Fantasy Books for 1st Graders

Steve’s still stuck with the Cursed Emerald glowing in his hands, and now he’s landed in a strange village where the locals only grunt and hum. Can he find the map lad before the gem’s green pull drags him somewhere worse? When a friendly trade turns into a nasty shock of blue sparks, Steve learns that this emerald really doesn’t like to share. This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘blank,’ ‘clink,’ ‘clunk,’ ‘shrinks,’ and ‘winks.’

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’.

Demba is a kind hunter who leaves a little food by the great baobab’s trunk every single morning, even when his own family has barely enough. But who has been listening inside the tree all these years? When a mysterious voice offers him one gift, what will a wise hunter choose? This Bookbot level practises the /ŋk/ sound with words like ’trunk’, ’think’, ‘sink’, and ‘bank’.

The rains have not come, the goats are thin, and every morning Njoki must dig in the dry riverbed for water. So when she finds a strange carved gourd that pours clean water and even milk, is it a gift or a trap? What happens when a curious neighbour learns the gourd’s secret? A tender story of trust, mistakes, and mending. This book helps young readers practise the /ŋ/ sound with words like ‘sing’, ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, and ‘spring’.

The bun sings in his gut when he waits for the song. Can Jackal really learn Kaggen the Mantis’s soup recipe, or is the clever little trickster leading him astray? Sit in the hot sun, wait for the singing, and find out who truly wins. This Bookbot level practises words with the ’ng’ sound, such as ‘song’, ’long’, ‘strong’, ‘sings’, and ‘brings’.

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’.

Obiora talks too much, always chasing the next big story to tell. So when a skull speaks to him on the forest road, he races to tell the king. But when the guards arrive to hear it, the skull stays silent. Will anyone believe Obiora now, and what did the skull really mean? This Bookbot NK level practises the /ŋk/ sound with words like ‘sank’, ’think’, ‘blink’, ‘wink’, and ‘shrank’.