Children's Books for 1st Graders

The waterhole was cool and clear, shared by every animal on the plain, until huge Tembo the Elephant stomped up and claimed it all for himself. How could clever little Sungura the Hare stand up to someone so enormous? When the biggest animal refuses to share, what plan could a tiny hare possibly hatch? Read on to find out how brains can beat brawn! This Bookbot book practices the /k/ sound, with lesson words like ‘back’, ‘quick’, ‘rock’, ‘sticks’, and ’trick’.

Meg is the best vet in the whole forest, and today her bag is packed with precious medicine for the animals who need her most. But what happens when a cheeky little fawn finds her bag first? Can Meg help a sore monkey, a hurt bird, and a tangled fawn when her jug of medicine is almost gone? A warm woodland adventure about kindness, stubbornness, and unexpected friends. This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘vet,’ ‘yuck,’ and ’tug.’

Join our hungry friend on a delicious adventure to the fish and chip shop! He’s excited to treat himself to his favorite meal, but will he stick to his budget? Follow along as he explores the tantalizing smells, makes his choices, and discovers what makes this simple outing so special. What will happen when his food finally arrives?

Amahle keeps the finest garden in her village, and one morning she finds a green-and-gold snake resting on a warm stone at its edge. Is it a danger to her crops and the chickens, or something far more mysterious? When her brother grabs a rake and the village elders come knocking, will Amahle be brave enough to protect her strange visitor? This Bookbot book practices the /k/ sound with words like ‘rock’, ‘black’, ‘blocks’, ‘kicks’, and ’luck’.

The giant izim has terrorized the valley for three seasons, stealing cattle and laughing at every grown man who tried to stop it. So when eight year old Thandi says, “Let me try,” everyone laughs too. But what if being small and clever beats big and certain? How could one brave girl, a shiny bottle, and a narrow gap in the rocks succeed where the strongest warriors failed? This Bookbot NG level practices the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘strong’, ’long’, ‘clings’, ‘springs’, and ’things’.

Out past the last road, in a little cabin in the woods, Cam has a good little lamp that helps him chase frogs and read stories after dark. But what happens when bright electric lights arrive and Cam forgets all about his faithful flame? Will the lonely little lamp ever shine again? Snuggle in and find out why some friends glow brightest when you need them most. This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘flame,’ ‘home,’ ‘safe,’ and ‘while.’

The children of Nnewi share their yams fairly, but wily Mbe the tortoise thinks he needs more than the rest. When yams start vanishing from the locked barn, who will notice the dry leaves shifting where no wind blows? Can a clever nine year old girl outwit a creature who always sounds so convincing? A tale about fairness and getting caught. This Bookbot level practices the /tʃ/ sound with words like ’each’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chase’, and ‘chores’.

On one riverbank, sweet wild berries wait just out of reach, and between Hare and that whole hillside lies a river ruled by Old Crocodile, who lets no one cross. How can a small, clever hare outsmart the biggest, meanest crocodile of them all, and finally taste those berries? Read on to find out! This Bookbot story practices the /wh/ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘which’, ‘whole’ and ‘why’.

The Hare and the Hyena stumble on a marula tree so sweet its fruit smells like a party. But Hyena has the loudest laugh, the strongest jaws, and a habit of gobbling every last bite. So how can clever Hare outwit a greedy neighbor twice his size? And what happens the night he leads her to a mysterious hollow log? Buzzing with mischief, this tale keeps you guessing to the last page. This Bookbot book practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘whole’, ‘which’, ‘when’, and ‘whack’.

Sungura the Hare has the quickest mind on the savanna, and he never lets anyone forget it. So when a hungry Leopard steps out of the grass and decides the boastful little hare would make the perfect snack, what can one small, fast-talking creature possibly do? Can quick thinking really outmatch sharp claws before the chase is done? This Bookbot book practices the /ng/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, ‘bring’, and ‘song’.