Animal Books for 1st Graders

Dr. Can Do has fixed the fountain, the lanterns, and Mrs. Bloom’s wobbly step - so how hard can catching one speedy ginger cat be? Very hard, it turns out! When the little cat zooms away and refuses to listen, Jill shares a clever tip involving a fish and a whole lot of sitting still. Can a busy doctor really learn to wait? This decodable reader practices the nk sound in words like ‘blink,’ ’think,’ ‘funk,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘pink.’

Crow has a big plan - he’s going to WOW the animals with his amazing singing voice! But when he opens his beak, Hank, Pink, and Frank bolt away in a blink. Was his song really that bad? Can Crow find a way to win his chums back, or will he sing alone forever? Hop onto the stage and find out what happens when Crow hands over the microphone! This decodable reader practices the nk sound in words like ‘blink,’ ’thank,’ ‘clunk,’ and ’trunk.’

When Dad lugs home two huge bags of groceries, Girl grabs her sketchpad quick - can she draw every tomato, lime, and cucumber before dinner? But when Cat slinks by and refuses to sit still, her pencil lines tangle into a spaghetti mess. How do you draw a wriggly cat that won’t stay put? Girl spots her scissors, and a wild idea pops into her head. This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ‘path,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ ’thin,’ and ‘with.’

Nip the little crab is bursting with excitement - today is the day she finally gets to see the sea! But with shiny shells to collect, a friendly fiddler crab to meet, and a whole beach full of new crab pals, will Nip ever make it to the water? And what happens when she bumps into a grouchy crab who isn’t in the mood for hellos? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ’no,’ and ‘so.’

Fig Pig has a big, bold plan - he’s going to sail the whole wide world and bring back the most AMAZING thing Brat Cat has ever seen! But what could possibly be amazing enough? Will glowing fish do the trick? What about spotty mushroom cows, a giant polar bear, or a sizzling hot desert? Follow Fig Pig across oceans and icy shores as he searches for the perfect treasure. This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘brags,’ ‘grand,’ ‘frost,’ ‘spots,’ and ‘stand.’

CRASH! SPLASH! When a fishing net traps Big Fish on the rocky seabed, Little Fish knows there’s only one way to save his best friend - find someone with really, really sharp teeth. But where do you look when you’re tiny and the ocean is huge? Will Turtle help? Will Whale? Who on earth has teeth sharp enough to slice through a net? This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘sharp,’ ‘shrimp,’ ‘splash,’ and ‘swish.’

Kip has somewhere very important to be - but a hungry mob of crocs is blocking the path through the mud! Can Kip outrun the snapping jaws? Can he leap over the pond before the crocs catch up? Join this brave little hero as he jumps rocks, sails over surprised frogs, and races toward a very special surprise waiting just for him. This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘mud,’ ‘run,’ ‘stuck,’ and ‘yum.’

Bird has built the perfect nest at the tip-top of the tallest tree - but then BUMP! An elephant comes scratching, and her twigs start to wobble. Can Bird find a safe spot on a stone wall? What happens when two giant eyes peek through the leaves? After three nest disasters, will Bird ever find a home where nothing can bump or bother her again? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words such as ‘my,’ ‘sky,’ ‘fly,’ ‘go,’ and ‘why.’

Brat Cat has a List, and Brat Cat always finishes her List - chickens to feed, sheep to brush, fences to mend. But what happens when an arrow comes flying out of nowhere and thunks right into her shoulder? Who would dare attack a busy cat on a perfectly good Tuesday? Can she grab her bow and save the day? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘sun,’ ‘struck,’ ’trunk,’ and ‘yes.’

One huge elephant, one tiny red cart, and it will NOT budge - can you help push? As the day unfolds, there are eggs to count, bubbles to blow, a giant ant to ride, and a sparkly spider waiting in its web. Will Child ever reach ten? And what about that stubborn elephant back at the start? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘just,’ ’tug,’ and ‘fun.’