Friendship Books for 1st Graders

Nip the little crab is bursting with excitement - today is the day she finally gets to see the sea! But with shiny shells to collect, a friendly fiddler crab to meet, and a whole beach full of new crab pals, will Nip ever make it to the water? And what happens when she bumps into a grouchy crab who isn’t in the mood for hellos? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘by,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ ’no,’ and ‘so.’

CRASH! SPLASH! When a fishing net traps Big Fish on the rocky seabed, Little Fish knows there’s only one way to save his best friend - find someone with really, really sharp teeth. But where do you look when you’re tiny and the ocean is huge? Will Turtle help? Will Whale? Who on earth has teeth sharp enough to slice through a net? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘fish,’ ‘sharp,’ ‘shrimp,’ ‘splash,’ and ‘swish.’

Tip is having the worst day ever - zombies chased her, her farm flooded, and now she just wants to hide under the covers forever! But when Brat Cat peeks in with a bright red tulip and Fig Pig bursts through with glowing vines, will her grumpy mood survive all this cheer? Can two silly friends turn a terrible day around? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words including ‘felt,’ ‘went,’ ‘rest,’ ‘held,’ and ‘gift.’

Kip has somewhere very important to be - but a hungry mob of crocs is blocking the path through the mud! Can Kip outrun the snapping jaws? Can he leap over the pond before the crocs catch up? Join this brave little hero as he jumps rocks, sails over surprised frogs, and races toward a very special surprise waiting just for him. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jump,’ ‘mud,’ ‘run,’ ‘stuck,’ and ‘yum.’

Have you ever wondered what hides in the middle of a lake? When Ken and his friend push a little boat off the dock, they spot horns, shadows, and something with huge, sharp teeth rising from the water! Is it a monster, a giant fish, or something else entirely? Grab the oars and paddle along to find out! This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘check,’ ‘chunk,’ ‘munch,’ ‘branch,’ and ‘cheer.’

Iron Golem has a speech ready, a friendly wave, and a very big heart - but has anyone in the village actually noticed him? He tries the cats. He tries the pigs. He even builds a wall tall enough to stop a sneaky skeleton. So why won’t anyone stop to listen, and could a lonely golem ever find someone who truly sees him? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words including ‘bold,’ ‘felt,’ ‘help,’ ’next,’ and ‘rest.’

Ned’s tiny shed is bursting at the seams, and he’s got a BIG idea - a proper house with rooms he can actually fit through! With his trusty (and very chatty) Book guiding every step, Ned grabs his axe and gets to work. But will he follow the instructions this time? Can one messy plan really build the perfect home on the hill? Join Ned as he stacks, digs, and dreams his way to something grand. This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘blade,’ ‘pace,’ ‘shine,’ and ‘pride.’

Jen and Bud do everything together - making art, sharing snacks, and laughing until their bellies hurt. But what happens when a rough day at school leaves Jen feeling small and jumbled up inside? Can a snuggly pal help when words feel too big? And what about when best pals splash each other one splash too many - is there any pancake big enough to fix it? This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y through words like ‘bud,’ ‘just,’ ‘yum,’ and ‘yuck.’

Tim is a tin robot no bigger than a thimble, and he is certain he was built for adventure - if only one would turn up! When a bright blue button bounces past his feet, Tim sets off on a daring quest to find its owner. But can one tiny robot survive giant shoes, slobbery dogs, and a road as wide as a desert? A bouncy decodable adventure practising VCC/CVCC words such as ‘bold,’ ’lift,’ ‘gift,’ ‘damp,’ and ‘mend.’

Rabbit has a big, brilliant plan - he’s going to be FIRST at EVERYTHING on his very first day of school! First through the door, first across the finish line, first to finish his painting, his story, his maths. But what happens when Bee beats him to class, Turtle beats him in the race, and Dog paints a masterpiece? Could there be something Rabbit is first at after all? This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘flash,’ ‘share,’ and ‘wish.’