Free Nature Books for 1st Graders
Literacy changes lives, and we’re dedicated to making quality books freely available to every young reader. Discover free nature books for 1st graders ages 5-6. Our free children’s books feature forests, oceans, and outdoor adventures perfect for beginning readers. Download free story books PDF or read childrens books online free.
A Spot to Nap
A sleepy sloth climbs higher and higher up a tall tree searching for the perfect spot to nap. But every branch seems to have someone—or something—already occupying it! Will the sloth ever find a cozy place to rest? Join this determined little climber on a funny adventure filled with unexpected encounters.
Pup Hears a Noise
Pup is trying to take a nap, but a mysterious sound keeps waking him up. Chirp! Chirp! What could be making that noise? Pup sets off on a search through the grass, meeting different animal friends along the way. He finds Trunk, Spike, and even some birds, but none of them are making the chirping sound. Can Pup discover who is responsible for all that noise so he can finally get some rest?
There Are Ants!
Ants have invaded the house, and they’re on a mission to find food! Watch as these tiny explorers search high and low, sniffing out sweet treats and slipping through tiny spaces. They check out roller skates (silly ants, that’s not food!), discover yummy candy and cookies, and follow mysterious smells around the kitchen. But will they find enough food to bring back to their home? Join these busy little ants on their delicious adventure!
My Comb
While visiting a farm, a curious child discovers that many birds wear beautiful feather crowns called combs. The proud rooster shows off his fancy red comb, the peacock displays his wonderful feather crown, and even the heron has her own special crest. But none of the birds will share their crowns! When the child asks for a comb crown too, each bird says no. What will this creative kid do to get a crown of their own?
The Butterfly Garden
Diya is shy and loves butterflies, but she’s nervous about talking in class. When her school visits the park, something magical happens—her passion for butterflies gives her the courage to speak up! Will Diya discover that sharing what she loves can help her make new friends and find her voice?
Where Is My Shoe?
Oh no! A little caterpillar has lost one of his many shoes, and he’s having the worst day ever! He asks his friends for help - Frog, Grasshopper, and Crab all offer to lend him their shoes. But frog shoes are for swimming, grasshopper shoes are too big, and crab shoes are way too sharp! Tired and shoeless, the caterpillar curls up for a nap. But something strange is happening to him… What could it be?
Make it Rain
Kaa lives in a dry, thirsty land where nothing grows. His special job is to walk from place to place, singing songs that call to the clouds and rain. One day, as Kaa sings his magical song, he hears a strange sound: Thump, thump, thump! A friendly dinosaur has come to join him! Can Kaa and his new dinosaur friend sing loud enough for the clouds to hear them?
A Big Pot
Join a young farmer who grows their own food from tiny seeds to tasty meals! Watch as they dig holes, plant seeds, and protect their crops from hungry birds, cows, and hens. The plants grow tall and verdant green under their careful watch. But what happens when it’s finally time to harvest and cook everything in a big pot over an open fire? Will the whole family enjoy this farm-fresh feast?
A Goat Home
Gilly the goat is miserable! It’s the hottest summer ever, and she can’t find anywhere cool to rest. A tall leaf by the stream is too small. The shrubs don’t provide enough shade. Then Gilly visits the town and sees people building something interesting. It gives her a big idea! Can Gilly build her very own shelter to escape the heat? Will her plan actually work?
Animal Friends
Did you know that some animals wake up farmers, carry secret messages, or even help flowers make seeds? From roosters that crow at dawn to clever birds that build amazing nests, animals do incredible things to help people and nature. Some protect our homes, while others make the soil better for growing plants. Which helpful animal will surprise you the most? Open this book to discover the amazing ways our animal friends make the world a better place!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are nature books valuable for 1st graders who are learning to read?
Nature topics — animals, plants, weather, habitats — give children real-world knowledge that strengthens comprehension alongside decoding. Scarborough (2001) identified background knowledge as a critical strand of skilled reading, and the NRP (2000) confirmed that wide, content-rich reading helps build it. Bookbot’s free nature books pair this content with decodable text matched to 1st grade phonics patterns, so children grow their knowledge of the world while practising their reading skills. For more on how phonics instruction works, see what is phonics?.
What formats are these free nature books available in?
All nature books on Bookbot are free to read on the Bookbot website. Many also include PDF downloads, and select titles offer a read-aloud feature with word-by-word highlighting. Takacs and Bus (2020) found that multimedia reading features like audio narration combined with highlighted text strengthen word recognition in beginning readers, so the read-aloud option is especially helpful for 5- and 6-year-olds.
What phonics levels do the free nature books cover?
The books range from basic CVC words (like bug, fox, sun) through consonant blends and digraphs — the full progression of skills taught in 1st grade. Each book is tagged by level, and our scope and sequence page explains how the stages build on one another.
Can nature books help a first grader who finds reading boring?
Children who resist reading often just haven’t found a topic that hooks them yet. Animals, weather, and outdoor exploration are subjects most 5- and 6-year-olds find genuinely fascinating. Stanovich (1986) showed that even modest increases in how much a child reads create a positive cycle of stronger vocabulary and fluency. Nature books turn that curiosity into reading practice. For more strategies, see 8 ways to boost reading motivation.