Children's Books for 1st Graders
The Hot Dish Smell
Habtamu the weaver loves nothing more than breathing in the delicious smells drifting from his rich neighbor’s kitchen. But when greedy Bekele drags him to court demanding payment for a smell he never touched, how can a poor man with only three coins in his pocket possibly win? What clever twist will the wise old judge deliver? This Bookbot NK story practices the /ŋk/ sound with lesson words like ‘bank’, ‘sink’, ’think’, ’thank’, and ‘wink’.
She Still Twirls
Miss B walks with a cane now, tapping the studio floor while her three young dancers leap and twirl. But what if their gentle teacher once floated across stages in Paris, Tokyo, and New York? What if the quiet woman with the clackety cane hides a dazzling secret? Could a prima ballerina be hiding in plain sight? Step into the studio and find out. This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘spin,’ ’twirl,’ ‘dress,’ ‘claps,’ and ‘stars.’
Obiora and the Skull
Obiora talks too much, always chasing the next big story to tell. So when a skull speaks to him on the forest road, he races to tell the king. But when the guards arrive to hear it, the skull stays silent. Will anyone believe Obiora now, and what did the skull really mean? This Bookbot NK level practices the /ŋk/ sound with words like ‘sank’, ’think’, ‘blink’, ‘wink’, and ‘shrank’.
Pat and the Pipe Rat
Pat has a big, stinky question nobody wants to answer: where does pee and poop actually GO? When staring at the toilet isn’t enough, he takes a deep breath and jumps right in! Swirling pipes, a chatty Sewer Rat, and tanks as big as swimming pools lie ahead - but can Pat really follow the flush all the way to the ocean? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘pipe,’ ‘ride,’ ‘slides,’ ‘waste,’ and ‘home.’
Think, Fish, Think!
Manta Ray is the greatest navigator in the sea - or so he says! But when a sudden storm flings him far from his coral, his caves, and his favorite sandy shortcuts, can he find his way back? Who will help a lost ray in strange blue water, and what sparkling surprise is waiting near the lighthouse beam? Dive in and find out! This decodable reader practices the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘blink,’ ‘pink,’ ‘sinks,’ ’thanks,’ and ’think.’
Did the Fish Sink?
Meet Hank - a fish who does NOT just swim in circles! Ever heard of a fish who walks on land, naps in mud, and shrugs off hungry birds with a back full of sharp spines? When the pond dries up and his friends flop in the cracked gunk, what on earth will Hank do next? Climb aboard for a muddy, rainy, rule-breaking adventure. This decodable reader practices the nk phonogram in words like ‘bank,’ ‘drink,’ ’think,’ ‘sunk,’ and ‘wink.’
Lost in the Grass!
When Monkey wakes up with a rumbly tummy and a big plan for a banana breakfast, he gets the shock of his life - his bananas are GONE! Who could the sneaky thief be? Was it the little bee? The hissy snake? And who is that plump rabbit sitting on the grass with a suspicious yellow pile? Can Monkey solve the mystery before his tummy grumbles right off the tree? This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘grins,’ ‘stomps,’ ‘plump,’ and ‘grass.’
His Best Gag
Dr Can Do has the BEST Christmas joke in the whole wide world, saved up for Christmas dinner like a secret treasure. But what happens when someone keeps stealing his punchlines before he can say them? Who could possibly know every joke in his head? From the sunny beach to the sparkling tree in the town square, Dr Can Do is determined to land one perfect laugh. This decodable story practices open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ‘me,’ ‘my,’ and ’tree.’
Hot Hippo Wants Fish
Why Hippo Lives in Water is a warm retelling of an old African tale. Long ago, Hippo lived on dry land under a blazing sun, and oh, how he longed for the cool river. But the Wind guards the fish and does not trust a hungry hippo. What clever promise could Hippo make to earn his place in the water, and could he keep it when temptation drifts right past his nose? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘catch’, ‘munch’, ‘chomp’, ‘check’, and ‘chin’.
Mosquito and a Big Yam
A chatty little mosquito loves to gossip, so when she tells Iguana a wild tale about a giant yam, why does he plug his ears and refuse to listen? One small fib sets off a chain of fright that races through the forest, until the sun itself will not rise. Can the animals trace the trouble back to where it began? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘chat’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chill’, and ‘watch’.