Friendship Books for 1st Graders

Deep in a cool, green pond, Red loves looping, lunch, and his little pals - until something huge and toothy comes snapping out of the reeds! Can one small fish outswim a giant with row after row of sharp teeth? And when hiding isn’t enough, what wild, wonderful plan could possibly scare a Big Bad Fish away? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as “fast,” “help,” “bolt,” and “past.”

Kara has the best idea ever: a surprise birthday party for Pip, her happy little pup! But what happens when Pip overhears the secret and decides he wants to help too? Can a puppy really plan his own surprise? From a finch on a branch to a bunch of bouncy chums marching up the path, this cheerful tale is packed with wagging tails and giggles. This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘branch,’ ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ and ‘march.’

Poor Bee is lost! Can Elephant, who once found a peanut under a rock, help him find his way back to his buzzing friends? First she pops him in a bird’s nest - yikes! Then a dark cave full of glowing eyes - eek! Will these two mismatched pals ever track down the cosy golden hive Bee calls home, and what happens when the helper gets lost too? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘brave,’ ‘chase,’ ‘home,’ ‘hive,’ and ‘smiles.’

Meg is the best vet in the whole forest, and today her bag is packed with precious medicine for the animals who need her most. But what happens when a cheeky little fawn finds her bag first? Can Meg help a sore monkey, a hurt bird, and a tangled fawn when her jug of medicine is almost gone? A warm woodland adventure about kindness, stubbornness, and unexpected friends. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘jumps,’ ‘vet,’ ‘yuck,’ and ’tug.’

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.’

It’s Khushi’s tenth birthday, and she’s dreaming of the biggest, shiniest present ever - so when Dad hands her a stubborn little clay donkey with a slot in its back, her face falls flat. Can a silly money bank really be any fun? As coins pile up and her sister begs to borrow some, Khushi starts saving for something special. But then she meets a new friend at school, and everything changes. This decodable reader practises short u with j, v, y in words like ‘just,’ ‘yum,’ ’tucks,’ and ‘bugs.’

Whit the Mage has a BIG secret, and keeping it might just make him burst! Jill is planning a surprise bash for the whole village, complete with a shiny new name and sky-high whizz bangs - but only if Whit can zip his lips around Dr Can Do. Can a mischievous mage who loves to chatter actually stay quiet? And what happens when the lanterns glow and the crowd gathers? This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whizz,’ and ‘whole.’

Tina has a mountain of chores and a silly song to sing while she works - but what happens when a tiny elf in the cornfield sings her song right back? With one snap of magical fingers, every job is done! But can Tina keep her new friend, or will the elf vanish as quickly as she appeared? This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dish,’ ‘shines,’ ‘shore,’ and ‘wish.’

Have you ever had a day so noisy, so busy, so sneezy that you just had to escape? Brat Cat has - and she’s had ENOUGH of the shop rush! With her pals Fig Pig and Tip, she tromps off to the cool birch shade to build something small, quiet, and all her own. But will her perfect hideaway stay as peaceful as she hopes? This decodable reader practises the sh phonogram in words like ‘crush,’ ‘rush,’ ‘shade,’ and ‘wish.’

Two characters are trying to become friends, but things keep getting in the way. One seems prickly and not very cuddly! Will they find a way to get along? Follow along as they try different ideas to become pals. Can they figure out what it takes to be true friends?