Adventure Books for 1st Graders

Alex has a cursed emerald burning a hole in his pocket - and one accidental peek just turned his brother Jake to solid stone! Can a mysterious tin golem hiding in the den hold the secret to breaking the curse? Will hot, red lava really be the answer, or is something far trickier waiting for the brothers? Dash back to base and find out in this thrilling fourth chapter! This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels with words like ‘hid,’ ‘got,’ ’led,’ ‘ran,’ and ‘hot.’

Alex has a cursed gem that keeps zapping him far from the Nether fire that could destroy it! Can he find a way to get rid of it before he turns into stone for good? When even a cloth bundle freezes Jake solid at the village square, Alex gets one wild, last-chance idea. Will a potion of strength and a good throw finally break the curse? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words like ‘got,’ ‘hot,’ ‘ran,’ ‘sat,’ and ‘rid.’

Alex has a wild, almost-too-scary plan to finally get rid of the cursed emerald - and it involves a mine cart, a river of lava, and poor brave Jake. But what happens when the fire resistance potion tastes a little… off? Can two best friends pull off the most ridiculous rescue mission ever, or will the whispering gem win? Hold your breath and turn the page! This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels in words such as ‘hit,’ ‘got,’ ‘sat,’ ’lit,’ and ’nod.’

The giant izim has terrorised the valley for three seasons, stealing cattle and laughing at every grown man who tried to stop it. So when eight year old Thandi says, “Let me try,” everyone laughs too. But what if being small and clever beats big and certain? How could one brave girl, a shiny bottle, and a narrow gap in the rocks succeed where the strongest warriors failed? This Bookbot NG level practises the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘strong’, ’long’, ‘clings’, ‘springs’, and ’things’.

On one riverbank, sweet wild berries wait just out of reach, and between Hare and that whole hillside lies a river ruled by Old Crocodile, who lets no one cross. How can a small, clever hare outsmart the biggest, meanest crocodile of them all, and finally taste those berries? Read on to find out! This Bookbot story practises the /wh/ sound in words like ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘which’, ‘whole’ and ‘why’.

Sungura the Hare has the quickest mind on the savanna, and he never lets anyone forget it. So when a hungry Leopard steps out of the grass and decides the boastful little hare would make the perfect snack, what can one small, fast-talking creature possibly do? Can quick thinking really outmatch sharp claws before the chase is done? This Bookbot book practises the /ng/ sound with words like ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, ‘bring’, and ‘song’.

At the forest’s edge, Agbe the ram munches grass all day, calm as can be. When Ekun the hungry leopard slinks down to claim him for dinner, Agbe barely lifts his head. Who is really the dangerous one here? Can a slow, fearless ram outbluff a sharp clawed cat, or will Ekun get his meal at last? This story practises the ‘ch’ sound with lesson words like ‘chomp’, ’lunch’, ‘branch’, ‘catch’, and ‘much’.

The Congo rainforest is dark and cold, and only clever Leopard guards a single flame. Can Nzala the goat outwit him with riddles and carry fire home to her shivering village? Will her secret plan work before Leopard notices what she’s done? A warm, witty tale of courage and quick thinking. This Bookbot level practises the ‘sh’ sound with lesson words like ‘she’, ‘wish’, ‘dash’, ‘flash’, and ‘shines’.

The eland is the animal Kaggen the Mantis loves best of all, so when he finds a lost calf alone in the red hills, he hides it away and feeds it honey to help it grow. But how long can a secret this big stay hidden, and what will Kaggen do when hunters follow the tracks? Will love be enough to bring the eland home? This Bookbot book practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘munch’, ‘chunk’, ‘catch’, ‘reach’, and ’touch’.

The forest people once danced by moonlight, but one rainy season the treetops grew so thick that the Moon’s light couldn’t reach the ground below. Could a fearless girl named Yei, who can climb the tallest tree in the forest, find a way to bring the Moon back to her people? Climb into the dark with her and find out! This Bookbot level practises the /tʃ/ sound with words like ‘branch’, ‘reach’, ‘cheer’, and ‘watch’.