Fantasy Books for 1st Graders
Jackal Asks for Soup
The bun sings in his gut when he waits for the song. Can Jackal really learn Kaggen the Mantis’s soup recipe, or is the clever little trickster leading him astray? Sit in the hot sun, wait for the singing, and find out who truly wins. This Bookbot level practices words with the ’ng’ sound, such as ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, and ‘brings’.
No Moon at Camp
The forest people once danced by moonlight, but one rainy season the treetops grew so thick that the Moon’s light couldn’t reach the ground below. Could a fearless girl named Yei, who can climb the tallest tree in the forest, find a way to bring the Moon back to her people? Climb into the dark with her and find out! This Bookbot level practices the /tʃ/ sound with words like ‘branch’, ‘reach’, ‘cheer’, and ‘watch’.
Obiora and the Skull
Obiora talks too much, always chasing the next big story to tell. So when a skull speaks to him on the forest road, he races to tell the king. But when the guards arrive to hear it, the skull stays silent. Will anyone believe Obiora now, and what did the skull really mean? This Bookbot NK level practices the /ŋk/ sound with words like ‘sank’, ’think’, ‘blink’, ‘wink’, and ‘shrank’.
Mosquito and a Big Yam
A chatty little mosquito loves to gossip, so when she tells Iguana a wild tale about a giant yam, why does he plug his ears and refuse to listen? One small fib sets off a chain of fright that races through the forest, until the sun itself will not rise. Can the animals trace the trouble back to where it began? This Bookbot level practices the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘chat’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chill’, and ‘watch’.
Don't Press Me!
High in her messy workshop, Lila is painting something extraordinary - trees that sway, clouds that doze, and a sprite tucked among the vines. But something is missing! Down in the paint box, little Yellow is trembling. Will he be squeezed flat like the others? Can he be brave enough to share his glow? Peek inside and find out what happens next. This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘shine,’ ’lake,’ ‘hide,’ and ‘shapes.’
Don't Tell Dr Can Do!
Whit the Mage has a BIG secret, and keeping it might just make him burst! Jill is planning a surprise bash for the whole village, complete with a shiny new name and sky-high whiz bangs - but only if Whit can zip his lips around Dr Can Do. Can a mischievous mage who loves to chatter actually stay quiet? And what happens when the lanterns glow and the crowd gathers? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whiz,’ and ‘whole.’
Don't Go Again!
Tina has a mountain of chores and a silly song to sing while she works - but what happens when a tiny elf in the cornfield sings her song right back? With one snap of magical fingers, every job is done! But can Tina keep her new friend, or will the elf vanish as quickly as she appeared? This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dish,’ ‘shines,’ ‘shore,’ and ‘wish.’
Go, Troll Kite, Go!
Rain, rain, and more rain - will the sky ever clear? When the sun finally breaks through, it’s time to race outside with a homemade kite and a very special secret weapon painted right on the front: a troll queen with a golden crown and the biggest smile around. Can she soar higher than the monster kite and the fish kite too? Get ready to cheer! This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘kite,’ ‘glide,’ ‘shape,’ ‘smile,’ and ‘pride.’
Hold On, Kim!
What is making that tap-tap-tap sound while Kim tries to nap? When a dusty old loom starts shaking all on its own, Kim climbs aboard and suddenly she’s lifting off the ground, rising past rooftops and soaring into the clouds. Will she hold on tight as the loom dives, splashes, and swirls through a world bursting with color? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words such as “fly,” “sky,” “we,” “me,” and “why.”
Dig Through the Stone!
Diamond sword? Check. Diamond armor? Check. But to beat the Ender Dragon, our hero needs something tougher - Netherite! And that only comes from one place: the scary, lava-filled Nether. Can a brave miner dodge grumpy pigmen, dig through endless stone, and haul home enough ancient debris to craft the ultimate armor? With CLANG, THUMP, and CRACK around every corner, this adventure is packed with action. This decodable reader practices the th sound in words like ’through,’ ’that,’ ’thump,’ and ‘with.’