SEL Books for 1st Graders

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.’

When Jack and Ben fight over a toy, Mum sends them straight to bed - but what happens when Jack dreams up a giant elephant and zooms off across the plains without his little brother? What if Ben needs him? Can Jack reach his brother before it’s too late? Climb on and hold tight for a wild ride full of heart and hope! This decodable reader practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘what,’ ‘when,’ ‘whizz,’ ‘whew,’ and ‘whole.’

Rooster has a bold red comb that shines in the sun. Peacock struts with feathers like a rainbow. Heron stands tall by the pond with a crown of her own. But what happens when a boy asks each proud bird to share? Will anyone trade their crown, or must he find another way to feel just as grand? Grab your scissors and find out! This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘make,’ ‘shine,’ ‘prize,’ ‘wide,’ and ’trade.’

What happens when an ambulance who dreams of speed finally meets a driver as wild as her dreams? Zooming past cars feels amazing at first, but when the road turns to dirt and things start to bump and rattle, is fast really better than careful? Join one shiny ambulance as she learns that her slow, steady driver might just be the best of all. This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words like ‘fast,’ ‘bump,’ ‘held,’ ‘kind,’ and ‘best.’

The Wind Princess is coming at sunrise, and everything at the Rainbow Tower must sparkle! But what happens when Kate reaches for the big magical broom and it growls, dodges, and zooms straight out the window with her still holding on? Can Kate tame a grumpy broom, or will the whole kingdom miss its chance to shine? Buckle up for a wild, bubbly ride above the clouds. This decodable reader practises the ‘sh’ sound in words like ‘brush,’ ‘dash,’ ‘splash,’ ‘fresh,’ and ‘shine.’

Rob, Pam and Tim love causing mischief on the farm - until Dad’s magical mirror shows them three warty, green-skinned monsters staring right back! Can a fancy hat fix it? What about a super-speedy sprint, or the friendliest smile ever? The kids try everything to escape the horrible reflection, but the mirror keeps showing something nobody wants to see. What’s really going on? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘best,’ ‘gasp,’ ‘gold,’ and ‘kind.’

Two kids live beside a vast dump piled high with junk - but could a kind visitor with a box of books change everything? When she stops coming one week, the kids start to sulk. Something must be wrong. Can they rush into the big, busy town and find her before it’s too late? A warm tale about friendship, courage, and the magic of stories. This decodable reader builds short u with j, v, y through words like ‘junk,’ ‘hug,’ ‘sulk,’ ‘vast,’ and ‘rush.’

Sam and his sister are the greatest monster slayers in the whole world - brooms up, buckets ready, no beast too scary! But what happens when a new kind of monster sneaks in quietly, one you can’t whack or chase away? Can a hug, a chat, and a very smart doctor help Sam find his spark again? This decodable reader practises CCVC/CCVCC blends through words like ‘glum,’ ‘slept,’ ‘smart,’ ‘quick,’ and ‘still.’

Rose the sheep is plump, happy, and heading home after a sunny summer on the hill - but oh no, the farmer has built a tiny new gate, and Rose is stuck fast! Can yoga squish her smaller? Will running slim her down? What about swimming? Three weeks of wobbly tries later, why is Rose still exactly the same size, and what clever idea pops into her head? This decodable reader practises open syllables in words like ‘my,’ ’try,’ ‘she,’ ‘so,’ and ‘why.’

Dragon’s big fire test is tomorrow, and he’s SURE he’s a natural - so why bother practising when there are cheese puffs to eat? But when the big moment arrives, only a sad puff of smoke comes out! Can a friendly chilli plant in funky sunglasses help Dragon find his spark before it’s too late? Will he ever light up the sky? This decodable reader practises silent e words such as ‘flame,’ ‘brave,’ ‘bite,’ ‘place,’ and ‘save.’