Life Books for Kids

One plum towel, one windy day, and suddenly it is sailing off into the sky like a ghost with places to go! Who will grab it first as it drifts across the yard? Will a splashing neighbor claim it, a horn player use it as a cushion, or will our little hero ever get that perfect towel back? Hold on tight and find out! This decodable reader practices the ‘ph’ sound in words such as ‘phew,’ ‘phantom,’ ‘megaphone,’ ‘symphony,’ and ’triumph.’

When Max brags he can race to the river and back before dinner, his friends follow him straight into a forest shortcut that isn’t really a shortcut at all. Mist curls around the trees, something cracks in the bushes, and suddenly the dark has sounds in it. Will climbing an old elm tree keep them safe? And who on earth is calling their names? This decodable reader practices the ‘wr’ sound in words like ‘wrapped,’ ‘wrenched,’ ‘wriggled,’ and ‘wristwatch.’

What if your hair could be anything you wanted - a sun umbrella, a cozy scarf, even a cheeky bird’s nest? Join one hair-loving kid and her funny little dog through every season, from wild autumn runs to snowy winter walks. Will she keep her long curls forever, or try something brand new? Flip the page and find out! This decodable reader practices compound words such as ‘hairbrush,’ ‘birdhouse,’ ‘snowflake,’ and ‘sidewalk.’

Rain is drumming on the roof, puddles are calling, and Boy just wants a hot cup of coffee and a good book - but have you ever tried to keep a coffee safe from a muddy bull, a curious cat, and a very nosy rooster? From splashing in puddles to singing in the rain, what will Boy do when his animal friends want a sip of everything he has? This decodable reader practices 2-syllable open words such as ‘hello,’ ‘open,’ ’tiny,’ and ‘super.’

Diya is a big fan of butterflies. She helps them if they are in odd spots, like chunks of mud. The bus honks when her class gets to the garden.

Meg is the best vet in the whole forest, and today her most important jar of medicine is nearly empty! Can she trek deep into the woods, cross slippery rocks, and gather the rare herb she needs? And what will she do when a scratchy monkey, a hurt bird, and one very hungry little fawn all cross her path? This decodable reader practices the wr phonogram in words like ‘wraps,’ ‘wriggles,’ ‘wrist,’ and ‘write.’

Far from the city, in a cabin where fireflies dance in the darkness, a boy named Cam has a good little lamp that glows beside him as he reads in peace. But what happens when bright electric lights arrive at his fence? Will Cam forget the quiet flame that once lit up his face? And when a fierce storm strikes, who will break the silence of the dark? This decodable reader practices the soft c sound in words like ‘city,’ ‘circle,’ ‘place,’ and ‘peaceful.’

Miss B walks with a cane and taps her way around the dance studio, calling out to her three giggling girls. But what if their sweet old teacher used to leap past gnarled bridges and float under starlight? What if she once danced on every stage in the world, from Paris to Rio? Could Miss B be hiding a dazzling secret behind that quiet tap, tap, tap? This decodable reader practices the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnarled,’ ‘reigned,’ ‘foreign,’ and ‘sign.’

Ben loves the little brown bird that sings from its cage on the porch, filling his house with music sweet enough to curl his toes. But one bird means just one song - so what happens when Ben asks his father to catch more and more, until every ledge is lined with cages? Why won’t his new birds sing a single note, and can Ben figure out what they really need? This decodable reader practices soft g in words like ‘cage,’ ‘gentle,’ ’large,’ and ‘strange.’

It’s Khushi’s tenth birthday, and she’s dreaming of the biggest, shiniest presents ever. But when Dad hands her a stubborn little clay donkey with a slot in its back, she’s distraught! What on earth is she meant to do with a money bank? And when her sister comes begging for a loan, will Khushi’s savings survive the week? This decodable reader practices the ‘augh’ sound in words like ‘caught,’ ‘daughter,’ ’laugh,’ and ’naughty.’