Animal Books for 1st Graders

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’.

What happens when a curious dog knocks over a tin of bright yellow paint? And what happens when a very grumpy cat gets splattered too? Dog and Cat go tumbling, bumping, and dashing through the house, turning everything (and themselves!) into a wild, colourful mess. But poor Pam is trying to paint on Art Day - will her canvas survive two paint-covered pets? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ‘she,’ and ‘we.’

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 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.’

Chip and Pip are the very best of chums - until one big day changes everything between them. Why is Chip suddenly so cross? Why won’t Pip come back to their cosy spot by the branch? When friends say the wrong words, can they ever find the right ones again? Curl up with this gentle tale of two pals who just might need each other more than they know. This decodable reader practises the ch sound in words like ‘chum,’ ‘branch,’ ‘munch,’ and ‘catch.’

When the sun beats down and Mum gets too hot on the farm, Giraffe hatches a plan so fine it just might be silly - what if he climbed up high and ate the sun whole? But what happens when the sky goes dark as a cave and his tummy starts to glow with a hot little flame? Can Bear think of something brave to save the day? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘ate,’ ‘brave,’ ‘flame,’ ‘ripe,’ and ‘whole.’

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’.

When Len shows off a shiny new gift, Jim blurts out that he has even better stuff at home - but does he really? With his loyal pup at his heels, Jim sets off on a wild hunt through the house, grabbing bits and bobs from every room. Will his big brag land him in a fuss, or will he find something truly special? This lively decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘fun,’ ‘must,’ ‘shrub,’ and ‘hunt.’

Zom the zombie is tired of neighbours who only groan about brains - he wants a REAL friend! When he hears a buzz and finds a golden hive humming in a birch tree, he’s sure he’s struck friendship gold. But will shaking the tree to say hello really bring the bees out to play? And what happens when a swarm with fangs comes zinging after him? This decodable reader practises the ’ng’ phonogram in words such as ‘sing,’ ‘spring,’ ‘hangs,’ ‘wings,’ and ‘sting.’

Meow loves her cosy farm, where nothing ever gets past her sharp eyes - but what happens when a real, wild ocelot creeps out of the bush and heads straight for the chicken shed? Can one small house cat outsmart a hungry jungle hunter? With a clever plan, a wobbly scarecrow, and the bravest dash of her life, Meow is ready to try anything! This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘bush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ and ‘shed.’