Family Books for 1st Graders

Pa tells the best bedtime stories in the world - but tonight’s tale is about a girl made of air. Can you really see someone who isn’t there? When rain falls, when snow lands, when a green crayon starts drawing all by itself in a classroom, something strange is happening. Is it a tall tale, or is it true? And why is that bedroom door creaking open? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’that,’ ’then,’ ’things,’ and ’through.'

Today is Min’s very first day of school, and her shiny new uniform is laid out on the bed - but has Min ever done up a button in her life? She dashes from Mommy to Daddy to Grandpa, Grandma, and big brother Tim, but everyone is far too busy to stop. Can one small girl tackle a tricky shirt all by herself? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘help,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘went.’

Bop can’t wait for the big parade, but his feet have other plans! Every time he tries to jig, he bumps into a shrub or gets stuck in the mud. Yuck! Will Bop ever learn to jump and jog along to the beat? Or will his wobbly feet spoil the fun? Big brother Bud has one last trick up his sleeve… A decodable reader practicing short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘hugs,’ ‘yuck,’ and ‘just.’

Where could a favorite yellow yo-yo disappear to? One little detective hunts high and low - dumping the toy box, shoving the armchair, even crawling behind the TV with dust bunnies in her hair! But when she steps outside for some fresh air, she spots something swinging in a big, happy circle on the hill. Could Grandma really be the sneaky thief? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘find,’ ‘hand,’ ‘hold,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘park.’

Kate’s best socks are GONE! Vanished from their special little box without a trace. Who would take them? And what is that trail of pink scraps leading to Mom’s sewing room? Armed with her looking glass and two mismatched socks, Kate sets off to crack the case of her missing favorites. But when she bangs on Mom’s door, the surprise waiting inside is not at all what she expected! This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘which.’

Dora the duckling goes EVERYWHERE with her big red umbrella - to breakfast, to the park, even to the bath! But one rainy morning, it’s vanished. Can a squirrel’s bushy tail, a frog’s lily pad, or a mouse’s tin can help a very soggy duck find what she’s lost? Will Dora ever track down her favorite polka-dot treasure? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘junk,’ ‘just,’ ‘up,’ and ‘yup.’

Mom Otter has a big day planned for her wiggly pack of pups - swimming, hiding, and finally, FISHING! But can four bouncy little otters stay still long enough to learn? What happens when they spot a net in the river, a snapping trap in the grass, and a crocodile with its jaws wide open? And will anyone actually catch a fish before lunch? This decodable reader practices the ck phonogram in words like ‘pack,’ ‘quick,’ ‘snack,’ ‘rock,’ and ’tricks.’

From the coziest spot in the whole rainforest - Mom’s pouch - one little joey spies butterflies, berries, and blue feathers floating by. But what happens when Mom suddenly won’t let him climb back in? Could there be a secret tucked inside her pouch? Follow along as a curious kangaroo discovers that the best treasures sometimes come in very tiny packages. This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘she,’ ‘shy,’ and ‘fly.’

Naru’s grandmother calls her “the girl of the stars.” So when the drought comes hard and the pans dry up, who will remember the old star that leads to hidden water? While the elders argue about which way to trek, can one small girl trust what her grandmother taught her, and watch the night sky alone? This warm Kalahari story practices the WH sound with words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘which’, ‘while’, and ‘who’.

Don has found the perfect soft blue cap at the market - and he loves it more than anything! But what happens when a sudden gust of wind whisks it high into an elm tree? Don tries everything to get it back, but that night something magical catches his eye in the sky. Could the moon itself be the cap thief? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘held,’ ‘kept,’ and ‘wind.’