Animal Books for 1st Graders

The Ethiopian highlands are steep and green, and Saba longs for one thing: to win the heart of quiet Yonas, a boy who hides behind a wall of sorrow. When a wise healer sends her up the mountain to pull a whisker from a living lion, how can she possibly get close to such a fierce beast? What secret will the lion teach her about patience? This Bookbot level practices the ’nk’ sound with words like ’think’, ‘blink’, ‘sank’, and ’trunk’.

Bird has waited three long weeks for her eggs to hatch, and today is the day! But when her tummy rumbles and she sneaks off the nest for just a quick snack, a big, curious dog comes sniffing around her hidden eggs. Can Bird get back in time? What will the dog do when the chicks start to hatch? And who will the tiny chicks call Mom? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ’nest,’ ‘fast,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ and ‘went.’

A thin path of ants is winding right across Seth’s yard - hundreds of them, maybe thousands! Where are they all marching to, and what on earth are they hunting for? Seth and his dog follow the tiny army as it climbs his things, storms the kitchen, and sniffs out every crumb it can find. But can Seth stop them before they reach his favorite snack? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’thanks,’ ’through,’ and ’things.’

Rose the sheep is plump, happy, and heading home after a sunny summer on the hill - but oh no, the farmer has built a tiny new gate, and Rose is stuck fast! Can yoga squish her smaller? Will running slim her down? What about swimming? Three weeks of wobbly tries later, why is Rose still exactly the same size, and what clever idea pops into her head? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ’try,’ ‘she,’ ‘so,’ and ‘why.’

Someone has taken a huge bite out of the ripest guava on the tree - but who? Kina and Kale are on the case! Was it a caterpillar, a grasshopper, or maybe even the chicken? When every guess turns out wrong, the brave detectives decide to camp by the tree and wait. Could the sneaky biter only come out at night? This decodable reader builds confidence with open syllables, featuring words like ‘we,’ ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘fly,’ and ‘shy.’

Poor Shep the caterpillar has lost a shoe - and with so many feet to keep warm, one bare toe is a BIG problem! Who could have taken it? Frog offers a floppy swim flipper, Hop hands over a pinchy red one, and Crab’s pointy shoe down by the shore is just plain painful. Will Shep ever find the perfect fit? This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘shoe,’ ‘shore,’ ‘shine,’ ‘splash,’ and ‘hush.’

Long ago, Tortoise had the smoothest shell on the whole veld. But when a great drought hits and the birds fly off to a faraway feast, how can a tortoise with tiny legs ever join them in the sky? And when the birds finally carry him aloft, can a creature who never stops talking really hold his tongue? This Bookbot NG level builds the ’ng’ sound with words like ’long’, ‘sing’, ’thing’, ‘wings’ and ‘song’.

Tik the mouse has found the perfect house - quiet, cozy, and empty! But what is that strange round creature sitting on the desk, claiming to be a mouse too? It has no whiskers, no paws, and a cord for a tail! When a very big, very hungry cat comes padding in, can these two mismatched mice possibly help each other? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘desk,’ ‘fast,’ ‘help,’ and ‘best.’

Anansi the spider is in real trouble. Leopard has finally caught the trickster and plans to eat him at sundown, locking him in a stone den with no way out. But could a bundle of pods and a clever tale about seasoning be enough to fool a hungry hunter? What plan is spinning in Anansi’s quick little mind? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch’, ’lunch’, ‘rich’, ‘munch’, and ‘snatch’.

What happens when a curious dog knocks over a tin of bright yellow paint? And what happens when a very grumpy cat gets splattered too? Dog and Cat go tumbling, bumping, and dashing through the house, turning everything (and themselves!) into a wild, colorful mess. But poor Pam is trying to paint on Art Day - will her canvas survive two paint-covered pets? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘we.’