Free Animal Books for 1st Graders
Guess It Quick!
Fred has a secret talent and a sneaky little game. He picks up his pencil, draws a circle, then another, then a big black shape - and dares you to guess what it is. Is it a frog? A duck? A drone with legs? Every time you shout an answer, Fred just grins and keeps going. Can you work out what Fred is drawing before he finishes? This decodable reader practices the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘quick,’ ‘click,’ ‘stack,’ and ’trick.’
A Spot to Nap
Poor Sloth is SO sleepy - the kind of sleepy where your arms feel like noodles and your eyeballs feel like bowling balls! All he wants is the perfect branch for the biggest, longest nap ever. But will a hungry giraffe leave him alone? What about the buzzing bees, the grumpy snake, and that very loud bird? Can one tired sloth ever find a quiet spot to snooze? This decodable reader practices the ch sound in words like ‘branch,’ ‘munch,’ ‘crunch,’ and ‘reach.’
Cod
Deep in the cold sea lives the fastest, sneakiest cod on the whole coast - and nobody has ever caught it. Then along comes Steve, who has no rod, no net, no boat, and absolutely no plan. Just confidence! Can Steve outsmart a fish that’s slipped through every fisherman’s fingers? And what happens when he spots a bucket washed up on the sand? This decodable reader practices VC/CVC short vowels with words like ‘cod,’ ‘sat,’ ‘ran,’ ‘hid,’ and ‘got.’
The Thing in the Cave!
Deep in a dark cave, Steve spots something pink with a huge, goofy grin swimming up through the water. What is this strange little creature, and why won’t it leave his side? As Steve takes his new friend home, could there be another glowing pet waiting back in the cave? Will two be better than one? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words such as ’that,’ ’then,’ ’there,’ ’thick,’ and ’thanks.'
Hush! Where Is the Cat?
Kit the cat has vanished from her pillow, leaving only a tiny dent and one white whisker behind! Where could she be hiding? Is she curled up in the big blue pot, tucked high on the cupboard, or giggling somewhere just out of sight? Follow along as one very worried kid hunts high, low, and everywhere in between to track down a sneaky little cat. This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘shake,’ ‘shove,’ ‘bush,’ ‘dash,’ and ‘hush.’
Pig
What happens when a curious girl follows her nose to the smelliest surprise in the park? Something stinky is hiding behind a bush, and when she finds a muddy creature with a goofy grin, she knows she has to keep it! But how will she sneak it past Mom, and what’s really under all that mud? Get ready for mud puddles, muddy footprints, and a very bubbly bath. This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘drops,’ ‘scrub,’ ‘stomps,’ and ‘grins.’
Tug, Jud!
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.’
Thump Thump Thump!
THUMP! Can you hear the dinosaurs coming? Meet a boastful T-rex and a whole crowd of amazing creatures - some big, some small, some thin, some with mighty long necks that stretch up to the clouds. Who hunts in packs? Who has tiny twins hiding in the plants? And which dinosaur might actually be related to a chicken? Stomp along and find out! This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’thump,’ ’those,’ ’through,’ ’thanks,’ and ’three.'
Sing It, Bug!
Spring has sprung, and Bug has a fizzy, buzzy feeling in her belly - she wants to SING! But what happens when Duck’s song is too wet, Frog’s is too long, and Big Bird’s is far too loud? Can one tiny bug really find a song of her very own, and will the whole gang ever learn to sing together? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘sing,’ ‘song,’ ’long,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘spring.’
They Are Not The Boss
Meet one very clever cat who knows exactly who owns the house - and it is NOT the kids! Does he need a bath? No thanks, a quick lick will do. Can a mouse sneak past him? Not a chance. And what about that rude boy next door who sticks out his tongue? Just wait and see what this fluffy boss has planned! This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’that,’ ’teeth,’ and ’think.'