Animal Books for 1st Graders

Why Hippo Lives in Water is a warm retelling of an old African tale. Long ago, Hippo lived on dry land under a blazing sun, and oh, how he longed for the cool river. But the Wind guards the fish and does not trust a hungry hippo. What clever promise could Hippo make to earn his place in the water, and could he keep it when temptation drifts right past his nose? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘catch’, ‘munch’, ‘chomp’, ‘check’, and ‘chin’.

A chatty little mosquito loves to gossip, so when she tells Iguana a wild tale about a giant yam, why does he plug his ears and refuse to listen? One small fib sets off a chain of fright that races through the forest, until the sun itself will not rise. Can the animals trace the trouble back to where it began? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ch’ sound with words like ‘chat’, ‘catch’, ‘much’, ‘chill’, and ‘watch’.

Ben has one little bird, and its song is the sweetest sound he’s ever heard. But what if he had ten birds? Or a hundred? With his dad’s help, Ben fills the house with cages of every colour - but why won’t any of the birds sing? Can Ben figure out what his feathered friends really need before it’s too late? This decodable reader focuses on the ’th’ sound in words like ’this,’ ’them,’ ’then,’ and ‘with.’

Zom has a list, and right at the top is one big word: SEAFOOD! But have you ever tried to grab a slippery cod with your bare hands? Or tiptoed up to a spiky pufferfish? When Zom dives deep into the shimmering blue, he discovers that catching lunch is much trickier than it looks - and that something amazing might be waiting far below. This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch,’ ‘chomp,’ ‘munches,’ and ’torch.’

Anansi owes great Python a debt, and now Python wants to eat him for lunch! Can a clever little spider talk his way out of becoming a snake’s dinner? What trick could possibly outwit the longest, proudest creature in the whole forest, and will it be enough? This warm, funny retelling is full of surprises. This Bookbot book practises the ‘ch’ sound with the words ’lunch’, ‘chomp’, ‘champ’, ‘catch’, and ‘which’.

Deep in the cold sea lives the fastest, sneakiest cod on the whole coast - and nobody has ever caught it. Then along comes Steve, who has no rod, no net, no boat, and absolutely no plan. Just confidence! Can Steve outsmart a fish that’s slipped through every fisherman’s fingers? And what happens when he spots a bucket washed up on the sand? This decodable reader practises VC/CVC short vowels with words like ‘cod,’ ‘sat,’ ‘ran,’ ‘hid,’ and ‘got.’

Jill is heading into the glade with pockets full of bones and one bold plan - to tame a wolf of her very own! But what happens when a cheeky white wolf snatches her bones and bolts into the trees? Will Jill run out of patience before she runs out of snacks? And why does that wolf keep coming back? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words such as ‘what,’ ‘why,’ ‘while,’ ‘white,’ and ‘whew.’

Ned spots a bee buzzing past a lush bush and just has to know where it lives. But when he finds a nest full of fresh, golden honey, will he listen to The Book’s warnings, or grab his axe and charge in? And what happens when his new bee friends love him a little too much? A bold, buzzing adventure full of sticky surprises! This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram in words like ‘bush,’ ‘fresh,’ ‘hush,’ ‘rush,’ and ‘shirt.’

Meet Hantu, a playful creature who loves to pop up and surprise everyone he meets! But his fun-loving antics don’t always go as planned. Will Hantu find a friend who actually enjoys his games, or will he keep searching for someone who thinks he’s fun instead of frightening?

Dive into an underwater adventure! A young girl explores the ocean and discovers amazing sea creatures. She meets a friendly fish that can fly, spots something shiny that looks like gold, and encounters animals with curly legs that nip! What other surprising creatures will she find in the deep blue sea? Join her as she swims through this exciting underwater world full of wonder and discovery.