Friendship Books for 1st Graders

Jojo spots a boy juggling a football on the other side of the fence - clink, clunk, tap! Can Jojo keep up with this speedy new friend? And when trouble suddenly rolls into the road, will Jojo be quick enough to help? A warm playground tale of football, friendship, and finding your own way to say hello. This decodable reader practices the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘blinks,’ ‘clunk,’ ‘honk,’ and ‘pink.’

Jack has never caught a fish - not once! But when he casts his wobbly branch-rod off the dock, what on earth tugs back? Something green, something grumpy, something that is definitely NOT a fish. Could a pumpkin boy and a mermaid really become friends? And what happens when the sun starts sinking on their silly, splashy adventure? This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ phonogram in words like ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whines,’ and ‘whale.’

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.’

Tig loves her quiet pond - no noisy pals, no fuss, just sunshine and snacks… or so she thinks. But when she tries to grab a mouse, a fawn, and a whole herd of deer, every creature bolts before she can blink. Why does everyone run from Tig? And when the forest goes silent, will she still want to be all alone? This decodable reader practices the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ‘path,’ and ’through.’

What happens when Skel the skeleton gets tired of cleaning up after his messy housemates? When Zom and Jack refuse to lift a finger, the muck piles up thick and fast - and soon something starts scuttling in the shadows. Will the boys learn their lesson before the bugs take over the whole shack? A funny, creepy-crawly tale about mess, friendship, and pitching in. This decodable reader practices the ck sound in words like ‘brick,’ ‘muck,’ ‘snack,’ and ‘whack.’

Who is truly the best bird in the yard? Red Bird thinks she is. Yellow Bird whispers it from her hill. Orange Bird is too busy running to care, Green Bird has his crew, and Blue Bird zips by like a rocket! But when a huge gust of wind crashes through the sky, can six very different birds find a way to fly together? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘bold,’ ‘fast,’ ‘band,’ and ‘wind.’

a quest into the Nether! Can Mage, Doc, and Jill gather what they need for the trip? Will Jill really trot across lava on a Strider’s back, or can clever thinking save the day? With a grin and a zest for adventure, the friends set off on a journey they will never forget. This decodable reader practices CCVC/CCVCC blends in words like ‘plan,’ ‘grin,’ ‘quest,’ and ‘blasts.’

When the rain starts falling on a sunny day, Brown Rabbit knows something is wrong. Can you hear the sad song drifting down with every raindrop? Who could be so heartbroken that even the clouds begin to cry? Bee, Bird, and Rabbit set off on a brave little journey to follow the music and find the one who needs them most - but will they be in time to help? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘wept,’ ‘wind,’ ‘mist,’ ‘held,’ and ‘fast.’

When the water rises fast and swallows the whole street, what can Mel do but cling to a pole and hug her toy giraffe, Gus? A kind helper named Jen scoops her up and brings her somewhere safe - but can Mel be brave enough to help others too, and will Jen keep her biggest promise of all? This decodable reader practices the ’ng’ sound in words such as ‘clung,’ ‘hang,’ ‘sang,’ ‘flung,’ and ‘strong.’

Susy has a BIG dream - she wants to be a real magic queen, with a cape, a wand, and a crowd cheering her name! But what do you do when you have no stage, no top hat, and no rabbit? Luckily, Susy has Mak, her dog and trusty sidekick. Can a rice basket, an old sheet, and one brave puppy pull off the greatest magic show ever? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words such as ‘be,’ ‘go,’ ‘my,’ and ’try.’