Nature Books for Kids
Let Go of Crab!
Turtle has a plan - a sunny nap on the warm sandy beach - but Crab has other ideas! Down on the bustling reef, where fish dazzle among the coral and seahorses drift in a gentle row, Crab just cannot stop pinching. What strange, red-armed creature is curled around that dark rock? And what happens when Crab gives it one little pinch? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il phonogram in words like ‘gentle,’ ‘sparkle,’ ’little,’ ‘signal,’ and ’tangle.’
Kobe and the Dry River
When the last waterhole dries up, mighty Tembo the Elephant declares that water belongs only to the strong and races off to faraway rivers to prove it. But what does slow, patient Kobe the Tortoise notice in the cracked riverbed that everyone else has missed? Could a tiny creature really find water for every thirsty animal on the savanna before an elephant can? This gentle tale of wisdom over strength helps young readers practise 3+ syllable words like ‘afternoon’, ’enormous’, ‘suddenly’, ‘grandmother’, and ‘absolutely’.
Entito Sees the Sky
A dry season grips the enkang, and the river has turned to dust. When a girl named Entito finds a lost hornbill chick on the ridge, will one small act of care be enough to make the sky listen? As the cattle grow thirsty and a strange still cloud caps the great mountain, Entito must face the fierce red Enkai and a hard choice. Will the rain ever come? This Bookbot level practises the /ʒ/ sound in ’treasure’, ‘occasion’, ‘decision’, ‘measures’, and ‘pleasure’.
Ayo and the Old Grove
Deep in an old forest lives Oro Igbo, a serious spirit who keeps careful accounts of all that hunters take and promise. When young Ayo wanders into the sacred grove by accident, will he remember the rule his father taught him? And when he later meets a greedy hunter who does the forest ‘wrong’, what will the watchful trees decide? This Bookbot level practises the ‘wr’ phonogram in words like ‘wrapped’, ‘wrinkled’, ‘wrens’, and ‘wry’.
We Made It Rain!
Walt sings to the sky every day, begging the clouds for rain on the dry, grey plain. But what happens when a giant, grinning dinosaur thumps down the trail and wants to join in? Can two loud voices and one silly song really call the clouds down to play? This decodable reader practises the ai/ay phonogram in words like ‘rain,’ ‘day,’ ‘plain,’ ’trail,’ and ‘sway.’
We've Got Work to Do!
Who wakes up the farm before the sun is even awake? Who guards the gate at midnight, carries tiny scrolls across the sky, or weaves a nest fit for a palace? From busy bees and humble earthworms to patient camels crossing the desert, every creature has a job to do - and some jobs are quieter than others. Can you guess which worker has the hardest job of all? This decodable reader practises 3+ syllable words such as ‘magnificent,’ ‘dependable,’ ‘remarkable,’ and ‘diligently.’
Who's Looking Back?
Have you ever played a game where you stare at something and wait to see if it stares right back? On a little farm full of frogs, roosters, and a very nosy cow, one curious kid plays this game all day long. But when sunset paints the sky yellow and fireflies start to glow, a much bigger question drifts up toward the stars… who might be looking back from far away? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllable words such as ‘garden,’ ‘hidden,’ ‘sunset,’ ‘supper,’ and ‘yellow.’
Bat Box
Jack the scarecrow is the world’s worst at scaring - but he’s determined to fill the farm with bees, birds, and bats! When his neighbour Zom asks for help with pesky mosquitoes, Jack sets out to build the cosiest, darkest hideaway any bat could dream of. But where do you put a bat box on a sunny, open farm? Will the bats ever come? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘height,’ ‘weight,’ ’neighbour,’ and ‘receive.’
Cuckoo Can't Cuckoo!
What happens when a cuckoo wakes up one morning and discovers its famous “CUCKOO!” has vanished? Follow this brave little bird as it hops along the ground, peers beneath every leaf, and flies across fields, forests, and a quiet suburb searching for its missing call. Will it ever sing again, or has its voice disappeared forever? This decodable reader practises 2-syllable open words such as “begin,” “open,” “over,” “tiny,” and “music.”
The Calf and the Tiger!
A little calf spots a beautiful blue butterfly and just has to see where it goes. But what happens when she wanders deep into the jungle, past hidden snakes and chattering monkeys, and finds herself nose to nose with a tiger? Can she find her way back to Mum before it’s too late? This decodable reader practises VC/CV syllables in words such as ‘butterfly,’ ‘follow,’ ‘yellow,’ and ‘sudden.’