Adventure Books for 1st Graders

Ned has a cosy home, golden crops, and a magical Book by his side - but what happens when the sun goes down? Every night, grim things creep across the grass, hissing and snarling in the dark. Ned is tired of hiding under his quilt while thumps and thuds shake the walls. Could a lump of iron and a brave plan finally turn the tables? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’them,’ ’then,’ ’thinks,’ ’thuds,’ and ‘with.’

Long ago, Tortoise had the smoothest shell on the whole veld. But when a great drought hits and the birds fly off to a faraway feast, how can a tortoise with tiny legs ever join them in the sky? And when the birds finally carry him aloft, can a creature who never stops talking really hold his tongue? This Bookbot NG level builds the ’ng’ sound with words like ’long’, ‘sing’, ’thing’, ‘wings’ and ‘song’.

Anansi the spider is in real trouble. Leopard has finally caught the trickster and plans to eat him at sundown, locking him in a stone den with no way out. But could a bundle of pods and a clever tale about seasoning be enough to fool a hungry hunter? What plan is spinning in Anansi’s quick little mind? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch’, ’lunch’, ‘rich’, ‘munch’, and ‘snatch’.

Jen’s mum and dad must set off to hunt for food, leaving her alone at the little leaf-roofed hut with only Piglet for company. But what happens when a white deer tiptoes out of the trees and beckons her into the shadows? Can Jen find her way home before dusk falls, and who might she meet along the way? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘just,’ ‘yum,’ ‘hunt,’ and ‘dusk.’

Ned is back, and The Book has a shiny new plan - exploring a deep, dark cave! But what’s lurking in the shadows below? Can Ned be brave enough to cross a huge hole in the ground, especially when he’s warned not to look down? With a flame in hand and his heart pounding, Ned steps into the unknown to hunt for hidden treasure. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘cave,’ ‘flame,’ and ‘wide.’

Ned thinks the forest is his - until a pack of huge wolves comes racing after him! Can a boy with a bag of bones turn snarling beasts into loyal friends? And what happens when zombies come groaning out of the dark - will Ned face them alone, or will his new pack stand by his side? A thrilling adventure full of brave plans and close calls. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bone,’ ‘brave,’ ‘chase,’ ‘prize,’ and ‘wise.’

Ned the knight has found a deep, dark cave, and he’s sure there’s treasure inside. But when he cracks open a mysterious chest, what tumbles out isn’t gold at all - it’s a floppy leather saddle! Could a beautiful white horse be waiting just around the corner? And when Ned leaps on too fast, why does the horse send him flying? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ phonogram in words like ‘what,’ ‘wheat,’ ‘where,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whizz.’

Once, Zebra was solid white without a single mark, and proud of it. But when a cruel summer dries every waterhole to dust, only one pool remains, and mean Baboon guards it with fire and teeth. Can a plain white zebra outwit a fierce enemy to win water for all the thirsty animals? And how might a clever plan leave a mark that lasts forever? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘chap’, ‘chase’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, and ‘which’.

Poor Tire! He’s tired of the bumpy car, he’s squished flat by a huge truck, and he’s way too wide for a boy’s bike. Everywhere he rolls, he just doesn’t fit. Will he ever find the perfect place to belong? Could a kind boy with a big idea change everything? Bounce along on this bumpy, funny adventure and find out! This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘bike,’ ‘came,’ ‘huge,’ ‘ride,’ and ‘smile.’

Ned is SO bored - there is nothing, nothing, NOTHING to do in the whole entire world! But what happens when he climbs the tallest tree he can find and the branch goes CRACK? Can a clever book, a pile of squishy honey blocks, and one very big idea turn a bored boy into the bravest jumper around? Climb up, look down, and find out! This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whack,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whizz.’