explorer turn out to be as easy as he hoped? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘farm,’ ‘fast,’ ‘past,’ and ‘romp.’