Science Books for 1st Graders
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, as it is essential for a happy, successful life. Discover fascinating science books for 1st graders ages 5-6. Our children’s books feature experiments, discoveries, and how things work perfect for beginning readers. These picture books and storybooks build reading confidence through scientific exploration.
Catch That Bug!
Have you ever tried to catch the fastest bug in the playground? When the teacher sets a bug-catching task, two friends pick the trickiest target of all - a dazzling dragonfly that zips, darts, and dodges every grab. Can leaves, a spider’s web, and a whole lot of teamwork outsmart a bug that seems to read minds? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘catch,’ ‘chase,’ ‘branch,’ and ‘snatch.’
The Birch Patch
Have you ever stood beneath a tall birch tree and felt the cool shade on your face? Step into the forests of Minecraft, where each patch of trees holds charm, chill, and surprise! Why do players chop so much wood in their very first minutes? What hides behind the trunks of a dark oak forest, waiting to make you flinch? Grab your axe and reach for adventure! This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘birch,’ ‘chop,’ ‘chunk,’ and ‘patch.’
Ping and the Gang
Dive beneath the waves with Ping the fish! From warm, sunny reefs where pink things cling to the rocks, to icy seas where cod and squid hang on in the deep, the Minecraft ocean is full of wonder. But what happens when junk starts to wreck the sea? Can Ping, Tang, and their gang help life spring back to all things? This decodable reader practises the ’ng’ sound in words like ‘cling,’ ‘spring,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘brings.’
The Plant That Ate the Shed!
When Ladybug plants one teeny, tiny vine, she’s sure she’ll grow the most magnificent garden ever - but what happens when a little vine refuses to stop growing? Can Ladybug and her friends rein in the twisting tendrils before the whole world turns into one big green, flowery mess? With swallowed sheds, splitting stems, and watermelons the size of boulders, this wild garden tale is bursting with giggles. This decodable reader practises the ’nk’ sound in words like ‘pink,’ ’think,’ ’trunk,’ ‘junk,’ and ‘shrink.’
Red, Sun, and Sky!
Red, Sun, and Sky are three dinosaur friends with one colourful job: paint the grey neighbourhood bright! But what happens when red splashes into yellow, or blue swirls with sun? And why does Blue Dinosaur keep warning his friends not to mix all three colours at once? Will the dinosaurs dare to break the biggest rule in the sky? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘fly,’ ‘my,’ ‘sky,’ ’try,’ and ‘we.’
Can We Fly?
Birds zoom, dragonflies zip, and butterflies drift past like leaves on the breeze - but what about us? Could three brave kids with big ideas and bigger dreams really make it up into the sky? When a fluffy cloud and a soaring kite both fail to lift them, will they ever find a way to fly? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words such as ‘fly,’ ‘sky,’ ‘go,’ ‘he,’ and ‘we.’
Hands Off The Pen!
Jin has a shiny pen, and nobody - nobody - is allowed to touch it. But when Jin leaves the house, curious Rin sneaks straight to his desk and finds something small, black, and very mysterious stuck to the pen. What is it? Why does it grab bottle caps all on its own? And when the pen rolls somewhere it shouldn’t, can Rin’s new discovery save the day? This decodable reader practises the ‘ck’ sound in words like ‘black,’ ‘block,’ ‘click,’ ‘stuck,’ and ‘quick.’
Drop Them Both!
A rock and a feather, one in each hand - which one do you think will hit the ground first? The Boy is sure he knows the answer, but then he starts to wonder just how much heavier that smooth stone really is. With scales, flasks, and a very patient elephant, can he and Dad figure out the mass of almost anything, from a raindrop to the whole planet? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words such as ‘both,’ ‘smooth,’ ’think,’ and ’thrusts.’
Not That Shade!
Ned the farmer has pigs, cows, and one very big problem - his new vest is dull, dull, DULL! Can a handful of red roses and a splash of gold really turn a plain vest into something fantastic? And what happens when Ned mixes the two together? Will he finally find a shade bold enough to wear into the dark? Join Ned and The Book for a colourful adventure. This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’think,’ ’this,’ ’these,’ and ‘both.’
Thump Thump Thump!
THUMP! Can you hear the dinosaurs coming? Meet a boastful T-rex and a whole crowd of amazing creatures - some big, some small, some thin, some with mighty long necks that stretch up to the clouds. Who hunts in packs? Who has tiny twins hiding in the plants? And which dinosaur might actually be related to a chicken? Stomp along and find out! This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’thump,’ ’those,’ ’through,’ ’thanks,’ and ’three.'
Frequently Asked Questions
How do science books strengthen reading comprehension for 1st graders?
Science books for 1st graders build the background knowledge that Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) identifies as essential for skilled comprehension. When a child reads about animals, weather, or plants, they create mental frameworks that make future texts on those topics easier to understand. Bookbot’s science picture books for first grade deliver this knowledge through decodable text matched to 1st grade phonics levels, so children build content knowledge and decoding skills at the same time.
Are science books for 5 year olds appropriate for children still learning to decode?
Science books for 5 year olds on Bookbot are written with controlled vocabulary that follows a phonics-based scope and sequence, progressing from CVC words to consonant blends and digraphs. The National Reading Panel (2000) confirms that systematic phonics instruction is most effective when children can apply it in meaningful reading, and science topics like dinosaurs, space, and ocean life provide exactly that motivation. Many titles are available to read for free on the Bookbot website.
Why is it important to introduce informational science text in 1st grade?
Early exposure to informational text prepares children for the academic reading demands they will face from 3rd grade onward. Wang (2025) highlights the role that varied text exposure plays in cognitive and literacy development during early childhood. Science books for beginning readers on Bookbot introduce features like labelled diagrams and simple factual sentences, all within decodable text that first graders can read independently. For more on how decodable books work, see our parent guide.
How can parents use science picture books for first grade to spark curiosity at home?
Parents can pair a science picture book with a simple hands-on activity, such as observing insects after reading about habitats or mixing colours after reading about light. Takacs and Bus (2020) found that multimedia and interactive elements significantly enhance learning from stories. Bookbot’s science books for 1st graders are available on the website, with many titles free to read online and select titles offering word-by-word highlighted read-aloud, making it easy to weave reading into everyday discovery.