Animal Books for 1st Graders
Yum, Bub, Yum!
Ting the bookworm mouse loves reading more than cheese - but his little brother Tang loves EATING books instead! Can Ting teach Tang to read before a very big, very hungry cat catches them both? With one wobbly sneeze, a daring leap, and a book held up like a shield, these tiny brothers are in for the adventure of their lives. Will Tang discover that stories taste better than paper? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘munch,’ ’tug,’ and ‘yum.’
Don't Stop, Tim!
Tim is the world’s worst bird at not stopping. Butterflies? He stops. Bugs? He stops. A pretty cloud shaped like a cherry? You bet he stops! But when his young gang zooms off and night falls fast, Tim is all alone - and bird catchers are waiting in the dark. Can one easily-distracted little bird learn to keep flying, no matter what? This decodable reader practices the ng sound in words like ‘sing,’ ’long,’ ‘strong,’ ‘wings,’ and ‘zing.’
The Sad Girl's Song
Why is the rain so sad today? High in the sky, Beck’s flute is playing the loneliest song, and even the clouds can’t help crying along. Down in the garden, Bee, Bird, and two curious rabbits feel the drops on their noses and know something is wrong. Can a tiny team follow the music and find the girl behind the tears? This decodable reader practices the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘back,’ ‘check,’ ‘flick,’ ’neck,’ and ’track.’
Catch That Cat!
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.’
Bones and the Pack
Bones is the bravest dog in the valley - until a terrible storm sends him bolting into the dark woods. Lost and hungry, he meets a wolf pack with pale, watching eyes, and soon he’s running wild beside them, leaving his red bandana behind. But what happens when Zom finds him in the forest clearing? Can Skel bring his best friend home again? This decodable reader practices the sh phonogram through words like ‘crash,’ ‘dash,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘shook.’
Which Milk?
Zom has a BIG plan to get rich - he’s opening his very own milk bar! But why should every cow make the same milk? When the cow is brown, the milk tastes like chocolate. When the cow is white, it’s sweet vanilla. And the pink cow? Strawberry, of course! But what happens when Zom reveals his strangest flavor yet? Will the villagers dare to try it? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ and ‘whirl.’
Bat Box
Jack loves his farm, but something is missing - where are all the bees, birds, and bats? When Jack hauls up a hive and flings seeds across the grass, the buzzing and chirping begins. But bats are tricky critters whose homes are hard to find. What can a clever scarecrow build to bring them in, and which spot will feel just right for a sleepy bat? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ phonogram in words such as ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘which,’ ‘while,’ and ‘whose.’
She Wants a Pet
Lisa has been waiting a whole year for her birthday surprise - a real, living pet! But what kind will it be? A stompy elephant that blasts lunches into the sky? A snappy croc with forty shiny teeth? A stinky skunk, a squeezy snake, or a giraffe too tall for the house? Every creature seems wrong in its own wild way. Could the perfect pet really exist? This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends through lively words like ‘blast,’ ‘scrub,’ ‘stomp,’ ‘skunk,’ and ‘grins.’
Will It Come?
Meet Cuckoo, a clever bird who can fly higher than hawks and balance on the thinnest twig - but there’s one thing she simply cannot do. Her call has vanished! Where could it have gone? Has she lost it in the meadow, the farm, or the forest? Will Cuckoo ever find her voice again? This decodable reader practices the th sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ’there,’ and ’thump.'
Don't Go, Small Fish!
Little Fish is tired of the same old sandy shore - don’t you ever wish you could explore somewhere new? When Mom warns him about the deep water, Little Fish sneaks off anyway. What wonders wait in the colorful coral below? And what happens when a very ugly boulder opens one enormous eye and shows rows of jagged teeth? This decodable reader practices the sh sound in words such as ‘shark,’ ‘dashes,’ ‘splash,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘blush.’