Family Books for 1st Graders

Bub’s family loves the park bench, but Bub has her eye on something far more exciting - a bright kite dancing in the sky! What happens when Bub grabs the string and a big gust of wind lifts her feet right off the ground? Can Pup hold on tight enough to save her, or will the whole family end up dangling in the clouds? This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chomps,’ ‘fetch,’ ‘watch,’ and ‘chain.’

Meg is marching all the way to Gran’s house by herself - no running, no skipping, just slow and sensible steps past the brick wall. But what is that sharp YAP coming from around the corner? Is a huge dog with a mean chomp waiting to pounce? Meg’s feet are already running the wrong way - can she be brave enough to peek and see what is really there? This decodable reader practices the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chase,’ ‘chomp,’ ‘march,’ and ’lunch.’

Today is the big day! Can you show Mom every single thing you can do? From stirring spice in the kitchen to watering a rose, from scrubbing suds to clipping clothes on the line, there’s so much to share. But when Mom brings out the bike, will a wobbly tummy win, or will it be time to glide with pride? A warm, cheerful story about growing up and showing off. This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘bike,’ ‘glide,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘pride.’

Have you ever waited and waited for someone special to arrive? Today is finally the day! My cousin Bo is here, and I have the best plan ever - we’ll race to the farm, lift heavy grain, try to catch a slippery fish with our bare hands, and find Nan at the market for a snack that tastes like magic. But what makes this day truly the best of all? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘my,’ ‘sky,’ ’try,’ and ‘we.’

When Deb’s cat Sam digs up a very grumpy crab in the yard, what’s a kid to do? Pop it in a bucket, of course! But then come the babies - dozens of tiny, scuttling, sand-digging babies - and suddenly Deb has crabs going everywhere. Can she catch them all before they vanish into the dirt? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘my,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ and ’try.’

Lily woke up with a big, squeezing belly-ache - and a heavy little monkey clinging to her back! He follows her everywhere: into the garden, into her dance practice, even into her tears. With the art festival just days away, how will Lily ever spin and leap with a monkey hanging on? Can Mom help her find the courage to shake him loose? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘hug,’ ‘pluck,’ and ‘yup.’

Big Sis is the coolest person in the whole world - she climbs the tallest trees, launches toy jets into the sky, and never, ever flinches when Dog barks his biggest bark. But when Lad peeks into the kitchen one afternoon, he sees something impossible: real, wet tears rolling down Big Sis’s cheeks! What could POSSIBLY make the bravest sister ever cry? This decodable reader practices VC/CVC short vowels in words like ‘dig,’ ‘got,’ ‘hit,’ ‘ran,’ and ‘sad.’

Clank! The school bell rings and every mom and dad in Animal Town starts to run - but poor Mama Bear is always, always last. Can she really learn to ride a wobbly red bike without tumbling into the river? Will Baby Bear ever be picked up on time? Hop on, hold tight, and find out how fast a brave bear can pedal! This decodable reader practices the nk sound in words like ‘bank,’ ‘blink,’ ‘honk,’ ‘pink,’ and ‘clunk.’

What happens when a sunny day at the market turns into the stickiest adventure ever? Jen has an orange ice pop, a little brother to cheer up, music to dance to, and SO many wonderful things to touch - but those fingers of hers are getting gloopier by the minute! Can she keep her hands to herself, or will the whole market end up covered in orange? This decodable reader practices short u with j, v, y in words like ‘fun,’ ‘jig,’ ‘yum,’ and ‘hush.’

What happens when a house bursts at the seams with nine squished-up people, a mischievous cat, and not one quiet corner to call your own? Could one tiny wish really send everyone away - and would you truly want it to? When the rooms go silent and a storm rolls in, our little hero learns that a full, noisy house might just be the best kind of all. This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘stuck,’ ‘flip,’ ‘stomp,’ ‘snug,’ and ‘blasts.’