SEL Books for 1st Graders

Blue Train has a secret - every night, when the station is dark, he zooms past cacti and races under stars so bright they look like pinpricks in the sky. But what happens when he flies too far and finds himself lost in a strange forest with scowling trees and a very purple elephant? Can a boy with a flute help him find the way home? This decodable reader practices open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘cry,’ ‘fly,’ and ’try.’

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.’

Mia spots Lily’s brand new jacket just hanging there - and it looks SO cool. What could go wrong with trying it on for one tiny second? But when art class ends in a splatter of red, green, and orange paint, Mia panics and hides the jacket in the strangest spot ever. Can she fix the mess before Lily finds out? This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘hide,’ ‘make,’ ’nice,’ ‘shape,’ and ‘smiles.’

Have you ever had a day so noisy, so busy, so sneezy that you just had to escape? Brat Cat has - and she’s had ENOUGH of the shop rush! With her pals Fig Pig and Tip, she tromps off to the cool birch shade to build something small, quiet, and all her own. But will her perfect hideaway stay as peaceful as she hopes? This decodable reader practices the sh phonogram in words like ‘crush,’ ‘rush,’ ‘shade,’ and ‘wish.’

When Jack and Ben fight over a toy, Mom sends them straight to bed - but what happens when Jack dreams up a giant elephant and zooms off across the plains without his little brother? What if Ben needs him? Can Jack reach his brother before it’s too late? Climb on and hold tight for a wild ride full of heart and hope! This decodable reader practices the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whiz,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whole.’

Rooster has a bold red comb that shines in the sun. Peacock struts with feathers like a rainbow. Heron stands tall by the pond with a crown of her own. But what happens when a boy asks each proud bird to share? Will anyone trade their crown, or must he find another way to feel just as grand? Grab your scissors and find out! This decodable reader practices silent e words such as ‘make,’ ‘shine,’ ‘prize,’ ‘wide,’ and ’trade.’

What happens when an ambulance who dreams of speed finally meets a driver as wild as her dreams? Zooming past cars feels amazing at first, but when the road turns to dirt and things start to bump and rattle, is fast really better than careful? Join one shiny ambulance as she learns that her slow, steady driver might just be the best of all. This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words like ‘fast,’ ‘bump,’ ‘held,’ ‘kind,’ and ‘best.’

The Wind Princess is coming at sunrise, and everything at the Rainbow Tower must sparkle! But what happens when Kate reaches for the big magical broom and it growls, dodges, and zooms straight out the window with her still holding on? Can Kate tame a grumpy broom, or will the whole kingdom miss its chance to shine? Buckle up for a wild, bubbly ride above the clouds. This decodable reader practices the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘splash,’ ‘fresh,’ and ‘shine.’

Rob, Pam and Tim love causing mischief on the farm - until Dad’s magical mirror shows them three warty, green-skinned monsters staring right back! Can a fancy hat fix it? What about a super-speedy sprint, or the friendliest smile ever? The kids try everything to escape the horrible reflection, but the mirror keeps showing something nobody wants to see. What’s really going on? This decodable reader practices VCC/CVCC words such as ‘best,’ ‘gasp,’ ‘gold,’ and ‘kind.’

Two kids live beside a vast dump piled high with junk - but could a kind visitor with a box of books change everything? When she stops coming one week, the kids start to sulk. Something must be wrong. Can they rush into the big, busy town and find her before it’s too late? A warm tale about friendship, courage, and the magic of stories. This decodable reader builds short u with j, v, y through words like ‘junk,’ ‘hug,’ ‘sulk,’ ‘vast,’ and ‘rush.’